CHINA DOMINATES "KUMHARS' BUSINESS
Gone are the days when during Diwali festival, homes would
be illuminated with earthen diyas. Today
people love to use fancy candles or have switched over to Chinese made
attractive designer and decorated electronic lights. Before the introduction of “Made in China”
electronic products of Chinese products in India, the fingers of “Khumar” used
to move on the “chakks” (wheels), the inherited business, especially before the
Diwali festival and start of summer season for preparation of Diyas and
potters.
Kumhar or Kumbhar also
known as Prajapati, means protector & preserver is a caste or
community of India, mainly belonging to the Hindu religion.
Kumhar literally means potter in Indian
languages, and pottery is the traditional occupation of Prajapatis besides governing the Praja
(People).
The Kumhar community is found
throughout India , but mainly
in the northern states of Punjab, Himachal, Western Uttar Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar
and West Bengal. Traditionally, the Kumhars have been the followers of the
Dharmic religions, especially Hinduism, but many adopted Islam after the Muslim
conquest in the Indian subcontinent.
Now the whole business seems to be stand-still and the
Chinese electronic products have brought darkness in their houses and they are
making both ends meet with great difficulty.
Rather, they are compelled to leave the business given to them by their ancestral.
The China
made diyas and electronic lights are being sold at throw away prices. The people’s likings have also changed with
the passage of time. One of the reason
behind this seems to be the increase in prices of mustard oil and pure ghee and
without any botheration, the Chinese lights have replaced the rituality
and could be reused if kept properly
packed for the next year. But all this
has a direct affect on the income of potters who are doing this business for
the last many decades. Now they are compelled to look for another business.
Ranga, a person in this profession said in saddened mood,
“The ‘diya’ making profession is his by virtue of inheritance and with the
availability of Chinese lights in the market, its sale has become a problem
despite by making the colourful and attractive ‘diyas’ and keeping its price as
low as Rs.10 but the people have priority for Chinese lights” and over the years the demand for pottery had
diminished. It is only during Diwali
people come to his place for buying diyas”.
Another Shama in this profession said in a choked voice yet
managing to convey his anger and frustration, “Who cares for earthen diyas
these days? People are rapidly switching over to artificial and colourful
gizmos that incude lights and candles. It is now very difficult for me to look
after the family comfortably and left with no alternative to switch over to
some other profession suitable to our class”.
And, if we do not turn other jobs like whitewashing the
pucca houses in the city, it would become even difficult to sustain our family,
he point out.
While the man has no qualms about leaving the traditional
work of making earthen diyas that symbolise the festival of light, he is happy
to earn Rs 150 a day, working as daily wager in the city.
