Rhythm of Life in the Clay of Rudijla

By Tuhin Aich

Palpara in Melaghar, locally known as Kumor Para, has long been home to potters. Among its residents is Dulal Pal, whose family has been engaged for generations in the craft of making and selling clay products—their sole means of livelihood. After her marriage, Uma Pal joined her husband in the family trade. Over time, she became skilled in crafting clay pots, pans, and water vessels.

While managing household responsibilities and creating clay toys and idols for children, Uma Devi nurtured a dream of doing something new. Alongside traditional clay work, Dulal Pal also practiced terracotta art—a craft involving scenes, motifs, and figures molded into clay plaques and fired to harden. Though he dabbled in terracotta, Dulal had never taken it up as a full-time profession.

One day, Uma decided to pursue terracotta seriously. With her husband’s encouragement and training, she soon emerged as a skilled terracotta artist.

A few years ago, Uma formed the ‘Lakshmi Self-Help Group’ with nine other local women. Under the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, they received a loan of ₹3 lakh. They began making clay dolls, flower vases, water bottles, and trays for sweets, selling them at local fairs. Their products sold well, enabling them to repay the loan on time.

In 2022, the Lakshmi Self-Help Group gained recognition under the Tripura Urban Livelihood Mission, administered by the Melaghar Municipal Council. By then, they had already honed their skills in terracotta. The group received a ₹10,000 grant and permission to participate in various government-sponsored fairs. With travel, food, and accommodation expenses covered by the mission, they could exhibit and sell their products at no cost.

According to Uma Pal, their success stems from their ability to depict rural life and culture through their craft. Their creations expanded beyond traditional items like lamps and utensils. Inspired by folk tales, Uma began experimenting with terracotta to create masks, figurines, and wall hangings—an initiative that has brought them remarkable success.

Thanks to passionate artisans like Uma, traditional terracotta has managed to stand its ground against modern commercial goods. Dulal Pal’s role has also been crucial—offering consistent guidance and training to develop their expertise.

Today, the group earns around ₹3 lakh annually from sales at fairs, along with the added rewards of social recognition and respect. This year, as a mark of their achievement, the Lakshmi Self-Help Group was invited to Delhi. In February, they showcased their terracotta products at the Amrit Batika festival held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Uma represented the group. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with their items in high demand.

By transforming Rudijla’s clay into works of art, these women are preserving and promoting folk traditions. Uma’s entire home now functions as an art studio. Her journey is more than the story of an artist—it’s a tale of reviving a fading cultural legacy. Uma Devi didn’t just settle for being a traditional potter. She embraced terracotta with all her heart. For her, fired clay is not just a medium—it’s the pulse of her spirit and the language of her soul.