THE colourful and fragile products on sale are an eerie reminder of the precarious nature of their makers' existence. An eye-catching pottery market, an oasis of traditional art set against the glass-and-concrete glitz of tony malls just down a busy south Delhi road, is testimony to both the artisans' handcrafting skill and their struggle for survival.

Located on the Press Enclave Marg in Saket, the growing market housing some 20 roadside shops has seen numerous ups and downs during its 50-year existence. "Earlier, we used to sell flower pots, matkas and surahis. Very basic items only," Datta Ram, whose father came from Rajasthan in 1965 to settle in the locality, said.

Today the market offers an array of items made with terracotta clay and ceramic, including ethnic pots, crockery, idols, wind chimes, wall hangings and vases in vibrant colours. Introducing more variety of items was more a necessity than luxury. "Our kilns were shut down about eight years ago by police due to the pollution they created. It is only for 15-20 days during Diwali time that we can use them. Police don't say anything then," Kamal Kumar said. Since their kilns were shut, the potters were left to adapt to new circumstances. "I shifted to ceramic because of the high maintenance cost of earthenware. Once the manufacturing was out of the picture, we got time to think about other products too,"another artisan, Sonu said.

"Despite being potters we don't make earthenware but purchase them from Kolkata," Kamal Kumar added. Another potter, Raju, explained: "Products made from Delhi's clay don't have the high level of finishing compared to Kolkata products."

Except for a couple of them, all potters import goods from Kolkata, Rajasthan or Uttar Pradesh. "We started getting earthenware from Kolkata and Rajasthan and concentrated on other items as per the demands and feedback of the customers," said 33-year-old Anand Kumar, another potter.

Pottery is a traditional craft for these people. Descending from Pakistan, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, these families have collectively established one of the biggest pottery markets in Delhi. But that has not lessened their hardships. "The business is slow in winters. Sometimes we make Rs 20, sometimes Rs 50, a day. Sales are good only during Diwali," said Meena, 45, who like other women in the area, takes care of the sales counter while her husband works as a clay-modeling teacher at a nearby school.

Looking for a complementary income, many potters have taken up the job of teaching clay-modelling at schools. With a fixed earning of Rs 3,000-4,000 a month, these potters can at least arrange two square meals a day for their families. Some from the present generation also tried to change their profession.