Chapter- 3

ORIGIN, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF

CERAMIC INDUSTRY

ORIGIN, GROWTH AND DEVELOPl\'lENT OF CERAMIC INDUSTRY

Pottery is said to be the oldest of industries that was bom of man's early attempts to

fulfill his basic necessities of life. Being one of the oldest crafts - more than 10,000 years old -

man has expressed his feelings and his aesthetic sense in clay i.e., in the form of primitive

deities on various vessels made for the storage of water and grain and in toys (Guruchan Singh,

1979). It is one of the most ancient arts that has grown with human civilization. The oldest

literary documents of vedic culture have several references to ceramic pots. References also

have been found in Upanishads about varied forms of terracotta such as bricks, water jars, cups

and jars for storing ghee curd, etc., flower pots, vases and other decorative vases, oil lamps of

various designs and patterns. The eminent historians archaeologists and vedantists commonly

agree that the vedic age is older than the Nile, Rhine, Elbe and Indus Valley civilizations.

However, many historians believe that Egypt is the country in which clay and glass were first

brought together and fused in the fmm of glazed earthernware, making it impervious to liquid.

India, Egypt, Greece, Persia and China are the main countries where pre-dynastic ceramics were

found. (Bist, N.S., 1978). Egyptian ceramic art traveled to south and west European countries

namely, Crete, Sicily, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany whereas Indian art made headway

towards Middle-East countries- Persia and Greece and also to China, Korea and Japan. The

Greek pottery and wares were the best known in the 5th century and the Greek craftsmanship

influenced the Roman art of pottery. The printed pottery was well known in China and they

exported porcelainous ware to Korea, Japan and Islamic countries (Gupta, K.C., 1988).

The art of pottery was very well known to the people of Indus valley civilization (2500

BC). They decorated the earthernwares with the figures of animals similar to that of metal

currency. The archaeological survey and findings indicate the concept of pottery work in India

during 2600 BC- 300 AD (Lothal ofHarappa Civilization- 2326 BC).

Dming the dynastic rule of Gupta, Kushan and Shakas (200 BC to 650 AD) decorative

potterywares were mostly used for social and economic purposes. During the Maurya Period the

idols of Lord Buddha were sent to Tibet, China and Japan. The art of Indian pottery attained

greater peak in the world of pottery works (Cox W.E., The Book of Pottery and Porcelain,

p.113). Different kinds of terracotta idols were made reflecting various forms, appearance and

expressions of Lord Buddha at Aawara and Kausambi situated on the bank of Chambal river and

also at Mansor of Madhya Pradesh and Chandrakgada of Bengal (Menzio Tradder; 1942). The

18

vmious geometrical shapes, human figures animal and bird motifs, flower and leaf, and other

religious symbols were profusely used in decorating the potterywares. However, due to the

imposition of tax on rural community pottery the decorative pottery work lost its charm and

colour dming post-Gupta period.

Again with the arrival of Moughals in India, they brought artisans also along with them

and patronized the art of pottery. They enthused new spirit in art, design shapes and colour of

potteryware as the Islamic religion, culture was alien to Indian Art, Culture and Society. Along

with Chengeezkhan arrived glazed pottery in Punjab and Sindh region. An Arab rich

entrepreneur started producing glazed Chinese pottety products in Hyderabad. An enthusiastic

Rajasthan emperor from Rajasthan invited several potters from Arabian countries to produce

glazed potterywares. Workmanship and red glaze of Chunar produced in Uttar Pradesh and

Tamil Nadu were famous. Black pottery products of Azamgarh and Nizamgadh of Uttar Pradesh

were also famous. Till date, Persian type ofpotterywares are produced in Khurja (U.P.) by using

glazed technique. The most important brickwork and art of sculpture were carried out by Kutub­

Udden-Aibak while constructing Kutub-Minar. Fatehpur Sikri and the Fort of Agra represent the

ceramic and sculptural artistic excellence (1206-1227).

