
Wheels of Heritage turn anew: The Maharajor story
It took a pandemic, a helping hand from the state government and willingness of the villagers to bring about the shift. The village is home to 85 families and a majority of them are now dedicated towards transforming it into a hub of terracotta craftsmanship.
Located in Bhoden block, Maharajor is home to the Kumbhar or the potters' community. As demand for traditional pottery declined, many had given up the profession. Migration became a necessity. It was only during the Covid-19 pandemic that many of these families returned home. With the pause came a new opportunity - to revisit and revive their own craft. This is when the Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts department stepped in.
'We were then conducting awareness camps to make people aware of various training programmes for handicrafts. The potters' families that had returned approached us to know about ways to revive their traditional crafts and if any government schemes could help them do so,' recalled PR Sahu, assistant director of the department. The department decided to help them revive their craft and also, adapt it for today's market.
Training began about two years back. Some of the villagers were provided loans to procure electric potters' wheels, reducing physical effort and increasing productivity. The department facilitated regular soil supply and provided hand holding support in marketing their products. The villagers soon started experimenting with new and contemporary products and designs.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Interview with Pralav Dhyani, author of Hijacked
Pralav Dhyani was a 21-year-old cadet on his first sea duty on board the cargo ship MVRAK Afrikanawhen it was hijacked off the Horn of Africa by Somali pirates in 2010. Together with 23 shipmates, he was held hostage on board the ship in Somali waters before being ransomed 331 days later. It was a harrowing time, during which their redoubtable Captain nearly died of a stroke, and the ship's chief cook expired closer to their release. Dhyani recounts the ordeal in his book Hijacked (HarperCollins). Excerpts from an interview: Question: What inspired you to write this book so long after the event? Answer: During the COVID-19 lockdown, I noticed how many people were frustrated about staying indoors, even though it was for their own safety. What struck me was how little we appreciated the peace and rejuvenation that can exist within four walls. Despite the restrictions, we still had access to our families, loved ones, and the freedom to connect. It was a very different kind of lockdown I experienced in 2010 where isolation wasn't a choice, and freedom was truly out of reach. That is when I decided this survival story needs to be shared. Q: Clearly, you and others were held together by the courage and wisdom of your captain. Could you have survived the ordeal without him? A: The phrase 'With great power comes great responsibility' has stayed with me ever since I first heard it in 2002, watching Spider Man for the first time. During the 11 months starting April 2010, our captain embodied that principle better than anyone I've ever known. It was humbling and deeply moving to witness someone burdened with immense responsibility, carrying the weight of his own worries and a family waiting for him back home, placing the safety and survival of his team above himself. It wasn't just leadership; it was selflessness in its truest form. That kind of leadership leaves a mark that no words can fully capture. Q: How did you cope with a long incarceration seemingly without end? A: At the time, it was deeply disheartening and frustrating. Time slows down in the worst way. There was no clear timeline, no certainty, and that made it all the more difficult. But in the midst of that darkness, I realised how powerful hope can be. When it's combined with positive thoughts, it gives you the strength to endure. Survival, I've learned, isn't always loud or dramatic —sometimes, it's just quietly holding on, one moment at a time. Q: How do you rate your rescue by the Italian Navy? A: They were truly our saviours — without a doubt. But even they had protocols to follow. When we established radio communication with them, one of their first questions was whether we were in a position to self-abandon the ship. They did everything they could, in the safest and most secure way possible, to get us onboard their warship. Ultimately, the only way off a disabledRAKAfrikanawas through our own life rafts. The rescue had to be quick and safe from the moment we abandoned our ship. Q: Are you haunted by your experience? A: To be honest, no. Back then, yes, I was terrified every time a gun was put to my head and let's be real, if it ever happened again (God forbid), I'd probably feel the same. I made a conscious choice to only share the humorous side of the experience. And maybe that's what helped me move on, by turning the trauma into something lighter, something survivable. That's what helped me sail away from those memories. Q: Your book is forgiving to all, including the pirates. Were you always so forgiving? A: I believe that with time, and having lived through and overcome so much, I've become more forgiving. If you had asked me this in 2012 or 2013, my answer might have been very different — maybe more aggressive. But now, I see life as a series of challenges we must face and overcome to survive and grow. Life isn't meant to be perfect, and perhaps it shouldn't be, because perfection can lead us to take things for granted. Those 331 days taught me patience and calm — and that's what I carry with me the most from that experience. Q: Did you sail again after your release? A: I never returned to sailing after coming home in 2011. Building a career in the maritime industry after quitting sailing at such an early stage presented its own unique challenges. In 2017, I founded ARC Continental FZE, which focuses on commercial and ship management aspects of maritime vessels. Hijacked Pralav Dhyani HarperCollins ₹399 The writer teaches public policy and contemporary history at IISc-Bengaluru.


