History of Cluster

The land on which Khurja is situated was not able to pay the land tax therefore the area was declared as waste land “KHARRIJ”. KHARRIJ became KHARJA due to waste land and It was the time of Mohammed-bin-Tughlak, when some of these potters’ families moved from Delhi to this waste land Khurja – Khurja. Khurja Pottery has a long legacy. History is no longer a matter of mere analysis of facts, but it is the essence of the social fabric of the country and the evaluation of circumstances. The functions of the work grow with the proper use of the circumstances and available resources. Today, khurja which is shimming its glitter on the worlds map has some families contributing immensely to his efforts to reach this end. One of the most important questions about the child’s relationship with the child is that he has a childhood relationship and has a reputation of working for a society and then he has a child who is able to work together and then start a new way of living. There are so many such potters family in Khurja linked to each other in some or other way.

The beginning of any work is bad, but its end is equally pleasant. This similarly happened with these two brothers. They started working with some potters on red pottery. They got fame very fast from rest of the states of India. There art of making utensils become the most popular art even and they continued to work upon it. Then they flourished their thoughts and started national pottery in 18^th century. In 1883, then both of the brothers went Awadh by ghodabaghi and reached there in 5-6 days. Then they showcase their art and product for which they went for, through which everywhere get impressed and awarded 1^st prize to both the brothers. There they got love, fame and affection. This same year, they thought to went Jaipur who was very impressed by them. In this same year, these both of the brothers achieved two prizes for their art. Then next year in 1884, they called for Meerut nauchandi mela, which was started in 1672 AD. And very famous even today, there everyone came to showcase their art and Sheikh Abdul Hafeez was of them who displayed their articles for which he awarded with a prize. This was always be remember by him.

 This series went ahead. In the very next year, 1885, they called for Luckhnow exhibition. This was too very famous as like as Meerut nauchandi, where he received 1st prize. This was a matter of great pride for him. Then he went ahead to foreign, in 1886, they went London and collected prize from colonial and Indian exhibition.

Many artisans from all over the world went to London to showcase their art, this time again 1911 Sheikh Abdul Majeed went there with his family and received 2nd prize. This was the time when he gifted some of his precious arteries to queen Victoria get impressed and gifted her watch to his family which has been kept safe till now.

In 1921, Sheikh Abdul Hafeez received award from U.P. Co-Operative society in Allahabad. More artisans were there among them, Sheikh Abdul Hafeez was the only one who received award because of his unique art. He was very hardworking and dedicated for his work. He even did not skip a single chance to improve their work. They visited different different places to showcase their art and products. Again in 1927, he went Meerut nauchandi and awarded 1st prize. His family did so many of historic works for which they always be remembered. They made 4 pots, which look alike having height 5’6’’. These pots may be seen in 4 places (Unconfirmed), 1st in London museum, 2nd in Lahore museum, 3rd in Hyderabad museum and 4th in Khurja in Zarif pottery. These pots seems as they made in 1880’s. In 1950, in the time of Tajposhi of George sixth, with many artisans Abdul Hafeez went London and received 2nd prize for which Khurja is proud of them. There upcoming generations doing works for which they also getting prizes.

Khurja city is still the center for Pottery/Ceramic items. The Indian ceramic industry can be broadly divided into two major groups, whiteware pottery and red clay pottery (including terracotta). Khurja produce predominantly whiteware items, although have few terracotta units.

Age of this pottery industry cluster is more than 600 years.

Product Range :

Red Clay
• Building Bricks
• Roofing tiles
• Utility articles such as kulhar, saucers, surahi, matka sets

Whitewares
• Cups, saucers, mugs, tea-sets
• Stoneware kundis, jars
• Pressed porcelain insulators and other LT and HT insulators
• Chemical porcelain items
• Decorative pottery items such as flower vases, toys, ash-trays
• Fire bricks, saggars and other heat resisting items.