Pottery is one of the most ancient and important village industry in India and there is

hardly a village without a potter or 'Kumbhar'. A village artisan employs the traditional

techniques in making large variety of vessels, pots required for domestic and agricultural

purposes. Any locally available plastic clay is used and is sometimes mixed with non-plastic soil

or spent wood ash or cowdung and kneaded by treading. The mixture is passed through bamboo

sieves and allowed to remain for two weeks for souring with kneadings at short intervals. Using

this plastic like clay. Potter gives shape to the article by setting the wheel in motion and his

skills. Vessel is removed from the main clay mass by cutting with a thread or wire for partially

drying in the sun. The final shape is given by beating on a round polished stone with a slab of

wood. Then articles are burnt in crude kilns using locally available fuel.

The industry in the modern sense is of comparatively recent origin. The credit of

establishing modem ceramic unit goes to D.C. Majumdar who produced commercially the fine

earthemwares in Gwalior in the year 1858. The early pottery and stoneware works to

manufacture glazed vitrified articles and salt glazed pipes was established by M/s Bum &

Company at Raniganj in 1860. In the same year the first porcelain factory was started at

Patharghatta in Bhagalpur district of Bihar and ceramic unit at Kolkatta started. The Basel

19

Mission (German) started their first ceramic industry in 1865 at Mangalore (Kamataka)

producing roofing tiles. In 1874, with the support ofHis Highness, Emperor Kasim Bazar, a new

unit- Bengal Pottery, was set up to produce fire bricks. In the early 201h century, there were

hardly half a dozen factmies in the country and the number rose to 25 in 1939 and 66 in 1957

and 125 in 1990. There are three spatial concentrations at the national level. The most important

one is in northern and eastern India covering Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal

accounting for about 44 percent of Indian ceramic units. The second important spatial

concentration is western India covering Maharashtra and Gujarat (about 22 percent and the third

one covering the southern four states - Tamil N adu, Andhra Pradesh, Kama taka and Kerala

accounting for 18 percent of the ceramic units. Other minor pockets includes Delhi, New Delhi,

Chandigarh and states such as Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, (about 17

percent). These spatial clusters have predominantly the refractories units and other units such as

crockery H.T. Insulators, Sanitarywares, Glazed Tiles, and Ceramic Capacitors and lesser in

number.

Regions/States

Eastern-Northern Region West Bengal Otissa Jharkhand Uttar Pradesh \Vestern Region

Maharashtra Guiarat

Southern Region

Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Kama taka Kerala

Other Minor Regions

Madhya Pradesh Delhi, New Delhi Chandigarh Punjab Haryana Rajasthan 1 ammu & Kashmir

Total

Table 3.1 Spatial Concentrations of Ceramic Units in India

(1990)

Refrac- Sanitary- Glazed Crockery H.T. tories wares Tiles Insula-

tors 41 1 - 6 5

19 - - 3 3 10 1 - 1 -9 - - 1 1 3 - - 1 1 9 4 6 4 1

6 1 4 2 -3

,., 2 2 1 .)

6 5 1 4 4

2 3 - 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 - - - 1 - 1 - 2 -

12 1 3 2 2

2 - - - 1 6 - 1 - -1 - - - -- - - - 1 2 1 1 1 -1 - 1 - -- - - 1 -

68 11 10 16 12

Ceramic Total Capaci-

tors 2 55

(~ - 25 1 13 - 11 1 6 3 27

(21.6) 3 16 - 11 2 22

(17.6) - 8 - 5 1 5 1 4 1 21

(16.8) - 3 - 7 1 2 - 1 - 5 - 2 - 1 8 125

20

However, the most important centres of modem and organized ceramic industries in

these regions are Kolkatta, Mumbai, Thane, Chennai, Gwalior, Khurja, Chunar Nizamabad,

Morbi, Thangadh, Dharwad, Hubli, Mangalore and Bangalore. Gujarat now occupies second

position among the Indian states as far as the ceramic units are concerned. Roofing tiles,

Sanitarywares, Glazed tiles, crockery and pottery, electric porcelain, other ceramic and artware

units together account for 671 industries in Gujarat. With regard to sanitarywares units Gujarat

accounts for 97 percent of the total small scale units and 33 percent of the large scale units of

India (Table 3.2).

