A Potter's Dream - Guleria Pottery of Badgaon

 One of the most ancient crafts in the world is pottery making.

With Arun's large family and officers of the state

Arun Guleria with his little daughter 

 The potter’s wheel was invented somewhere between 6^th to 4^th BCE in Mesopotamia and since then the world has produced exquisite pottery of all shapes, colors and sizes. It not only is beautiful but has held an important place in enhancing the heritage and culture of all the civilizations world over. Apparently, pottery is one of the most durable form of art and has helped a lot in tracing history, connecting connections and indicating the financial status of a particular region or culture.  

Today also Pottery is considered to be a great hobby to have - as it’s mentally and physically soothing, almost therapeutic. Most of us are fascinated by the idea of creating something beautiful with our own hands.  And if one can do it professionally than it is a God’s blessing. Mr Arun Guleria is one such blessed Artisan/Potter/Terracotta maker in Bilaspur district of Himachal who creates exquisite blue/green pottery. Fascinating is his story and his art – “The Guleria Pottery of Badgaon”.

Walking to wards his home cum workshop

A warm welcome by Arun's Aunt

Steps leading to his dreamland - with his father Mr Bhupender Singh Guleria

And his beautiful workshop 

Arun basically is a graduate and an ITI diploma holder in fruit preservation who tried working for a cooperative in Palampur as an assistant manager for 3 years. But his interest was fine arts; an interest he inherited from his father. Arun left his job and undertook a year’s training in pottery from the famous Anderetta Pottery of Palampur (the oldest pottery in Himachal) in 2007 and then worked with them as an assistant potter for 8 years. In 2017 he took a risk and ventured on his own and started his own pottery wheel and kiln in his village Badgaon in Jhanduta sub division of Bilaspur.

The initial going obviously was not easy as the nearest city from his village is an hour’s drive and the income was also not regular. But Himachal believes in strong family ties and his family especially his parents supported him a lot. Now he makes and sell his art regularly and is getting popular by the day.

I got to know about his art in 2021 when a friend Kumud Singh (then MD Handicrafts Corporation, HP) gifted two bowls and a fruit plate of his. I liked them so much that located him in Delhi where he was participating in an exhibition and picked most of his serving bowls to give away as return gifts for my anniversary party.  I kept in touch with him and also tried to tell as many as possible about his beautiful work but had never visited his workshop. Coincidentally while I was writing this blog, a friend of mine 'Preeti Jain' sends me a pic of the bowl I had gifted her with her home cooked coconut chutney - obviously I had to add it in my Blog. 😀

Tea Cups

Fruit Plates 

Serving Bowl - Photo credit Preeti Jain 

Recently I planned a trip to Bilaspur and also decided to go and visit him - not realizing that his village is an hour away and also deep inside off the main highway with a kaccha road diversion for 3 km. On hearing this there was a slight hesitation as the weather was bad but I was determined to go as if there was a calling. And what an experience it turned out to be. Never had I or my family ever imagined that there would be such a well-planned workshop and display of beautiful pottery in such a remote area.

The budding potters 

It was surreal. I was completely enthralled by the goods displayed and the surroundings. My heart begged me that I should think of taking a 2 week break, come and stay in this serene beautiful place and learn pottery – in quiet and peace. Maybe one day.

I was surprised to learn that all his raw material – the clay used - is local from his village and the colors and dyes all come via courier. I was further amazed that his maximum sale is through on line booking through his web page (easily available on net). He packs his goods and carries them to the nearest ‘Barathi’ (a small town) to be couriered or if the order is big - one of his associates (he has few now) travels by bus to deliver them to Delhi, Shimla or Chandigarh.  He mostly stays home and works on his wheel for 4-5 hours a day and then does other work of designing them and heating them. 

Obviously his entire family is now an expert including his extended family and the children. The passion has got extended to his village as well; now there are 20 wheels in his village where ladies make pottery and he buys from them per piece. He also organizes workshops at various places to train adults and children in this art. His dream is to create as much interest in pottery as possible.

The clay mixing machine where the local clay is brought and mixed well to make it smooth 

The Kiln where the pottery is fired 

The colors, dyes and Glaze chemicals 

His humble but beautiful home

He specializes in coffee mugs, tea sets, fruit plates, different bowls, lamps, glasses, figurines and many more. He creates beautiful designs and glazes them. The colors are predominantly blue and green with shades of brown. As he has received his initial training from Andretta one can see similarities in the two art form. His art in mostly available online, in Himachal Emporiums and in exhibitions of DilliHaat and Pragati Maidan. 

A beautiful Eagle being gifted by Arun's parents Mr Bhpender Guleria and Sarita Guleria to my mother 

But most of all what really is inspiring is his passion and grit. A man from such a remote corner of Himachal is going places and mostly by his own entrepreneurship. Kudos to him, his dreams and his will to succeed. Himachal definitely needs more artisans like him with admirable passion for their work and skill.

 Prabodh (my husband) is quite amused at my trial at the potter's wheel

 I am also inspired to live my potter’s dream – not the Harry Potter one but the ‘Guleria Pottery of Badgaon’ one. I did try my hands at the wheel and did make a vase (totally with Arun’s help) and was elated….so maybe one day. Life after all is what but full of surprises.