On Monday, when Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena was flagging off the project of making of 150 square meters clay mural of Mahatma Gandhi — made of ‘Kulhads’ from the hands of 150 village potters across India — at Morbi in Gujarat, back home in Delhi, for someone from Gandhi family, it was ‘Srishti ki Aaradhana (Worshipping the nature)’ and ‘A Renaissance of human civilisation’.
Noted Gandhian philosopher and Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee said that making the grand mural of Mahatma Gandhi is the fittest tribute to Gandhiji and his grammar and philosophy on Khadi. “As Bapu always advocated for empowering the village craftsmen and laid stress on adoption of swadeshi products, this grand mural — made directly from the village artisans — will definitely showcase the cultural integrity and unity of Gandhi’s India,” she said.
Meanwhile, enthused with the presence of the potters — hailing from hilly Leh to seaside Maharashtra and from dense jungle area of Chhatisgarh to Gangetic Varanasi — the KVIC Chairman said that it was like starting a yajna (holy ritual), when 150 pandits (common surname of potters in many parts of India) have gathered here, to introduce the unity of Indian civilisation with their individualities. “At a time when the nation is celebrating Gandhiji’s 150thbirth anniversary, the KVIC decided to mark the occasion with practical display of Gandhian thoughts on village industries.
With the co-operation of these 150 highly-skilled potters from all over the country, we will make a 150-square-metre (15 x 10 metres) wall mural, using their Kulhads,” he said, adding, “They have brought clay of their respective regions which has been mixed to produce the Kulhads for the mural. Kulhads of 75 mm diameter and 90 mm height are being made on electric pottery wheels given by KVIC. The potters will finish the Kulhads as per tradition and design requirements.
Altogether 5,000 Kulhads will be produced, of which the best 3,870 Kulhads — making them all-weather proof by baking at high temperatures and glazing – will be used in the final design. Ahmedabad-based designer terracotta and ceramic arts studio, Clay Club Innovations, had designed the artwork.” Expressing his happiness on this tributary endeavor of KVIC, the Minister of State for MSME Giriraj Singh said that it would certainly be a tribute with a difference. “It will really be a proud moment for the nation, when KVIC’s grand mural will prominently be displayed in the heart of the national Capital,” he said.
98-year-veteran Gandhian Gokul Dasji Kala, who was also present at the flagging off ceremony at Morbi, also hailed KVIC’s novel way of paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
It may be noted that the New Delhi Lok Sabha MP Meenakshi Lekhi, along with the KVIC Chairman and the NDMC Chairman, had made a vast survey for the selection of prominent site, where the 150 square meter wall mural could be mounted. Later, it was unanimously decided to mount that mural on main building of NDMC in Connaught Place. The grand wall mural is expected to be inaugurated on 30th January – the ‘Shaheed Diwas’ and the martyr day of Mahatma Gandhi. The KVIC has also requested the Prime Minister, for giving consent to grace this function as the Chief Guest.
So far, KVIC has distributed more than 5,000 Electric Potter Wheels’ sets in the country, under its ambitious ‘Kumhaar Sashaktikaran Yojana’ and the distribution of another 7,000 Electric Potter Wheels is already in the pipeline.