States

1. Gujarat

2. Rajasthan

3. Haryana

4.Madhya Pradesh

5. Tamil Nadu

6. Andhra Pradesh

7. Orissa

8. Uttar Pradesh

9. Himachal Pradesh

10. Bihar

Table 3.2

Statewise Distribution of Sanitary units by Scale and Capacity (1999-2000)

No of Total Capa- Number of Total Capa- Total No.of Large City of Small City of SSI Units Sanitarywa Scale Large Units Scale MT/P.a. re Units Units M.T/P.q. Units

7 (3.02) 90,000 (37.50) 225 (96.98) 1,50,000 (62.50) 232 (100) (33.33) (54.54) (83.33) (96.63) (79.73)

2 (11.76) 8,000 (80.00) 15 (88.24) 2,000 (20.00) 17 (100) (9.52) (4.85) (5.55) (1.29) (5.8) 1 (100) 20,000 (1 00) - - 1 (1 00) (4.76) (12.12) (0.34) 1 (1 00) 4,000 (100) - - 1 (1 00) (4.76) (2.42) (0.34)

3 (15 .. 79) 15,000 (87.21) 16 (84.21) 2,200 (12.79) 19 (100) (14.28) (9.09) (5.93) (1.42) (6.53) 4 (100) 18,000 (100) - - 4 (100) (19.05) (10.90) (1.37) 3 (1 00) 10,000 (1 00) - - 3 (100) (14.28) (6.06) (1.03)

- - 9 (100) 225 (100) 9 (100) (3.33) (0.14) (3.09)

- - 3 (100) 150 (100) 3 (100) (1.00) (0.09) (1.03)

- - 1 (100) 300 (100) 1 (100) (0.37) (0.19) (0.34)

Total Capacity MT/P.a.

2,40,000 (1 00) (74.94) 10,000 (3.12) 20,000 (6.24) 4,000 (1.25) 17,200 (5.37) 18,000 (5.62) 10,000 (3.12) 225

(0.07) 150

(0.05) 300

(0.09)

-

---11. Assam - - 1 (100) 360 (100) 1 (100) 360

(0.37) (0.23) (1.03) (0.11) -

Total 21 1,65,000 270 (92.78) 1,55,235 291 320,235 (100) (100) (100) (100) (100)

-

Source: Status Report on Sanitaryware, SISI, Ministry of Industries, Govt. oflndia, Jan. 2000.

21

-

r·. / '-·

\ ......

l

,.

7 0

Fig. 3.1

IN Dl A

INDEX

no. of Unift

L•••• «Ole ~-Small sca!tt

0 1!50 300 450 Km.

These industries are located m 11 districts out of a total of 25 districts of Gujarat.

However, out of 11 districts, 2 districts namely Rajkot (44 percent) and Surendranagar (41

percent) account for 85 percent of the total units of Gujarat (570 units out of 651 ). Within these

two districts, only two places namely Morbi (Rajkot district) and Thangadh (Surendranagar

district) have the concentration of 40 percent and 30 prcent of ceramic units of Gujarat

respectively. Among the types of ceramic industries mentioned above , ceramic tiles and

sanitarywares dominate the industry. Morbi has 3 7 percent of total ceramic units of Gujarat and

22

99 percent of ceramic tiles units of Gujarat. Thangadh has 22 percent of the total ceramic units

of Gujarat and 88 percent of the total sanitaryware industries of Gujarat. Other important

districts having ceramic industries are Sabarkantha, Ahmedabad and Mehsana.

A special study report reveals that Gujarat ranks first in the country with about 270 small

scale sanitary manufacturing units having installed capacity of 1,55,000 million tones (2000).

With the growing population and associated industiial and residential development, the demand

for sanitaryware is on the increase.

Origin of Ceramic Units in Gujarat:

His Highness Waghji the ruler of Morbi was instrumental in establishing first ceramic

industry at Morbi in the year 1912 with the expert assistance of Galaji Mistry who had taken

training in England. In 1924, Parshuram Ganpule started a pottery works in Wankaner. Around

the same time the ruler of Lakhtar wanted to sell of his pottery works located at Thangadh as it

was running in loss. Again it was Parashuram Ganpule who purchased the unit in 1934 in order

to avoid competition. He also acquired another sick unit namely 'Indian Pottery Works'. In 1946

and 1951 the Ex-ruler of Bhavnagar and Dhrangdhara states invited him to start a factory at

Shihor and Dhrangadhra respectively. However, with the early establishment of ceramic units at

Morbi-Wankaner and Thangadh-Wadhwan the two districts namely Rajkot and Surendranagar

emerged as two strong centres of industrial inertia for ceramic units.

