Latest news with #Ramadas
Sinar Daily
4 days ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
25 years of clay and craft: Ramadas Pottery keeps tradition alive in Kuala Selangor
Having started pottery-making in 1976, Ramadas said demand for clay products remains strong as more people recognise their advantages over modern cookware. 20 Jul 2025 07:00pm V. Ramadas remains dedicated to shaping clay using the 'throwing wheel' technique (a process of shaping clay) inherited from his father to make clay pots, rice cookers and water jars. Photo by Bernama TUCKED behind a row of old shophouses along Jalan Ara here is a pottery workshop that has withstood the test of time for three generations, crafting a range of clay products using time-honoured techniques and tools over 25 years old. This is where Ramadas Pottery, owned by V. Ramadas, 74, is located. He remains dedicated to shaping clay using the 'throwing wheel' technique (a process of shaping clay) inherited from his father to make clay pots, rice cookers and water jars. V. Ramadas remains dedicated to shaping clay using the 'throwing wheel' technique (a process of shaping clay) inherited from his father to make clay pots, rice cookers and water jars. Photo by Bernama "We do use modern pottery machines at the factory, but at this shop, I maintain the traditional methods. Tourists enjoy watching the old techniques, and many want to try making the pottery themselves,' he said when met during the Star Healing 2025 programme organised by Tourism Malaysia at his premises recently. Having started pottery-making in 1976, Ramadas said demand for clay products remains strong as more people recognise their advantages over modern cookware. "These clay pots are cleaner and safer to use. In fact, when SIRIM tested them, it was proven that my pottery is free from chemical content. That's why many customers still choose these pots for traditional cooking,' he explained. According to him, if used regularly, pottery items can last up to a year, and if used as decoration, they can last much longer. Recognised as a Master Craftsperson (Adiguru) in Pottery Craft in 2012, Ramadas didn't just rely on his father's legacy. He expanded his skills by attending courses both locally and abroad, including in Indonesia, India, Vietnam, China and at the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA). "I didn't want my knowledge to end with what my father taught me. That's why I sought out new knowledge to improve my techniques and styles so they evolve with the times,' he said. His relentless efforts bore fruit when the father of three successfully opened his own factory in 2000 with a starting grant of RM2,000, presented by then Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, after witnessing his skills firsthand. "At the time, he came as a tourist and watched me make pottery the traditional way. After 20 minutes, he immediately offered me assistance,' Ramadas shared. V. Ramadas remains dedicated to shaping clay using the 'throwing wheel' technique (a process of shaping clay) inherited from his father to make clay pots, rice cookers and water jars. Photo by Bernama Today, his factory produces between 3,000 and 4,000 small pottery items per month, while larger pottery products can reach up to 4,000 units monthly for the local market. "I'm happy when people come not just to buy, but to learn. As long as there is interest, I will keep making pottery,' he said, adding that he uses at least one tonne of clay each month to produce his items. For those interested in experiencing the craft, participants need only make an appointment for each session, which lasts two hours and gives them the opportunity to make two basic pottery items from clay, under Ramadas' own guidance. He said the classes attract not only local tourists but also participants from the United States, Russia, and Italy, proving that Malaysia's traditional arts remain relevant and admired internationally. - BERNAMA
The Star
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Legacy of clay shaping spins on
Ramadas's factory produces between 3,000 and 4,000 small items per month. — Photos: Bernama Master potter's traditional techniques, tools draw tourists to Kuala Selangor TUCKED behind a row of old shophouses along Jalan Ara in Kuala Selangor, Selangor, is a workshop that has preserved the art of traditional clay-making. It has withstood the test of time for three generations, crafting a range of clay products using time-honoured techniques and tools over 25 years old. This is where Ramadas Vengadasalam, 74, still shapes clay using the 'throwing wheel' technique inherited from his father to make claypots, rice cookers and water jars. 'We do use modern pottery machines at the factory, but at this shop, I maintain the traditional methods,' said the owner of Ramadas Pottery Factory. 'Tourists enjoy watching the old techniques and many want to try making the pottery themselves,' he told Bernama during Tourism Malaysia's Star Healing 2025 programme at his premises. Ramadas, who began pottery-making in 1976, said there was demand for claypots, as people were aware of their benefits over modern cookware. 'These claypots are cleaner and safer to use,' he said. 'When Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (Sirim) tested them, it was proven that my pottery is free from chemical content. 'That's why many customers still choose these pots for traditional cooking.' According to him, pottery items last up to a year with regular use and even longer as decorative pieces. Ramadas's factory produces between 3,000 and 4,000 small items per month. — Photos: Bernama Recognised in 2012 as a Master Craftsperson (Adiguru) in Pottery Craft by the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (MHDC), Ramadas has not just relied on his father's legacy. He continued building his skills through courses locally and abroad, including in Indonesia, India, Vietnam, China and at the Malaysian Institute of Art. 'I didn't want my knowledge to stagnate with only what my father taught me,' he said. 'That's why I sought new knowledge to improve my techniques and styles so they evolve with the times.' His dedication paid off in 2000 when he opened a factory with a RM2,000 grant from then Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib. 'At the time, he came as a tourist and watched me make pottery the traditional way. 'After 20 minutes, he immediately offered me assistance.' Today, his factory produces between 3,000 and 4,000 small items per month, with larger pieces reaching a similar volume. He uses about one tonne of clay monthly and continues to run pottery classes at his workshop. 'I'm happy when people come not just to buy, but to learn. 'As long as there is interest, I will keep making pottery,' he said. According to Ramadas, the classes attract not only local tourists, but also participants from the United States, Russia and Italy. For those interested in experiencing the craft, appointments can be made for a two-hour session where Ramadas will guide participants in making two basic pottery items.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Dalit organisations announce plan to build Buddha Gaya memorial
Mysuru: After opposing the Ramadas family from constructing the Sri Ram Mandir, a section of Dalit organisations announced on Tuesday the building of the Buddha Gaya of South India in Harohalli village. This is the place from where the Krishna Shila for the Ram Lalla idol installed at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir was selected. Speaking to reporters, former mayor K Purushottam informed that on Wednesday at 11am, the foundation for the proposed memorial would be laid by planting a sapling of a Peepal tree. "This event will be held to mark the 2,569th Buddha Poornima," he said. "Buddha and Ambedkar memorial will be built here on the land donated by local Dalit leaders, including the Ramadas family, to guide our society," he said.
