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Terracotta Craft of Bastar

The word stands for baked earth

People

Devnath of Edka village is one of the legends of Bastar and the reason for the current magnificent form of terracotta elephant. Animal figures were always the part of votive terracotta culture, but had a simpler form. Devnath learnt the craft at his in-law’s village Baniyagaon. It was at the age of eighteen, when he mastered the craft and gave the bastar elephant altogether a new and beautiful form. His source of inspiration was the elephant of the king of Jagdalpur. He came back to Edka and taught everyone the details of his creation. It became famous and people started noticing the beautiful form of it. Now many craftsmen make this terracotta elephant but still no one is able to reach the precision and beauty of Devnath’s elephant. He was honored with the National Award in 1977. He is more than ninety years in age and unable to communicate anymore.
His elder son Bahadur is a potter and has learnt the craft from his father. His nephew Parmu Ram Pandey is a craftsman doing pottery since the age of twenty. Apart from animal figures, he also makes planters, matka, surahi and new designs. Parmu Ram has traveled to the cities of Bhopal, Delhi, Raipur and Bhilai, showcasing his work.

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Terracotta Craft of Bastar