Enterprising Parashuram Ganpule established pottery industry from the base. The

following is the chronological order of the establishment and growth of ceramic industries in

Gujarat.

1. Bricks and Mangalore tiles factory at Baroda (1904-05, The Tiles and Pottery Works Co.,

Ltd.). Its subsidiary factory - The Phi nix Pottery and Bricks and Tiles Works, is located at

Bilimora (South Gujarat).

2. The Parashuram Pottery \Vorks Co. Ltd, Morbi (1912)

3. The Tiles and Pottery Works Ltd, Bilimora (1918)

4. Indian Pottery Works, Wankaner ( 1924)

5. Shri Sohrab Dalal Potteries, Thangadh (1934)

6. The Kodiyar Pottery Works, Shihore (Bhavnagar district 1946)

7. The Parashuram Pottery Works Co. Ltd. (Chain oflndustries), Dhrangadhra (1952).

23

The Parashuram Pottery Works at Morbi also has other units at Wankaner, Thangadh and

Dhrangadhra. Other works include Gokulbhai Intwala Factory at Bilimora, The Tiles and

Pottery Works Ltd at Vadodara, Ambica Ceramics, Vijapur (Mehsana), Pottery Works at Sant

Road (Panchmahals), Pressed Porcelains Pvt Ltd, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Lustre Ceramics at

Alkapuri (Vadodara).

Growth of Ceramic Industry:

The last decade of 201h Century has witnessed significant growth in the number of small

scale sanitaryware units by 3 times and the production of sanitaryware items by 6 times. There

were only 3 sanitaryware units in the year 1970 and during 1971-75 15 units were established.

This upward trend continued during 1976-80 and 1981-85 with the establishment of 25 and 28

units respectively. However, during 1986 to 1990 the dismal number of only two units were

established. This is mainly because of the focus on consolidation, stabilization and improvement

of quality rather than increasing the number. Again with the new industrial policy of

liberalization and globalization (1991) as many as 152 sanitaryware units were established in

Gujarat (mainly in Thangadh) during 1991-2000.

The small scale unit per annum production of sanitarywares units has increased from 140

million tones per annum to 689 million tones (1970-2000). An increase in the per unit

production is a good response to the increasing demand for sanitarywares in the housing,

institutional or services and industrial sectors (Table 3.3).

Time Period

Up to 1970

1971 -1980

1981 -1990

1991-2000

Total (as on 2000)

Table 3.3

Growth of Small Scale Sanitarv Units in Gujarat

(1970-2000)

Increase in the Cumulative Production Per number of SSI units Growth Annum (Million of Sanitary wares Tonnes)

3 3 3120

40 43 5000

30 73 25800

152 225 155000

225

Source: Status Reeort on Sanitaryware SISI Ministry oflndustries Govt. of India Jan. 2000.

Per Unit Produdction

140~ 116.3

353.4 --

688.89

24

Fig. 3.2 and 3.3 --------------------------

J!l ~ 't5

~

j ~ ~

§ .5 6

J

240

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

Cumulative Growth of Small Scale Senitary Units In Gujarat

{1970 to 2000)

,....----

r---

....--

Up to 1970 1971-1980 1981-1990 1991-2000

Time Period

Total Annual Sanitaryware Production (In 000' Million Tonnes) of Small

Scale Units in Gujarat (1970 to 2000)

180

160 -140

120

100

80

60

40

20 n ~ r----1 0 -

Up to 1970 1971-1980 1981-1990 1991-2000

Time Period

25

Out of 730 ceramic units of Gujarat, 43 percent units are in Rajkot district and another 43

percent are located in Surendranagar district (i.e. together 86 percent of the total ceramic units of

Gujarat). However, within the districts, Morbi accounts for 37.33 percent and Thangadh 36.99

percent (together 74 percent), out of 86 percent of these districts. This shows a very high degree

of concentration not only within the state but also within the districts (Table 3.4)

