IGRMS: Online Exhibition Series 29 - Mythological Trail (open air) Potter’s myth of Kutch, Gujarat

Online Exhibition Series
From Open Air Exhibition Mythological Trail
Potter’s myth of Kutch, Gujarat

Mythological trail is an interesting and unique exhibition of IGRMS where myths and legends are depicted in different media like terracotta, stone, metal, wood etc. Myth does not have any tangible forms. So it cannot be expressed always. One of the main objectives of this exhibition is to transform the intangible aspects into the tangible forms so that people can understand the myths very well. In this exhibition the folk and tribal artists from various parts of the country have attempted to give form to their myths, beliefs and rituals in their respective mediums and styles. Some have tried it before while some others have dealt with it for the first time here.

In this context one such initiative can been seen in the mythological trail of IGRMS is the story of potter’s myth. The pottery displayed here belongs to Khavda, a small village in Bhuj taluk of Kutch district, Gujarat. It is located very near to the Rann of Kutch. A wide variety of vessels, such as pots for storing water and grains, plates, big dishes, bowls, lamps etc. are made.

Sara Ibrahim, a female potter from Khavda village has been continuing the craft for more than 40 years now. She has been honoured by Devi Ahilya National Award in the year 2001-02 by the Govt. of Madhya Pradesh for her dedication and continuous creativity towards clay craft and painting of pots. She has been associated with IGRMS since last thirty years, attended several workshops and artist camps organised by IGRMS in various parts of India. She became a part of museum’s education programmes time to time and imparted training to participants. Sara Ibrahim’s husband Ibrahim Kasam is also an expert in making pottery. Both of them are taking forward a legacy that has been passed down from generations. Men do all the throwing work, the women make plates, dishes and bowls without wheel and do all the surface decorations.

The pots are roughly made with a thick wall and base, while the neck and mouth are given final shape. The half dried pot is beaten with wooden beater on outer surface while holding a round smooth dabber on inner. This clay expands and gives a shape to pot. The wall of the pots is also thinned by this process. Women paint delicate red and black designs on white coated pottery or black and white designs over the red coated pottery. Simple bamboo twigs are used as brush for painting. All the designs are made with in concentric circles locally called “likh”. Most common designs are inspired from nature which is visible in their weaving pattern also.
An interesting story is depicted on the wall by the artist Sara Ibrahim in the pattern of mud- mirror bas relief decoration that is usually found in the walls, doorways, niches and storage containers in the region of kutch and kathiawad. The story goes like this:
In the ancient times, generally, it took six months for a potter to bake his pots. Once it so happened that the potter had just pre-heated his furnace, a group of eunuchs (kinar) took refuge inside his pots kept in the furnace. These eunuchs were followed by the soldiers.
The king’s men entered into potter’s house to search for the eunuchs. In spite of all the efforts of the potter, soldiers searched all over the house and left. None could conceive of the kiln as a hiding place. After lighting the fire, the tired potter feels asleep. In his dreams, the potter heard a voice announcing that his pots had turned golden, potter was not much surprised with the announcement. After a while the same voice said “your pots have turned silver.” The potter did not pay any attention. For the third time the voice was heard saying that half of his pots have baked and others have remained unbaked. At this, the potter rushed to the furnace and was delighted to find the eunuchs alive inside the unbaked pots.
Since then, it is a great pleasure for the potter that the pots take only a day to get baked, but some pots are always left half- baked. The potter could have chosen the golden or silver pots, but he chose to save a few lives at the cost of riches. In Kutch even today, the eunuchs regards the potter and his wife as their parents, seek their blessings on important occasions and offer money and clothes to them.