Desicritics Comments on The Plight of Dharavi Potters

Comment by lieben

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 00:07:28 EST

Interessante Informationen.

Comment by lieben

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 00:06:48 EST

Interessante Informationen.

Comment by fussball

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 08:17:13 EST

Gute Arbeit hier! Gute Inhalte.

Comment by neusinger

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:55:57 EST

blokesablogin that was a poetic post! "will shatter itself like a pot thrown to the ground" Wah Wah!

Comment by rajen nair

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:01:55 EST

blokesablogin, Useful suggestions you made. "Here, in the US, pottery classes have found to help alleviate stress with the simple but profound feel of wet clay between your fingers " I wish this form of therapy is introduced in India.

Comment by blokesablogin

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:50:00 EST

I believe that the art of pottery needs to be given new "direction" in today's world. Here, in the US, pottery classes have found to help alleviate stress with the simple but profound feel of wet clay between your fingers. Pottery is an age old art form that has helped archeologists piece together human past. People need to be 'taught" the green power of pots vs fridges. The use of "disposable" kullads (made with unfired clay) need to be introduced in the place of plastic cups that are destroying our land and water sources. The society that takes care of its potter will live to posterity. And one who "destroys" the potter, will shatter itself like a pot thrown to the ground.

Comment by rajen nair

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:51:19 EST

Thanks for your absorbing comments. More than the text it is the images, I believe, that speaks the truth. Link to images on potters- http://www.rajennair.com

Comment by Deepa Krishnan

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:52:03 EST

The children of the potters go to school. Look at these photos: http://www.rajennair.com/gallery18.asp

Comment by neusinger

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:14:40 EST

Could we all be romanticizing this just a little bit? What does it say for not just one man, but a whole community to carry on doing something that has been steadily declining for decades? Ravi, I am afraid: "As this is the only trade Kanthilal has inherited from his father, he has no option but to carry on pottery despite the low return" just doesn't cut it. Why is depending on an inheritance to survive any different than asking for a handout? It completely negates any idea of individual will and responsibility. Reading some of the comments it appears to me, and I may be quite mistaken, that many of the commentators would rather have these folks continue to produce outmoded products that have little use rather than teach them a new trade or, god forbid, provide them with an education.

Comment by commonsense

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:34:09 EST

Not that Rajen Nair is seeking my approval (far from it, since for most I have been the kiss of death!), but I did go to your site. Remarkable images. Take it from someone who dabbles in photography with a social angle. I loved the quote too: "when words fail, images take over"!

Comment by commonsense

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:25:59 EST

SS and Temporal: Couldn't agree more! It is the "intention" behind the act that matters more than anything else. My mixed feelings come from hesitating to photograph folks who may not wish to be photographed, especially those who are down on their luck (privacy, last shred of dignity, whatever reasons they might have). Obviously Mr. Nair is full of empathy for these poor folks dealing with mind-boggling social change as well as being pilloried by the usual land-grabbers...no criticism intended...

Comment by temporal

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:30:47 EST

rajen absolutely great! you should have linked them here:) LINK

Comment by smallsquirrel

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:40:33 EST

oh come on common, give this guy a break :) he has not photographed this in order to be exploitative. he has written a piece about something he is genuinely concerned about and it says right there that he is a freelance journalist. there is a serious difference between taking pics to exploit and what this guy did. he *humanized* them, and he talked to them as individuals. how else are social issues supposed to come to light if people do not document them?

Comment by commonsense

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:18:43 EST

A photo-essay capturing the pathos and dislocated lives? On second thoughts, maybe not...these folks are going thru hell and the last thing they need is to have it displayed globally...

Comment by commonsense

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:17:10 EST

Pretty sad! Heartless as it may sound, social change happens...it's a question of how certain transitions are managed by reducing hardships...roughly the same story for a number of handicraft industries and much more...

Comment by Chandra

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:42:09 EST

Basically, these potters are screwed unless somebody found a way to reposition their product. Old product with a new use if you will. On a separate issue, this family illustrates how overpopulation is eating India from inside. Lastly, as moving as this story may be, Mumbaikars should stop deluding themselves about how great their city is. It is easily the worst city to live in India. Clean up has to happen...sooner or later......

Comment by blokesablogin

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:21:54 EST

I think, people like kanthilal need to get some publicity campaign going for them to get more people to buy pots- "Keeping your water cool without an electric bill " The Green solution for cool water" etc. It can be made a "mailorder business" as most people are so busy and can barely travel with a pot on public transport, the pot needs to reach them rather than them buying the pot. even today, we buy a pot for the summer on Tamizh new year's day (April 14) and throw in vettiver to make the water scented and delicious. A glass of matka pani is more of a thirst quencher than liters of fridge water. Mexican potters, faced with the same problem have moved to decorated pottery to be used as "decor" with different motifs o them. Our potters need to adapt to the new market as much as all of us are.