Location & Artware Districts

Morbi -

Wankaner -

Rajkot -District

Table 3.4

Distribution of Ceramic Industries in Gujarat- 2000

(By Location and Districts)

Crockery Electrical Glazed Other Roofing & Pottery & Tile Ceramic Tile

Porcelain

- - 20 (7.33) - 249 (89.38) 25.97 95.40

2 (8.70) - 8 (34.78) - II (47.83) 2.94 10.39 4.2I

- - 12(75.00) 3 (18.75) -

I5.58 I0.34

Sanitary Total ware

4 (1.47) 273 1.72 37.39

2 (8.70) 23 (100) 0.86 3.I5

I (6.25) 16 0.43 2.I9

Thangadh I4 (5.I9) 8 (2.96) 17 (6.30) 7 (2.59) - - 224 (82.96) 270 (101)) (100) 11.76 34.69 9.09 96.55 36.99

Wadhwan - 5 (12.20) I0(24.40) - 26(63.4I) - - 41 (100)

7.35 20.41 89.65 5.62

Surendra- - - 2 (33.33) 3 (50.00) - I (I6.67) - 6(IOO) nagar 4.08 3.90 0.38 0.82 District

Ahmedabad - 32(68.08) 1 0(2I.28) 5 (10.64) - - - 47(IOO) District 47.06 20.41 6.49 6.44

Mehsana - 4 (22.22) 3 (16.66) I0(55.55) - - 1 (5.55) 18 (100) District 5.88 6.I2 I2.99 0.43 2.47

Himmat- - I5(78.95) 2 (10.53) 2 (10.53) - - - I9 (100 nagar 22.06 4.08 2.60 2.60

Sabarkan- - 2 (50.00) - 2 (50.00) - - - 4 (100) tha District 2.94 2.60 0.55

Kachchh - - - 2 (100) - - - 2 (100) District 2.60 0.27

-Junagadh - - - 1 (1 00) - - - 1 (1 00) District 1.30 0.14

Vadodara - - 2 (50.00) 2 (50.00) - - - 4 (100) District 4.08 2.60 0.55

Anand - - 3 (100) - - - - 3 (100) District 6.12 0.4I

Bharnch - - - 2 (100) - - - 2 (IOO) District 2.60 0.27

Surat - - - 1 (1 00) - - - 1 (1 00) District 1.30 O.I4

i Total 14 (1.92) 68 (9.32) 49 (6.71) 77(10.55) 29 (3.97) 261 (35.75) 232 (31.78) 730 (100) Source: lndext-B, Gandhinagar

26

·' I I

I

' I

..

..

;

!

0

i!

}

\

I I iO !01

~~

t,. ....... --, ........ \,.. .... - J '

.~

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c / j

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Fig. 3.4

l' ' ) .)

{.1 .

/ f " ... (l t' f '-: .. :~ . ../ .. - \ ~

_, ' (.l

(

' I - r.;!"

< -' - ~ '---"'-'\.o~-.1 ....

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c' ~~ I i -.'>

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"' 0 0

.... d a: ct ..., :::> C>

~·~

-z" > > " r- .J'

'\.

(/) liJ 0:: .... (/)

:::> 0 z

u~o ::e ct~ ct LIJ -0::)-liJ uo 1.&..0 oo

N z-0 .... :::> Ill

0:: .... (/)

0 001 <D

Thangadh has the very high concentration of (97 percent) sanitaryware and Artware

( 100 percent) units of Gujarat and Morbi has 95 percent concentration of Roofing tiles units of

Gujarat. The other ceramic industries producing crockery, pottery, electrical and porcelain

products also show relatively high concentration. 47 percent of crockeries and pottery units are

localized in Ahmedabad and around and 22 percent of the total units in Himmatnagar (North

Gujarat). Similarly, 35 percent of the electrical and porcelain units in Thangadh and 20 percent

units each in Wadhwan and Ahmedabad are concentrated. The Glazed Tiles industry is the only

27

type of ceramic industry which shows greater spatial spread of dispersal. However, 52 percent of

the units are located in Rajkot district with 26 percent units in Morbi alone (Table 3.4). Despite

this locational inertia the glazed tiles units are located in all the 11 districts of Gujarat where

ceramic industry is rooted in one or the other way.

