ISLAMABAD: A seven-day pottery making event at Lok Virsa, which aimed to draw children to traditional art making skills, concluded on Sunday.

The Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology (Heritage Museum) remained a craft-making hub from October 5 to 11. Around 500 students participated in the training programme.

A Lok Virsa spokesman said some 200 adults interacted with renowned potters and learnt pottery making techniques.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fauzia Saeed said the Heritage Museum highlighted one specific craft for a week every month where artisans were invited to interact with children and tell them about their traditions.

She called the pottery making week a success and said the training session was an experiment aiming at sowing the seeds of a pluralistic society.

She said: “The younger generation, we hope, will take care of our country in the future and make it a pluralistic society where people of all cultures, languages and traditions living in Pakistan will appreciate each other as valued Pakistani citizens.”

A senior artisan from Hala, which is considered the centre for pottery making, said: “I learnt the art of pottery making from my grandfather. The designs and motifs found in pottery from Hala are so different from pottery designs from elsewhere in Pakistan.”

Naveed Ahmed, a pottery master from Multan, said he, along with some friends, had trained many young people from low-income families in the art of making the very famous blue Multani pottery and that his students are now creating their own master pieces.

Four master potters showcased their craftsmanship in the seven-day event, including Niaz Ahmad from Saidpur village Islamabad, Faqir Mohammad from Sindh, Sardar Ali from KP and Naveed Ahmed from Multan.

The programme was organised by Lok Virsa under its ongoing series, ‘Craft of the Month’.

The Federal Directorate of Education, Pakistan Baitul Mal and the National Centre for Special Education collaborated with Lok Virsa in hosting the event.

Published in Dawn, October 12th , 2015

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