The ceramic industry at Khurja is depending on Skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. The minimum number of workers in a unit ranges from about 7 to 10, and the maximum is around 30 to 40. The units having capacity of one ton per day, or 300 MT per annum, will need about 40 to 50 workers. Many units are larger than the above and in fact require up to 300 workers. It is mentioned elsewhere that there are about 15,000 people as direct employees while about 25,000 indirect employees. Khurja pottery has market in
India and foreign countries. There are nearly 20 plus export oriented units. But, as per the discussion had
with the entrepreneurs and officials, it is estimated that the cluster provides employment for more than
50,000 artisans. A good number of artisans have artisan card issued by the Office of Development Commissioner for Handicrafts. The products are marketed in India as well as exported. There are 23 Export oriented units exporting the products. They are exporting to United Kingdom, USA, Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, etc. Raw materials involved in the manufacturing of Crockery items are china clay, Bikaner clay, Than kimitti, Quartz, feldspar, Ball clay, plaster of paris, chemicals like Talc, barium ,zinc , zirconium, ceramic colors are used China Clay- basis for the manufacture of ceramics. Ball Clay- provides pliability and flexibility in shaping and moulding the product. Quartz- a silica mineral is relatively infusible & helps in providing hardness to the material. Feldspar- helps in glazing at high temperatures. Plaster of Paris- used primarily for making moulds. Bone ash- only for bone china. Metallic oxides- for colouring.

• China clay is bought from areas of Ajmer, Kolkata, West Bengal

• Bikaner clay is bought from Bikaner, Rajasthan

• Quartz and Felspar are bought from Ajmer

• Chemicals like Talc, Barium, Zinc, zirconium are bought from local dealers

• Ceramic colours are bought from local dealers

The units produce throughout the year. There are nearly 400 units which would produce different types of ceramic products, planters, crockery, stone ware, insulators; Flower vase etc. There is nearly 500-20000 products are manufactured in each and every unit based on the capacity of manufacturing unit. Production can be increased with the help of upgraded machinery

Manufacturing Process:
Raw materials like ball clay, china clay, Bikaner clay, quartz, feldspar are sent into ball mill where the materials are crushed into mixture.

• This mixture is sent into plunger where pump is used to pump the clay into filter press where water is removed from the mixture. The moisture content is removed and clay is made as a cake.

• Now the cake is used is sent into pug mill

• Pug mill gives two types of clay

  • Little smooth clay which can be used for hand made

  • Toughened clay which can be used for automated machines.

• Clay is placed in Jigger and Jolly machine where jigger is used to press into the moulds and jolly is used to make hole. Then the cup is taken and dried.

• Cup handle is made separately and attached to the cup .Then the cup is dried.

• Designs are made on the cup. Then the cup is dipped in glaze of color and it is dried.

• Cups are sent into tunnel of furnace at 1150 degrees centigrade for 2-3 hours.

• After heating cups are taken out which gives glaze to the cups.

Khurja is the largest ceramic cluster in India and is known as a ceramic city. In local language “Khurja” means waste land. Khurja is a small town in Bulandshahr district of western Uttar Pradesh, with the progress of civilization. The ceramic industries at khurja have grown significantly and this cluster is fulfilling the domestic requirement and also contributing toward resource generation and earnings on export for the growth of the nation. At present there are around 500 ceramic units in khurja. Out of which 400 units are independent who have their own facilities to process raw materials and kilns to fire the products and the rest are dependent units who utilize the processing and firing facilities of other units on chargeable basis. Ceramic articles have provided great services to the human kind from ancient times. It is one of the oldest craft and yet it plays a dominant role in our daily life. The first pottery of terracotta might be formed by some accidental fire and thus hardening of clay product with the advent of potter’s wheel, various types of articles with added aesthetic value were formed. During the last decade, khurja industries had undergone a phenomenal change. Most of the coal fired down draft kilns have been replace by oil fired shuttle kilns and tunnel kilns to reduce the cost of production. Many useful products like stone ware, crockery, sanitary ware, H. T & L.T insulators, hospital ware, chemical porcelain, electro ceramics, kiln furniture, special ceramics, decorative wares, toys, figurines and bone china are produced in large quantities every day. Recently, Government of India has identified the khurja ceramic cluster as the growth center for export. Annual total export to international buyers (viz. Bangladesh, France, Sri lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Germany, Africa, England etc.) is Rs. 35 cores of which 40% are direct ones.

Ceramics is one of the most ancient industries on the planet. Once humans discovered that clay could be dug up and formed into objects by first mixing with water and then firing, the industry was born. As early as 24,000 BC, animal and human figurines were made from clay and other materials, then fired in kilns partially dug into the ground. Almost 10,000 years later, as settled communities were established, tiles were manufactured in Mesopotamia and India. The first use of functional pottery vessels for storing water and food is thought to be around 9000 or 10,000 BC. Clay bricks were also made around the same time. Glass was believed to be discovered in Egypt around 8000 BC, when overheating of kilns produced a colored glaze on the pottery. Experts estimate that it was not until 1500 BC that glass was produced independently of ceramics and fashioned into separate items.