The values of the location quotient show a higher concentration of 'other ceramic

products' -Laboratory equipments, toys, etc. (15.97) in Wadhwan followed by electrical and

porcelain units in Anand district (14.90). Nearly 90 percent of the total units (26 out of 41) of

other ceramics are located in Wadhwan. Therefore, LQ shows high concentration. Anand district

has only 3 units and all 3 are producing electrical and porcelain items. For crockery and pottery

units Himmatnagar (Sabarkantha district of North Gujarat) and Ahmedabad show locational

inertia but for two different reasons. First one is for the availability and access to raw material

and the second one is for large, accessible market. The only place for the production of artware

items is Thangadh having 14 units. Though in terms of number and percentage, Rajkot district

has 52 percent of the glazed tile units the location quotient is high in case of South Gujarat

(Surat district 9.48, Bharuch district 9.48) and Kathiawad (Junagadh 9.48) and Kachchh (9.48).

These districts have only 1 or 2 units of glazed tiles (Table.3.4).

Table 3.5

Location Quotient

Location Artware Crockery Electrical Glazed Other Roofing Sanitary j & Districts & & Tile Ceramic Tile ware J

Pottery Porcelain Morbi - - - 0.69 - 2.50 0.05 i Wankaner - 0.93 - 3.30 - 1.34 0.27 i

I

Rajkot District - - - 7.11 4.72 - 0.20 I Thangadh 2.70 0.32 0.94 0.25 2.61 I - - I

Wadhwan 1.31 3.64 15.97 I - - - - J

Surendranagar District - - 3.48 4.74 - 0.47 - i Ahmedabad District - 7.30 3.71 1.01 - - - I Mehsana District - 2.38 2.48 5.27 - - 0.17 :

: Himmatnagar - 8.47 1.57 0.99 - - - I

Sabarkantha District - 5.36 - 4.74 - - -Kachchh District - - - 9.48 - - -Junagadh District - - - 9.48 - - - -1 Vadodara District - - 7.45 4.74 - - -Anand District - - 14.90 - - - -Bharuch District - - - 9.48 - - -Surat District - - - 9.48 - - -

I Source: Indext-B, Gandhinar

28

L.Q. = Pij 1 Pi Where PiJ. =Number of ceramic industries inJ·-th type of location/area i

Pj!P

Pi = Total ceramic industries of all types of location I area i

Pj = Sum of industries of type j in all the locations I areas

P = Total ceramic industries of all the locations I area in each type.

Morbi shows high LQ of 2.50 for Roofing tiles and Thangadh 2.61 for sanitarywares

indicating the locational concentration of the industries.

Table 3.6 is based on the census of small scale industrial units of Gujarat carried out by

the Industries Commissionerate (2005). It includes the information about small scale ceramic

units which are registered. Although ceramic, porcelain and pottery units are predominant in

number (52 percent) and also account for 26 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, the ratio of

units to GDP works out to be 1 : 0.5. the comparable ratio for ceramic tiles and roofing tiles

units is 2.04 and 2.01 respectively. However, the per capita Gross Domestic Product is high

(Rs.1.98 lakh per annum) in case of ceramics, porcelain and pottery articles and ceramic tiles

(Rs.1.94 lakhs) compared to other units mentioned in the Table 3 .6.

Table 3.6

Number of Registered SSI Units by Ceramic Type- 2004

Ceramic Type No.ofUnits Gross Domestic Employment Product (Rs.Lakhs)

1. Ceramic/ Porcelain/ 962 (52.06) 4017.00 (25.83) 2026 (19.51) Pottery Articles

2. Sanitaryware I Porcelain 146 (7.90) 1787.91 (11.50) 1157(11.14)

3. Ceramic Tiles 179 (9.69) 3074.00 (19.77) 1584 (15.26) 4. Flooring Tiles 272 (14.72) 2935.49 (18.88) 2593 (24.98) 5. Roofing Tiles 125 (6.76) 2114.19 (13.59) 1702 (16.39) 6. Wash Basins,

FibreGlass 164 (8.87) 1623.54 (10.44) 1320 (12.71) Total 1848 (100) 15,552.13 (100) 10,382 (100)

Source: Industries Commissionerate, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, 2005 _j

The flooring tiles units provide more employment whereas roofing tiles unit is more

labour intensive (per unit employment is 13.62). The per unit GOP is also relatively high in case

of roofing tile units (Rs.16.91 lakhs) next only to ceramic tile units (Rs.17.17 lakhs.).