Hans India
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Kerala Village Raises Rs. 40 Lakh To Reclaim Beloved 70-Year-Old Community Football Ground
In an inspiring display of community solidarity, residents of Chunangad village in Kerala's Palakkad district collectively gathered ₹40 lakh to repurchase a parcel of land that had served as their community football ground for more than seven decades. The one-acre plot, previously owned by the Sangethathil family, had been a vital community space in Ottapalam for generations, hosting not only football matches but also temple festivals, Onam celebrations, and various community gatherings. When the family decided to distribute the property among its 54 heirs, the ground was fenced off and closed to public use, causing significant distress throughout the village. Ramadas, a retired educator who chaired the public committee organized to acquire the ground, explained the community's approach: "When local protests emerged, some heirs refused to return the property to community use. We then approached a prominent resident, Padmanabhan Nair, requesting he purchase the plot with our agreement to buy it from him later. Though Padmanabhan later passed away, his elder son honored the arrangement, allowing us the time needed to raise funds." The acquisition process faced numerous obstacles, including a six-month delay in registering the Shooters Club and Charitable Trust, which was formed specifically to facilitate the purchase. These complications severely hampered fundraising efforts. "After several unsuccessful fundraising attempts, we established a goal of collecting one lakh rupees per cent of land. Many people throughout the Ottapalam area contributed to this effort," Ramadas noted. "We're especially grateful to Abbas, the trust's managing trustee, who personally contributed ₹10 lakh when we encountered a funding shortfall." To date, the community has successfully purchased 38 cents of the property, with procedures underway to acquire the remaining 12 cents. The committee intends to develop the entire area into a dedicated Sevens football ground—a popular football format in Kerala. Children in the area expressed tremendous happiness about regaining access to their cherished playground. "We're thrilled to have our playground back. Everyone united and contributed around ₹40 lakhs for it," said one child, highlighting the emotional significance of the space for younger residents. Villagers see this initiative as more than preserving a recreational space—it's also about safeguarding their youth. "Today's children increasingly face issues with substance abuse, often isolating themselves with mobile phones. Having children actively playing here morning and evening makes this ground a symbol of our resistance against drug abuse," explained several residents. Kerala's profound connection to football is well-documented, with the state regularly making headlines for its passionate football culture. The collective effort in Chunangad adds another significant chapter to the state's enduring relationship with the sport, demonstrating how football serves not merely as a game but as a powerful catalyst for community identity, unity, and resilience.
Scroll.in
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Supreme Court upholds suspension of PhD scholar from TISS, but allows reinstatement
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the suspension of PhD scholar Ramadas Prini Sivanandan from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences for 'repetitive misconduct' and alleged anti-national activities, Live Law reported. However, the court reduced Ramadas' two-year suspension to the time that he had already served until Friday and ordered his reinstatement, The Hindu reported. The bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan noted that Ramadas should be given the opportunity to finish his doctoral studies. Ramadas welcomed the Supreme Court's decision in a Facebook post. He said that the denial of education to a student was not only a personal matter, but one that impacts the 'fundamental rights of countless students and the question of campus democracy in our higher education system'. 'Though this period has been a tough fight, taking away a significant amount of time from my education and daily life, I am glad that I could also be a small part of the resistance,' he said. On April 18, 2024, the institute had suspended him from the School of Developmental Studies in its Mumbai campus for two years. A day after Ramadas was suspended, the Progressive Students' Forum had claimed that the action was taken because he had participated in protests against the Bharatiya Janata Party government. The students' forum claimed that Ramadas, who is also a student leader, had received a show cause notice from the registrar of the institute in March 2024, objecting to his activism, specifically his participation in the Parliament March in Delhi in January 2024 and his post on social media encouraging students to watch the documentary Ram Ke Naam as an 'anti-national act'. Ram Ke Naam is a National Film Award-winning 1992 documentary by filmmaker Anand Patwardhan about the campaign by Hindutva groups to build a Ram temple at the site of the erstwhile Babri mosque in Ayodhya. On its part, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences said that Ramadas was suspended for two years due to 'repetitive misconduct over a period of time'. 'Throughout his tenure, Ramadas KS exhibited a shift in focus towards activities unrelated to his academic pursuits, engaging in events, protests, and other activities influenced by personal political agendas,' the institute had said on April 20, 2024. 'Despite repeated verbal and written advisories from the TISS Administration to prioritise academic commitments, Ramadas KS failed to comply.' In May 2024, Ramadas moved the Bombay High Court challenging his suspension. The plea was rejected in March, prompting him to approach the Supreme Court. In his petition, he claimed that the order was imposed without properly considering his explanations. The suspension violated his constitutional rights, including the right to freedom of speech and association, the petition said. It added that the Tata Institute of Social Sciences had fabricated a narrative to vilify him to punish him for his political activities and views.