The Print
12 hours ago
- The Print
Cremation grounds under MCD recommended to replace 20 per cent firewood with cow dung cakes
Officials said the initiative, though not mandatory, aims to gradually transition towards cleaner alternatives and an advisory has been issued encouraging cremation grounds to replace up to 20 per cent of traditional wood with cow dung cakes during cremations. The plan involves bifurcating materials — cow dung and stubble — into uniform logs of two to three feet for better combustion, with NGOs and private stakeholders also showing interest in supporting the initiative, a senior official told PTI. New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has asked its cremation grounds to replace 20 per cent of firewood with cow dung cakes, an idea that was first explored during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote eco-friendly practices. The move was discussed in a recent stakeholder meeting convened by the MCD including officials from the health department, horticulture division, manufacturers of dung-based items, NGOs and other experts, another official said. They said while the idea was first explored during the COVID-19 pandemic in the erstwhile North Corporation, it is now being revived with a more structured and planned approach. A senior MCD official said the initiative has both environmental and logistical benefits. It reduces the dependence on wood and also helps manage the cow dung waste generated across the city's dairy colonies. While many people see cow dung as a sacred material, its acceptability for cremation is still evolving. There is still hesitation in fully embracing it as people still prefer wood. But there is a gradual shift, he added. Currently, Delhi has 59 cremation grounds, including both wood-based and CNG-operated units, spread across all the 12 zones. City-SP, Shahdara, and south Delhi are among the four municipal zones where around 10 cremation grounds are already using cow dung cakes as fuel. Department officials said that they have initially recommended replacing 20 per cent of traditional wood with cow dung cakes with an aim of observing and monitoring fuel usage. Depending on supply and public response, the share could gradually be increased to 30, 40, or even 50 per cent. According to department estimates, if Delhi's cremation grounds were to completely replace wood it would collectively require around four lakh kilogram of cow dung cakes per day. However, the current supply stands at only 10,000 kilogram per day — highlighting a significant shortfall. 'The civic body sources cow dung from Delhi and dairies located within a 100 kilometre radius of NCR, as in-city production is low. Most dairy waste otherwise ends up in drains, contributing to water pollution and using it for cremations is a far better alternative,' an official explained. A handler at one of the cremation grounds said, 'We have cow dung cakes available here, but most people still prefer wood. If someone asks for cow dung cakes, we provide 10 kilogram for free, following which we charge Rs 7 per kilogram. This arrangement has been in place for the last three to four years.' The health department also backed the move, citing an order from 2022 which had authorised the use of cow dung in cremations. 'The concept has merit, but the challenges include flammability, as cow dung cakes catch moisture quickly , an and inconsistent supply. In many cremation grounds, the idea was dropped earlier due to logistical hurdles,' a health department official said. While CNG and electric cremation options are expanding in the city, officials said wood-based cremations remain widely used by communities as a traditional practice. The effort to replace a part of that wood with cow dung cakes is being seen as a measured, culturally sensitive, and environmentally progressive step — one that could have long-term benefits in reducing carbon emissions, managing dairy waste, and preserving natural resources. PTI NSM NSM OZ OZ This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Cremation grounds under MCD recommended to replace 20 per cent firewood with cow dung cakes
New Delhi, The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has asked its cremation grounds to replace 20 per cent of firewood with cow dung cakes, an idea that was first explored during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote eco-friendly practices. Cremation grounds under MCD recommended to replace 20 per cent firewood with cow dung cakes The plan involves bifurcating materials cow dung and stubble into uniform logs of two to three feet for better combustion, with NGOs and private stakeholders also showing interest in supporting the initiative, a senior official told PTI. Officials said the initiative, though not mandatory, aims to gradually transition towards cleaner alternatives and an advisory has been issued encouraging cremation grounds to replace up to 20 per cent of traditional wood with cow dung cakes during cremations. The move was discussed in a recent stakeholder meeting convened by the MCD including officials from the health department, horticulture division, manufacturers of dung-based items, NGOs and other experts, another official said. They said while the idea was first explored during the COVID-19 pandemic in the erstwhile North Corporation, it is now being revived with a more structured and planned approach. A senior MCD official said the initiative has both environmental and logistical benefits. It reduces the dependence on wood and also helps manage the cow dung waste generated across the city's dairy colonies. While many people see cow dung as a sacred material, its acceptability for cremation is still evolving. There is still hesitation in fully embracing it as people still prefer wood. But there is a gradual shift, he added. Currently, Delhi has 59 cremation grounds, including both wood-based and CNG-operated units, spread across all the 12 zones. City-SP, Shahdara, and south Delhi are among the four municipal zones where around 10 cremation grounds are already using cow dung cakes as fuel. Department officials said that they have initially recommended replacing 20 per cent of traditional wood with cow dung cakes with an aim of observing and monitoring fuel usage. Depending on supply and public response, the share could gradually be increased to 30, 40, or even 50 per cent. According to department estimates, if Delhi's cremation grounds were to completely replace wood it would collectively require around four lakh kilogram of cow dung cakes per day. However, the current supply stands at only 10,000 kilogram per day highlighting a significant shortfall. "The civic body sources cow dung from Delhi and dairies located within a 100 kilometre radius of NCR, as in-city production is low. Most dairy waste otherwise ends up in drains, contributing to water pollution and using it for cremations is a far better alternative," an official explained. A handler at one of the cremation grounds said, "We have cow dung cakes available here, but most people still prefer wood. If someone asks for cow dung cakes, we provide 10 kilogram for free, following which we charge ₹7 per kilogram. This arrangement has been in place for the last three to four years." The health department also backed the move, citing an order from 2022 which had authorised the use of cow dung in cremations. "The concept has merit, but the challenges include flammability, as cow dung cakes catch moisture quickly , an and inconsistent supply. In many cremation grounds, the idea was dropped earlier due to logistical hurdles," a health department official said. While CNG and electric cremation options are expanding in the city, officials said wood-based cremations remain widely used by communities as a traditional practice. The effort to replace a part of that wood with cow dung cakes is being seen as a measured, culturally sensitive, and environmentally progressive step one that could have long-term benefits in reducing carbon emissions, managing dairy waste, and preserving natural resources. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.