The Birth of the Good Earth Ganesh

Ganeshas from Good Earth
Large one by Somashekhar
and others by trainees and young friends

The birth of Perin’s Ganesh was the beginning of our studio at Bhulabhai Memorial Institute changing the focus of the studio from advertising art to studio pottery. Ganesh known to be an obstacle remover, Perin did not give up in the face of the obstacles when she began creating clay ganeshas. Initially there was borrowed materials, borrowed space in the tiny copper enamel kiln of our artist friend Chandrakant (Babu) Mhatre. He would lend us his kiln to use after he packed up for the day. Once the experiments proved successful, Perin’s small red Ganeshas in ceramic became a hit. Whoever saw it wanted one for themselves. It was Hema Sankalia who found these Ganeshas worthwhile to introduce into her shop CAC (Contemporary Arts and Crafts), and thereafter there was no looking back. They were ready to take any number of the Ganeshas that we/Perin could make. The little Red Ganesh became famous.

A very special Ganesh, wheel thrown-cut and altered,
glazed in red made by Perin at  Good Earth, Alibag.

Much later, our studio, Good Earth was set up in Alibag,  and we started making not just the small red Ganesh but a wide variety of Ganeshas in various colours and sizes, assisted by Somashekar, our very talented help (a traditional potter by birth). Somashekar could sculpt freehand (and still can) the traditional Ganesh idol with all the details in any size ranging from half an inch to a metre. Perin also trained quite a few young boys and girls of the village to make similar Ganeshas and other small artifacts in clay under the training scheme of the District Industries Centre - Alibag and KVIC.

Talking about Sri Ganesh

Perin and I (by birth Zorastrian and Catholic respectively) are not Hindus, and have no tradition of Ganesh belief, yet strangely we were fascinated by the form of Ganesh more than 40 years ago. I cannot forget when Perin created her first clay Ganesh at Bhulabhai Memorial Institute with only two hands, (not the mythological four hands) till an artist friend corrected her.

An image closest to the Ganesh  in my memory that I found on the  net.
Courtesy - MyScrawls.com

My first memory of Ganesh comes back to me, when I was only ten or twelve years old in Kerala where very few people celebrate the Ganesh festival like in Maharashtra and there is no public celebration as such. However, it is strange how I came across Ganesh at that time. In Kerala, the Government hospitals and other offices have people from other states, especially from Mangalore. My sister (Ally) who was two years older and me used to go and play with the children of the district doctor  - Dr. Kamat from Mangalore, who lived next door. He had a son and daughter – Navin and Shashi. They were called ‘Konkanis’ in Kerala, being from Konkan and speaking Konkani. One of the days when we went to play at their home – our friends were in festive clothes and the whole house was full of festivities and gaiety. The highlight of the day was, when they brought out a small white Ganesh on a colourful ‘patla’ decorated with flowers and other decorations, singing and shouting, slogans in praise of Ganesh.

One of the family members carried the patla with the idol (not more than three inches tall) to the family well adjoining their house, and the others followed in a procession. I looked closely at the idol – something I was seeing for the first time – it was made out of edible white rice flour dough (rice atta) created in a rough artistic rendition. I now wonder if it was made from the same material that they make modaks.

The climax of the immersion – Everybody had gathered around, the regular aluminium bucket used to draw water was brought up on its rope – the idol of Sri Ganesh on a leaf was placed in the empty bucket, flowers, kumkum and other things were put around it, admist the shouting of slogans and the bucket was lowered. We all stood and eagerly watched till the bucket immersed in the water and the Ganesh idol disappeared into the drinking water.

What a beautiful way of the Ganesh immersion – I can’t think of any better way. Truly eco-friendly!

Ala re ala, Ganapati Bappa Moriya!

Yesterday (Sept 18, 2012):

The arrival of the God Ganesh (Elephant God).

Today (Sept 19, 2012):

The day of farewell to the shortest staying Ganesh. All over the city is reverberating with the slogan – Ganapati Bappa Moriya, Pudchaya Varshi Lavkar Ya! (Hail Elephant God, Come soon next year). A beautiful concept of hope, hope for prosperity and peace, which probably lasts for only 12 days.

 

The entire country is witnessing another reverberation of people’s slogans – ‘roll back the price hike in diesel, gas and other products’; ‘withdraw the FDI bill’. The people’s movement is also to bring prosperity and lasting peace. I am not sure which of the wishes will really bring the desired results. The former is based on faith and hope and it is a wish for a miracle. It is less effort and an easy way out; the latter is the harder way – a struggle of people to achieve the same peace and prosperity – the right of people in a democratic society.

The end will decide if the means are right.

It is heartening to note that awareness has increased and this year there have been more eco-friendly idols and atleast a small minority of people who have taken up this idea seriously. Hope this concept will spread and reduce the already high level of pollution and waste in the environment.

More of my thoughts on Sri Ganesh in my next blog.

Written in Jaslok on 19th Septermber, the day of the 1 and 1/2 day Ganesh visarjan. Posted on 22nd September 2012

Sept 16

September 15