Nilagiri: The demand for earthen pots has drastically fallen these days but Ramesh Chandra Muduli, a terracotta artisan of Chintamanipur under Oupada block in Balasore district, has kept this age-old craft alive and makes a living out of it. Now self-sufficient, he has set an example for others in Nilagiri sub-division.
“Strong willpower has brought me success of making a living out of this occupation,” Muduli says, adding he has learnt the art of terracotta a few years ago. More important, he has been striving to make 70 per cent of women in the village self-sufficient by imparting them terracotta training.
With his efforts, Baba Panchalingeswar Terracotta Utpadan Women Self Help Group has been formed under the aegis of Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS). Fifteen women members are undergoing training through IDC while Muduli himself is imparting training to 15 others free of charge.
“I feel proud of my age-old occupation of terracotta which needs not much investment. One needs clay, a potter’s wheel, a blower, and some other tools, firewood and colour. The maximum investment will be Rs 15,000,” he said.
According to an estimate, from two cubic feet of clay, Muduli churns out 32 types of decorative items like elephants, horses, masks, bulls, fish, tortoise, bells, frogs, Radha-Krishna idols and some household items like chullas (stoves).
He sells these items at various exhibitions in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Balasore, Chandipur and even during Puri Rath Yatra through ORMAS and IDC. Muduli earns over Rs 2 lakh per annum.
“Such terracotta items have high demand in Bhubaneswar. Sometimes, tourists from Australia and Taiwan visit Baulagadia village, famous for muguni stone sculpture. They pay a visit to my workshop and buy my items,” Muduli said.
He was inspired by his terracotta teacher Narahari Behera (Kandaragadi village), professor of Ravenshaw University Tusar Pani and woodcraft artisan Madhusudan Rout. Muduli is a recipient of many awards at district levels.
PNN