Ceramics and me

I am in ceramics for so many years now. 18 odd years may be!!
The term ceramics as is known in most of Pune, is not what the word is known in the rest of  the world . In Pune they buy pots from Kumbharwada and paint them with various media and call it "Cold Ceramics".One must admit that these articles are very attractive but they do not appeal to the purist.
Basically 'ceramics' means heated clay and the process involves all the elements of the universe:prithvi ,aap,aakash,vayu ,tej and agni.By the combinations of these  factors the craftsman produces an article which is either an object of art or of utility
Over the years, most of the articles produced by me have been given away to friends and relations.Some of the articles with me are in the picture below.

Some of my handwork

How did I get into this rather bizarre hobby for a practicing medical professional?

Perhaps, at the back of my mind was my school days experience . I had spent a few days holidays(in 1944 to be precise) at my cousin's place at Khanapur near Belgaum.in Karnataka He had opened a ceramics factory. A few days  that I spent with him I used to go to his factory and dabble in shaping something out of clay by hand or on a wheel or in molds.I used to process in the kiln whatever I made kiln  including glazing. I found the experience quite fascinating at that time.

Bal Wad

May be with this background,  in 1990 when my granddaughter was 8 year old I wanted to gift her a potter's wheel to her on her birthday
. It took me 3 years to locate and buy an electric potter's wheel. But by now the child had grown out of a possibility of getting into this rather' dirty ' hobby, specially in a small balcony of my daughter's flat on 23rd floor of her building on Peddar Road in Mumbai.

I thought why not I get into this hobby? I then started looking for a 'guru' and was extremely fortunate to find one in amache Pune, in the person of Shri Bal Wad.

 Having plenty of space in the premises of my bungalow I was able to construct a kiln; wood fired to start with and then the present LPG fired one. My present kiln provided with a pyrometer and I have also fabricated kiln furniture

 I acquired books and also got an opportunity to work with renowned ceramics artists like Nirmala Patwardhan, and Kristine Michele. In 1993 I got a placement with Ray Meeker at his Golden Bridge Pottery at Pondichery. I couldn't attend his 6 month's course as I developed sprain in my knee followed by osteoarthritis

 I attended workshops at a number of places like Sanskriti in Delhi and a Raku Course at IIT, Powai, Mumbai

I have also gave demonstrations at my friend Tino Gasper's workshop at Verne in Goa and participated in Art exhibitions sponsored by  late Surabhi Nag.

In 1999 I had a pleasant experience of meeting Shri Kripal Singh of Jaipur Blue fame.

Bal Wad used to talk about his guru, in ceramics especially in glazing, a "Mr. Kale'. A Mr. Kale this and "Mr. Kale that every now and then!!.

One day when Bal Wad was away while I was working at his studio an old gentleman walked in. We were both surprised to see each other. As we were expressing our surprise Bal wad walked in. He introduced me to the stranger as 'Mr. Kale' his 'guru' who was no other than my cousin from Khanapur - Haribhau. After an unsuccessful attempt at running a ceramic factory, Haribhau Kale left Khanapur and joined ACC. There he got himself a name as an expert in ceramicsin general and glazing in particular !!

A circle in my training at ceramics was thus completed when I met Haribhau 44 years later *.

* Of course we used to meet at family get together, but never ever did word 'ceramics' was mentioned in our conversation !