Entrepreneurial

Pottery: Whether To Wither Away Or Survive? – Artisans out to retain this ancient craftwork

Which cultures do the rural Bangladesh represent since the time immemorial? Broadly, the answer might be traditional arts and crafts but what comes first is pottery, the decorative face of Bangladesh. It has a magic that master artisans have been weaving with their wand-like hands. The earthenware or clay-made wares were the essential household articles for centuries. The use of pottery was common in the celebration of various fiestas and festivals. However, is pottery a thing of the past and this fine art going into atrophy, really. Let’s look at an eye-soothing picture at Nolam Palpara, some 38 kilometres off the capital Dhaka. A handful of artisans, men and women, are absorbed in putting strenuous efforts to make pots, pitchers, jugs, glasses, bowls, buckets, small banks, pot covers, dishes, flower vases and dolls. They are out to keep their ancestral profession alive. As time passes, many in their neighbourhood have left this ancient art, yet some are still retaining pottery with profound passion. The potential of pottery is immense and this craftwork is contributing a lot to the country’s nascent ceramic sector. A potter in his late 30s, Palash Pal, told this author during a recent visit to this pottery village, said this very Nolam Palpara, in Savar upazila under Dhaka district, was once famous for the traditional artistic pottery as almost all residents were engaged in the pottery industry. Palpara people have transformed their lifestyle over the years. From the kitchenware to attire, a dramatic shift is seen as they are trying to cope with the changing trends and cultures. But a visit to some makeshift outlets near Doel Chattar adjacent to the Bangla Academy and Dhaka University campus, which stretches all the way to the High Court gate, tells us a different tale. Most of the traders expressed their utter satisfaction with pottery sales after years of stymied growth in the business. According to sector insiders, pottery business is evolving faster these days as enthusiasts from all walks of life prefer a glittery album of aesthetic pottery and terracotta showpieces. From utensils to showpieces, once upon a time their ancestors crafted and used traditional pottery items in their everyday household work. For ages, villagers used earthenware as household tools. With the passage of time, this long-held tradition has shifted drastically. Some craftspeople are exerting their efforts to boom and boost their long-standing business and tradition into a different path. Citing that his ancestors were involved with this occupation for hundreds of years, Mr Pal said in 2005, when he started this trade by acquiring hands-on training from a local artisan, a total of 40 families were engaged in making earthenware. The number has tragically come down to only eight now. Their profession remains on the line for shortage of soil, wood and funds. The oldest art of the country is clay-made crafting, that is pottery. The main raw material of pottery is soil. However, this cannot be crafted with any soil. Clean sticky soil is the key component for this clay art. Business only grows substantially during festivals. Potters struggle to survive with their craft in the rest of the year, said Mr Pal. Those who can prepare items with aesthetic value are doing better business as the demand for such items has dropped. Nobody in his village is making any aesthetic articles due to fund shortages and patronage. A good number of people throng Dhaka’s different sales points, including Doel Chattar, to buy various types of pots and pans, flower tubs, vases, showpieces, lamps, umbrella stands, portraits, toys and wall tiles, Mr Pal acknowledged. Prominent potters from Patuakhali, Dhaka, Narsingdi, Manikganj and some northern districts supply such products across the country, including the metropolis Dhaka. The 69-year-old bearded Abul Kashem Sikder, who has set up a makeshift outlet at Doel Chattar, said this place has become the biggest pottery market. He bought most of the artistic pottery products which are crafted in different parts of the country including Barishal, Cumilla, Faridpur and Dhaka’s surrounding Dhamrai, Savar and Nabinagar areas. Mr Sikder sells more than 150 items which are molded and sculpted by the local Pal community. He does not sell any traditional pottery as they are almost on the verge of extinction, he mentioned. Some foreign tourists often visit his shop and they also cannot resist the temptation of buying articles from a dazzling collection of items. Mr Sikder sells Tk 3,000-5,000 daily and his annual turnover is estimated at Tk 2.0-2.5 million. Dhaka has been the nerve centre of Bangladeshi pottery since time immemorial. The pottery industry has been settled for hundreds of years along the banks of the Banshi, including Kaggiyapara, Palpara of Dhamrai, Nabinagar of Savar, Nalam and Bhagalpur. But this art still survives with bars and barriers. For survival, many people have left their ancient calling. Even if some are trying to hold on, they too are plagued by so many pains, according to the industry people. In 1975, more or less 65 potters in the village were involved in this craftsmanship, but the number has come down to only eight now, indicating the state of the aesthetic art, he said. To mould earthenware, potters have to acquire clay through a strenuous process. They have to collect clay mainly during dry season. Initially, clay was passed through various stages of molding media like wood, stone, shell and metal before reaching the age of ceramic and porcelaina. The sexagenarian Madhob Pal, an artist and sculptor, who has three sons employed at different private organisations, was born and brought up at the same village and started crafting various sorts of pottery items 32 years back in 1990. About soil collection, Mr Madhob said potters have to acquire soil by making 8-10-foot deep holes underground by hand. Due to soil, energy and financial crises, the craft lovers will not be able to find the craft available for long, he warned. Their lifestyle has changed over time with aluminium and plastic products replacing earthenware