29

Ceramic Type

1. Ceramic/ Porcelain/ Pottery Articles

2. Sanitaryware I Porcelain

3. Ceramic Tiles 4. Flooring Tiles 5. Roofing Tiles 6. Wash Basins,

FibreGlass Total

Table 3.7

Per Unit GDP Employment and Per capita GDP (2004)

Per Unit Employment Per Unit GDP (Rs.Lakhs)

2.11 4.18

7.92 12.25 8.85 17.17 9.53 10.79 13.62 16.91

8.05 9.90 5.62 8.42

Per capita GDP (Rs. Lakhs)

1.98

1.55 1.94 1.13 1.24

1.23 1.50

Source: Industries Commissionerate, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, 2005

There is greater inconsistency and paucity of comparable secondary data. Some attempt

has been made to analyse the spatial spread of some types of ceramic units based on the

available census data of small scale industrial units. Rajkot district and Morbi in particular have

the concentration of roofing tiles and flooring tiles whereas Surendranagar district and Thangadh

in particular continue to maintain the monopoly in the production of wash basins and fibre glass.

\Vith regard to the production of ceramic-porcelain and pottery articles two centres emerge as

more significant. Sabarkantha district with Himmatnagar centre account for 47 percent units and

Ahmedabad and around account for another 40 percent of the total units of Gujarat. The

remaining 13 percent of the units are located in Rajkot, Surendranagar, Mehsana district (Tables

3.8 and 3.4).

Table 3.8

Some Spatial Pattern of Selected Ceramic Types (2004)

Ceramic Type District No.of Fixed Gross Output Employment Units Investment (Rs. In Lakhs) (Rs. In Lakhs)

1. Ceramic I Sabarkantha 448 297.79 494.66 735 Porcelain I Ahmedabad 389 460.49 1808.58 792 Pottery Articles Other District 125 N.A. 1713.76 499

2. Flooring Tiles Rajkot 183 2223.37 1918.66 1749 Other District 89 N.A. 1016.83 849

3. Roofing Tiles Rajkot 116 1905.05 2013.46 1588 Other District 09 N.A. 100.73 114

-· 4. Wash Basins, Surendranagar 161 2853.73 1613.61 1291

Fibre Glass Other District 03 N.A. 9.93 29 Total 1523 10,690.22 7646

Source: Industries Commissionerate, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, 2005

30

I

Thus, the ceramic and pottery industry of Gujarat has come a long way from its early

Indus Valley Civilization to the most modem times by adopting advanced technologies,

machineries methods processes, inventions, designs and colours at various stages of production

and raw material handling including the marketing of the products. The modem high tech

ceramic industry has grown steadily over a long time from a traditional village based pottery and

earthern ware works producing mainly the household requirements such as jars of varied sizes to

store water foodgrains and also bricks and roofing tiles (adobe). Village potter with his

traditional equipments and skills supplied these basic materials to the village community.

Traditional bricks were dried (in the open) by the sun. The industry with more than 5000 years

of history has evolved from pottery into a most modem ceramic industry with its product

diversification, design, appearance, quality, appeal, utility, applicability and durability. Today,

industry produces a wide range of products such as tiles, mosaic tiles, wall tiles, ceramic tiles.

vitrified tiles, sanitarywares like wash basins, sinks, closets, urinals, bathing tubs, etc. Crockery,

electrical ceramic capacitors, transformer bushings, lightening arrestors, shells, sewer pipes and

ornamental ceramics such as beads, jewellery etc.

Thus, the modem ceramic industry which started in Gujarat and Saurashtra in the early

part of 20th century, is mainly due to the patronage of royal family of Baroda, Bhavnagar,

Rajkot, Morbi, Sihore, Dhrangadhra, Wankaner, Wadhwan, Thangadh and other places include

Vijapur, Sant Road, Vallabh Vidyanagar and Bilimora.

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