With the traditional potters of Vellore starting to mould clay idols of Lord Krishna and other Gods and Goddesses to cater to the requirements of the people celebrating Krishna Jayanthi and Navaratri this year, T. Senthil Kumar, a 40-year-old potter of Salavanpettai has 'Gitopadesam’ sets in tune with the trend of the people watching the Mahabharatham serial on satellite TV channels.
“Gitopadesam sets used to be made with papier mache previously. But I have decided to mould them in clay. Only the four pillars of the chariot are made of wood,” said Mr. Senthil Kumar who dropped out of school after IX standard to assist his father S. Thandapani in the business. “Since my father could not educate me further, I had to drop out,” he said. At present, his parents and his wife are engaged in making idols.
Export to U.S.
He has already dispatched a consignment of the 'Gitopadesam’ set to U.S. through a Chennai trader for sale there.
Another unique product he has made this year was 'Viswaroopa Dharisanam,’ which has the idols of other Gods moulded and attached on both sides of a standing idol of Lord Vishnu.
Asked whether he has passed on the art to his children, Senthil Kumar said that both his son who is studying XI standard in a school in Namakkal and daughter studying IX standard in a local school know the art and help him during holidays. “Considering the modern trend of getting educated and getting employed in companies in India and abroad, I do not want my children to become professional artisans. I want them to go for higher studies and seek related jobs. They can practise the art of making idols as a hobby and help the family during their holidays in order to maintain the tradition,” he said.
