Srinagar, Dec 09: A man from southern Kashmir makes colourful earthen pots at his manufacturing units and instals his stall in different markets every day with an aim to revive the dying art of Pottery.
Aabid Hussain, a 31- year- old man from Maniward area of Anantnag on a daily basis instals his stall in busy markets of south Kashmir where dozens of people purchase colourful pots.
On Thursday, Aabid had installed his stall in Pulwama district which created nostalgia in senior citizens who remembered their old days.
“Old age tradition is a blessing. It is our moral duty to preserve our own art but this art is dying with each passing day and it seems that very soon there will be no traces of this art,” Mohammad Akbar an elderly person said.
“Art is beyond intuition. You cannot replace it, but can improve it with your mastery skills. Old age tradition is on the verge of extinction because we are hesitant to venture that mastery,” Aabid Hussian told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), while adding that he has to keep himself motivated in order to live his dream of reviving old art.
“Besides earning a livelihood the aim to manufacture and install stalls of earthen pots is just to revive the dying art of pottery,” he said.
Aabid does not belong to the hereditary potters family. But his fascination with earthen pots goes back to her childhood.
“l have been fascinated with earthen pots, but was never thinking of taking it as a profession. After passing my matriculation l immediately took up the driver as my profession due to the financial crunch at home. Later, l shifted to Srinagar where l was driving a minibus, he said, adding that one day my mother called me and asked me to bring an earthen pan from Srinagar.
“In Bemina chowk l found an earthen pan seller and eventually purchased one from him,” he said, adding that he asked the shopkeeper where these pans are manufactured in Kashmir.
“He replied quickly that we bring them from outside the valley as Kashmiri potters have stuck to traditional pottery and haven’t transformed their art,” Aabid said.
“Despite unknown about this art, I got an idea to make an earthen pots manufacturing unit at my home Maniward Anantnag to reinvigorate old art,” he said.
Aabid said that he discussed the idea with some local potters, and to his pleasure they showed keen interest in it.
“I embarked on a journey and thanks to Almighty l feel satisfied for it,” he said.
“Today there are around eight persons working in my unit and all are earning handsome amounts with great pleasure,” he said, adding, “that I have bought a second hand car so that l make these things available at doorstep of people like other businesses.”
“My family supported me a lot and l am thankful to everyone who helped me in bringing this art alive again and hundreds of people on a daily basis are purchasing colourful earthen pots,” he added—(KNO)
