Living Traditions: Occupational Resilience of Kumar Potters in The River Island of Majuli, Assam

Abstract

Traditional occupations are not as specialized and skillful as modern occupations, which, under the impact of industrialization and urbanization, have become more and more specialized, involving more division of labour and requiring longer periods of technical training. Moreover, in contemporary society, many new occupations related to transport and communication, trade, finance, and government are emerging, which were not present in traditional society. In traditional society, the choice and selection of occupation depend on factors such as age, sex, caste, and class, birth, whereas in modern society, it is more based on rational grounds such as merit, efficiency, education, and training. This research focuses on the kumar potters from Majuli district of Assam, centered on their age- old craft of pottery making, one of humanity’s earliest forms of artistry that traces back to the prehistoric Neolithic era. The Kumar potters in Salmara village, situated on the northwestern edge of Majuli district in Assam, maintain this legacy. This document examines the traditional work of the kumar potters in Salmara village and investigates how they preserve their pottery- making skill across various generations.