The clock struck 3:45 pm on 17th August 2025, and the campus of Career Point Gurukul, Kota, lit up with excitement. A pottery-making workshop was about to begin, and students from classes 6th to 10th, along with several enthusiastic participants, gathered to try their hands at the age-old craft. Experts from Khadi India had arrived with motor-operated pottery wheels, and soon, the air was filled with curiosity and anticipation.
The first attempts were clumsy. Clay slipped away, collapsed into lumps, and left many giggling at their crooked creations. Yet the students refused to give up. Guided by the steady hands of the artisans, they began to understand the rhythm of the spinning wheel. Slowly, the clay responded, and simple shapes took form. What began as uncertainty soon turned into confidence, and before long, proud smiles spread across the faces of young potters.
This experience was not just about shaping clay; it was about touching history. Pottery has always been a part of India’s culture, whether in the earthen pots that cooled water for generations or the decorative blue pottery of Rajasthan and the terracotta craft of Bengal. Every piece of clay carries with it centuries of tradition, reminding us of our connection to the earth and the hands that shape it.
And as the students molded the clay, a quiet truth emerged. Pottery is not so different from life itself. Children, like clay, need care, patience, and gentle guidance. With the right support, they too can be molded into strong and beautiful individuals. Watching the spinning wheels became a lesson in philosophy: that shaping futures requires as much patience as shaping clay.
By the end of the workshop, the courtyard was filled with clay-smudged hands, laughter, and the pride of creation. Each student carried home not just a pot or a vase but an experience that tied together culture, creativity, and life’s deeper meaning.
Tanishka Bhide (12th Commerce)
