Assam artisans beaten in their own turf

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Dec 13: Terracotta artisans of Assam have been beaten in their own turf by their Harya counterparts, earning huge profit. In the Saras fair being organized by Assam State Livelihoods Mission from December 11 to 22 at Khapara in Guwahati, the crowds of buyers are seen to have been allured to the modern terracotta designs of Harya traders.

Speaking to this reporter, trader Gajinder Singh said, “We’re here for last two days and have seen a huge crowd interested in buying our products and adorning our designs. Our terracotta products are made in such a way that they can also be used by people in their daily life.” “The prices of our products are variable, starting from Rs. 250 to Rs. 10,000. Last year, we did a business of Rs 5 lakh in a trade fair in Guwahati. This year we’re expecting at least Rs 7 lakh as we have brought new designs and more products.”

A buyer of Harya terracotta products at Saras Fair, Sankar Deka, said, “These products are the most attractive things in this fair. The designs and the use of colours in the products are really appreciable. I wish that terracotta artisans of Assam, who are still engaged in the traditiol way of making the designs in these products, idealize the way of making modern terracotta designs in the products for earning healthy gains. It is very sad that interest of the people in the art of terracotta in Assam is fading away.”