WOMEN BEHIND WHEELS EXPLORING THE CLAY POTTERY FROM THIRUCHIGADI, NILGIRIS, TAMIL NĀDU
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v4.i2CDSDAD.2023.835Keywords:
Clay Pottery, Crafts of India, Women Potterer, Kota Tribe, Tamil NaduAbstract [English]
Black pottery made by the women of Kota tribe of Nilgiri Hills holds a unique identity of their craft and craftmanship. A group of these women potters are names as “Kov” by the natives.
This research study on Black pottery focuses on the traditional art of clay pottery in Thiruchigadi, a small town in Tamil Nadu's gorgeous Nilgiris region. This study strives to reveal the historical significance, cultural context, and modern relevance of the age-old trade by focusing on the often-overlooked role of women potters. The extraordinary artistry, its evolution over ages and relevance of preserving the art and craft for the modern age. Adding lights on the sophisticated, unique, environmentally sustainable processes, designs, motifs, and the ritualistic essence that passed down through generations of female craftspeople through ethnographic observations, interviews, news articles, archival data, and research.
The research shows these women's strong sense of individuality, strong spirit, added contribution to the cultural skillset and a contribution towards retaining a thriving craft legacy by examining the socioeconomic dynamics and obstacles they encounter.
Downloads
References
Aiyar, C. P. R. (2023, November 21). Kotacrafts.Org.
David, P. (2017b, November 27). Women at the Wheel in the Nilgiris. People’s Archive of Rural India.
Govindharaj, Y. (2023). Primitive Kota Tribes of Nilgiris Focusing on Traditional, Social, and Economic Factors -An Ethnographic.
Haldorai, R. (2012, December 27). Rare Kota Pots Stir Up Tribal Tradition. The New Indian Express.
Kota Pottery. (n.d.). Nilgiris History.
Redscarab. (2012, November 27). Kota Stone Pottery – Redscarab. Redscarab.
The British Library. (2008, September 12). Kota Women, Making Pots.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Anthima Ram, Vishakha Rao
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
With the licence CC-BY, authors retain the copyright, allowing anyone to download, reuse, re-print, modify, distribute, and/or copy their contribution. The work must be properly attributed to its author.
It is not necessary to ask for further permission from the author or journal board.
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
