Andretta Pottery Studio and Craft Society date back to as far as 1985.
The love for pottery that led to the creation of Andretta Pottery Studio’s legacy.
NORAH RICHARDS
Sometime in the 1920’s, when the British Empire was in its days of decline, a young Irish women named Norah Richards arrived in Andretta Village. A dramatist and environmentalist lived in the village for 30 years, through the time of partition until her death in 1970.
As she was a dramatist some of her plays were translated to Punjabi which then inspired the Punjab government to ask her to hold theatre workshops. In her house she had an amphitheatre where she conducted plays and had her workshops. It was later she became known as the grand mother of Punjabi theatre.
During the time of Norah, there were vibrant discussions about art, drama and the philosophy of living in a rural environment. Her ideas were very sound on how one should live in the countryside, using local materials for building houses, how you should live in harmony with nature and encourage local people to do the same. She also called Sadar Gurcharan Singh the master potter from Delhi to create a small pottery studio for summer use in Andretta.
Much later on when his son Mansimran Singh moved to Andretta having managed to get a grant from central Delhi Government to form a rural marketing centre. This started functioning in 1985 and it encompassed theAndretta Pottery and Craft Society here which is now run by Mansimsingh & Mary Singh (Mini and Mary).
SARDAR GURUCHARAN SINGH
The Andretta Pottery Studio and Craft Society dates back to as far as 1983. The love for pottery that led to the creation of Andretta studio was a result of much earlier efforts of Padma Shri Sardar Gurucharan Singh Father of studio pottery in India. This love found its roots by accident! Between 1925 and 1929 Gurcharan Singh worked with his father’s friend Sardar Ram Singh Kabuli at Delhi Pottries where tiles, bricks, pots, and molded pottery were being made.Ram Singh Kabli sent him to Japan for further studies in commercial ceramics. However Gurcharan Singh Ji fell in love with studio pottery when he visited the Japanese potters in the country side. On return from Japan he married Ram Singh Kabulis adopted daughter. In 1929 Gurcharan Singh bought some land near Dehi Pottries work and build a house there.He was a founder member of the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) by 1927. Post this, he was unstoppable in spreading the love for pottery.
He was head of the Government Pottery Institute at Ambala for a long time. Afterwards, he started the Delhi Blue Art Pottery. Which is now known as the Delhi Blue. In 1974 Gurucharan Singh got awarded the Sahitya Kala Parishad’s best artist award. Followed by the Padmashree in 1991, one of the most honorable awards in India. He also authored Pottery in India, published in 1979.
MANSIMRAN SINGH
Mansimran Singh, fondly known as ‘mini’ is Gurucharan Singh ji’s son. He studied pottery with his father,and then joined him in the business of pottery making. He went to UK and when he returned to Delhi he met his future wife Mary, who was his student. Later, they moved together to Andretta Village in Himachal Pradesh where they started the Andretta Pottery & Crafts Society with the help of Central Gov funding.They were keen to help local potters and promote their traditional work through exhibitions in various cities.This was also funded by Central Gov. They established the Andretta Pottery and Craft Society in 1983, with a view to promoting and preserving the rich but dying crafts of the region. Minis wife Mary involved herself with local women creating a group funded by OXFAM in which women learnt vegetable dyeing, knitting, weaving and spinning.Since the inception of the Andretta Pottery Mansimran Singh has been teaching students from all over the world until his retirement in 2019.Since then he’s been keeping in contact with students and giving advice when required along with his wife Mary.
JUGAL SANKHYAN
Jugal Ji first interaction happened with pottery in 1987 while he was working with DidiContractor who use to stay in Andretta at that point. During that time Jugal ji use to make solar cookers with her.He worked with multiple NGO’S in most rural parts of India teaching people the how to use solar energy to cook food to further reduce carbon footprint.
In 1995 he came in contact with Mini & Mary seeking to do something new and different in his life. Mini & Mary gave him the opportunity to be a part of Andretta pottery in 1997.He joined as the manager and mainstay of Andretta Pottery. Jugal ji had given almost as much to the enterprise as its founders, Mansimran “Mini” and Mary Singh unitl he passed away at the age of 46. With the couple soon to turn 80 and Kishore ji no longer there to steer. The eldest of three siblings, Shubham Sankhyan returned to his village, Andretta leaving behind his aeronautical engineering career in Delhi.
SHUBHAM SANKHYAN
Thanks to his father Jugal Kishore : Clay has been Shubhams best friend since he was 2 years old. He grew up with a lot of creative people who came to the studio from across the world. Upon reaching adulthood Shubham acquired his formal training from Mini, Mary, Sandeep Manjeerakar, Rajesh Kulkarni & the potters who have been working in the studio since the beginning Milap ji & Kishorilal ji. Heis currently a passionate member of the Andretta Pottery studio. He has been working on the premises since 2014. Shubham Sankhyan doesn’t want to exchange the green environment & clay life for the concrete jungle. He is keen on taking Andretta pottery to the next level and reviving traditional art of this region. He takes classes twice a year to produce pottery & manage the studio.He has successfully exhibited his work at Anandgram, Sanskriti kala Kendra, Aurovile, Ahmedabad etc. Shubham has also been able to create an online digital presence for Andretta Pottery Studio.
KISHORILAL CHAWHAN
Having been born in a small village called Barram where both his parents were potters, Kishorilal Ji from childhood only use to help out in pottery with his parents. They would carry pots to sell them at local melas& villages against barter for grain. Kishorilal ji formed a great bonding with clay. In 1995 Mini & Mary were recruiting potters for the studio and through some relatives of Kishorilal ji , a letter of invitation was sent to him to join the studio. After joining 1995, till date, Kishorilal ji has dedicatedly worked towards the growth of Andretta Pottery.In addition to making his own traditional pottery, he has also learnt to make any shape required for studio pottery.
MILAP JI
Once Mini & Mary had set basein Andretta Village, there was great curiosity that spread around. Milap ji who stayed right behind the studio, often visited the studio and would watch potters endlessly for almost 2-3 years before enthusiastically approachingMini & Mary to join in the studio with them. Upon joining the studio in 1995 he already had an idea of the complete running studio. Without any help or teaching Milap ji had started preparing the clay, wedging, throwing, making glazes, bisque firing to glaze firing just by observing potters earlier. Having self-learnt by observation, he had soon become one of the most important potters at the studio mastering slip design. Till date Milap ji is one ofthe main potter at the studio.
RAJ KUMAR (ID MOHAMAD)
Mini & Mary had started a tourist advice centre in 2002 and were recruiting people who could manage and help tourists. Jugal ji being their manager helped Mini & Mary recruit Raj Kumar ji. Born in Chamba, Raj kumar ji reached Andretta and worked in the center as a care taker for 5 years. Upon the shutting down of the center Raj Kumar ji joined Andretta Pottery in 2006 where he started wedging clay, making glazes & buying raw materials. He is now managing the studio& the showroom. He is the main guy who entertains guests at the studio.
SURESH JI
Maximum time of a potter goes into hard labour which includes clay making, wedging , kneading, glaze preparation, cleaning the kiln shelf and much more. Since the beginning of pottery, Suresh ji has been working faithfully & taking care of all the hard work & clay requirements in the studio.
MONU
Son of Raj Kumar ji, Monu is also a good friend of Shubham, he had observed his father & Shubham working at the studio. Monu was working in Chandigarh at Pvr Cinemas in 2014 -2018with erratic work timings & city life. Monu was looking for stability& peace of the village mountain life. He soon decided to join his father & Shubham to pursue working in the pottery. Since 2018 Monu has been a potter with Andretta Pottery, mastering in bowls.