5TH ISSUE

The story Roofing Tiles of a Maker of eco-friendly

Did you know who the manufacturer of eco-friendly roofing tiles in Bangladesh is? He is none other than Farid Hossain who has set a pace in roofing tiles innovation. Having a diploma in ceramics, he had an illustrious career for 10 years between 2006 and 2016. But he got immersed in thought about seeking certain scope to develop entrepreneurship as he never felt comfortable at a job under any employers. Mr Farid Hossain was born and brought up in a village in central Gazipur district adjacent to Dhaka city. He used to dig into different innovative ideas and feats. Now in his 40s, he used to visit his neighbourhood since his boyhood only to see potters busy crafting ancient earthenware round the clock. That craftsmanship interested him in the making of eco-friendly traditional clay products. His inborn passion is imprinted throughout his life and career. After obtaining a higher secondary degree, Mr Farid took a four-year diploma degree in ceramic from Bangladesh Institute of Glass and Ceramics in 2006. Later, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering from International University of Business Agriculture and Technology amidst his pursuit of a job. The artisans, who crafted different ancient clay items at his village alongside his long career in the ceramic industry, enthused him greatly to contribute to the growth of the sector as a prolific entrepreneur. Mr Farid, who has a four-member family, has a profound love for soil and he keeps on exploring his passion for the motherland. Mr Farid believes human beings are made of soil and they cannot deny it anyway. So, he always tries to explore the strength of fertile soil. Building up a connection with old-age traditional ceramic items, Mr Farid is poised to reshuffle his plan through expanding his business each year beyond the country and reaching out to people across the globe. His factory now produces an estimated 5,000 units of tiles daily, thus amounting to 750,000 units yearly. His fully eco-friendly products are free from harmful oxide. Although Mr Farid was willing to set himself up as an entrepreneur since his early job career, he could not start it because of an acute shortage of working capital, according to this self-made man. His forefathers had been involved in farming for ages. “So, it was a Herculean task to dream of being an entrepreneur as traditionally and typically most of us in society prefer working under employers as it is regarded as better, secure and protected,” Mr Farid said. Process of Making Roofing Tiles Only soil and silicon oil are the vital components for making tiles. Mr Farid collected soil from his localities and oil from some local importers. There is no dearth of soil in the market. Primarily, he used fuel wood to manufacture tiles. But he now uses a reticulated gas system to halt carbon emissions. Mr Farid, however, seeks piped gas as the existing system is too costly that triggers higher prices of tiles. To get a finished product, Mr Farid first collects suitable soil. Then he does the processing in the production line, including crushing, grinding, screening, moisturising, forming, drying up by a dryer, finishing by kiln and sorting to packing. Mr Farid’s Major Innovations Mr Farid was inquisitive about producing engineering products that also inspired him to develop two vital machines, which are being used to shape roofing tiles at his own factory. He used indigenous technology and locally available equipment to develop them. The machines are cheaper than the imported ones. Through these innovations, Mr Farid has been able to start his business with a paltry capital. Why Market Growing Although roofing tiles are costlier than any traditional rooftop solutions, people are becoming more interested in installing the artistically good-looking system as it keeps houses cosy, cold and comfortable in addition to its heat-proof condition. The system has a deciding effect on the appearance of a building and also shields houses or buildings from rain, noise, wind, fire and hails. Roofing tiles also reduce energy consumption. Local and Foreign Market Expansion In 2017, Mr Farid set up his enterprise with Tk 0. 2 million and 12 workers on a 20 decimal of land after amassing the funds from selling his wife’s ornaments and leasing out his father’s land without taking anything from banks or any state support. After the initial teething trouble, his business has now an outlay of over Tk 30 million with 32 employees working on an acre of land amid Covid-19 fallout and a possible recession mainly caused by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. According to Mr Farid, the domestic market could have expanded further with state patronage. Even local entrepreneurs could have grabbed a slice in overseas markets as the global market size is rising fast due to its aesthetic beauty and eco-friendliness. He attributed market growth to multiple state initiatives for infrastructure development in recent times. The global roofing tiles market size was valued at $30,400.0 million in 2019 and it is projected to reach $41,354.9 million by 2027, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.20 per cent from 2020 to 2027. The market size is growing as the state focus on and public mindset towards eco-friendly household products are shifting fast. Local factories are grabbing nearly 60 per cent of the market, whereas China, India and Vietnam are sharing 40 per cent. Local market leaders include Mirpur Ceramics Limited, Tradexcel Ceramics Limited, and Conforce Ceramic and Refractories Limited. Mr Farid has called upon the government to take effective measures to curb the rising import of roofing tiles and patronise the local industry for the sake of further growth of the nascent ceramic industry.