Molela

Documentary Assignment ICH Craft Documentation UNESCO Nomination Molela Rajasthan

34

In that dark evening, amidst the whispers of the aunts and the simmering of the elder brother Shaking in the hands, blabbering voice, legs running up and down Expecting something with all the possible thoughts...

What it asked, couldn’t spell anything more then.

In the nation which got its independence at midnight, there is also a loud cry, sounding “amma” in all the noise All pointing to her, that she has given birth to a baby boy All the people there welcoming the new entry and the dad leaving a relieved breath, besides feeling great ...

Albert Mehrabian is noted for finding a 7%-38%-55% rule, denoting how much communication was conferred by words, tone, and body language.

However he was referring to cases of expressing feelings or attitudes, such as when a person says “I do not have a problem with you!” when people commonly focus on the tone of voice, and body language of the person, rather than the actual words said.* * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language

Days went past... so many welcomed then...

Time moved on from the time so many welcomed me to this world Habituated to be the cute chubby boy, and the usual tease from the neighbourhood It is all over after a certain time.

They would even charge to smile at me now With those curly hairs, I was here competing with my bother...

Oh no, I went where ever he went... thought of over ruling him, But I have been over ruled by those thoughts He became the bench mark for me... people insisted to follow him...

I couldn’t get out him even till now.

I keep walking behind him.

Whether studies or sports, I couldn’t stop helping myself from his ways.

Got a advice for the younger brothers... going to the same school of your brother

Is just like hiding the sun with your hands, till the time you come out in your path...

Both my mom and dad grew us up, but for me it has to be my mom always, when it comes to some trouble Even now, I am hesitant to get things from my dad.

It has become a habit for me to be in search of my brother even today, And it is a habit for him to take it not so seriously.

To praise and do that opposite in the same words is a useless one, like this one...

Till the time, the elder doesn’t try to be younger, the young one is good.

Till the time, the younger doesn’t try to become elder, the relation is good.

-Niruphan Rajendran (Translated from his Tamil poetry) Taking cues from the above verses written by my brother, I found a meaning in this boy’s conduct and the language of his body at his home. This boy, Mohit, son of the potter from Molela, Rajasthan, is surviving with this art of terracotta along with his family. This distinguished craft exclusively belongs to this region. I went originally to document the craft towards saving it. I observed Mohit, his un spoken words. This made me realise, how much a body and its movement can speak about a person. Mohit was continuously conversing, expressing himself about his place, state of their bread and butter, their craft. The non-verbal communication, consisting of body poses, gestures, and eye movements sends the innate signals unconsciously. These are eventually subjected to our interpretation.

35

36

Shortlisted in Top-20 for TOTO Awards from TFA, Bangalore, for this year 2010. (part 2 of 2)

37

Documentary Work

38

We (Amruta and me) with the potter’s family.

Twelve families left in the entire community who mastered this terracota, and continuing to survive with the same. This nomination, if won will give them that much needed identity and recognition for them from the world. The above picture depicts the art transferring only within the family roots, and for various reasons, they had kept that a secret from the outsiders. This body of work let me feel and understand the strength of documentary.

39