 Khurja is a city (and a municipal board) in the Bulandshahr district in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated around 85 km from Delhi. Khurja supplies a large portion of the ceramics used in the country, hence it is sometimes called “The Ceramics City”. The town is also famous for its special sweet, known as "khurchan". Khurja is located at 28.25°N 77.85°E. It has an average elevation of 197 meters (646 foot).

• Geography: Khurja is located at 28.25°N 77.85°E. It has an average elevation of 197 meters (646 foot)

• Famous Cities Nearby: Aligarh, Bulandshar, Greater Noida, Delhi, Agra, Lucknow etc.

• Tourist Places Nearby: Aligarh Fort, City Park, Khereshwar Temple, Sai Baba Temple, etc.

The land on which Khurja is situated was not able to pay the land tax therefore the area was declared as waste land was being called as “KHARRIJ”. KHARRIJ became KHARJA in spoken Hindi and finally KHURJA. Due to waste land, it was the time of Mohammed-bin-Tughlak, when some of these potters’ families were asked to move from Delhi to this waste land Kharja - Khurja. Ceramic articles have provided great services to the human kind from ancient times. It is one of the oldest craft and yet it plays a dominant role in our everyday life. The first Pottery of terra cotta might be formed by some accidental fire and thus hardening of clay product with the advent of potter’s wheel, various types of articles with added aesthetic value were formed. During the Last Decade, Khurja Industries had undergone a phenomenal change. Most of the coal fired down draft kilns have been replaced by oil fired shuttle kilns and tunnel kilns to reduce the cost of production. Many useful products like stone ware crockery, sanitary ware, H.T. & L.T. Insulators, hospital ware, chemical porcelain, electro ceramics, kiln furniture, special ceramics, decorative wares, toys, figurines and bone china are produced in large quantities every day.

KHURJA is a town and a municipal board in Bulandshahr district in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated around 90 Km from Delhi. Khurja supplies a large portion of the ceramics and pottery used in the country, hence is sometimes called Khurja “The Ceramic Town”. Khurja is famous worldwide for its ceramic industries. A lot of ceramic products produced are exported worldwide and some are distributed all across India. A wide array of ceramic products ranging from cutlery to sanitary ware is manufactured. Khurja severely lacks the infrastructure to make good quality and to meet international standards. Another big challenge for industries is irregular power supply. Most of the enterprises, household enterprises and domestic applications, they use generators. The municipality water supply is not enough for everybody's need so everybody has water pumps, pumping groundwater, submersible. The units are making ceramic items, including sanitary goods, fuses, cuts-outs, ashtrays, electric goods, footsteps etc. But those who are involved in the traditional craft on pottery constitute only a handful. The uniqueness of its splendid pottery is that in spite of being hand-made and hand painted, it is very reasonably priced. In the 1970s the Government of U.P upgraded all the existing potteries and modernization has increased its market prospects, especially in the hospitality industry. Khurja is approximate 600 years old largest ceramic cluster in India and is known as ceramic city. In local language, “Khurja” means waste land. With the progress of civilization, the ceramic industries at Khurja have grown significantly and this cluster is fulfilling the domestic requirement and also contributing towards resource generation, job generation and earnings on export for the growth of the nation.

At present there are 500 ceramic units in Khurja; out of which almost 100 units are independent who have their own facilities to process raw materials and kilns to fire the products and the rest are dependent units who utilize the processing and firing facilities of other units on chargeable basis. Ceramic articles have provided great services to the humankind from ancient times. It is one of the oldest craft and yet it plays a dominant role in our everyday life. The first Pottery of terra cotta might be formed by some accidental fire and thus hardening of clay product with the advent of potter’s wheel, various types of articles with added aesthetic value were formed. During the Last Decade, Khurja Industries had undergone a phenomenal change. Most of the coal fired down draft kilns have been replaced by oil fired shuttle kilns and tunnel kilns to reduce the cost of production. Many useful products like stone ware crockery, sanitary ware, H.T. & L.T. Insulators, hospital ware, chemical porcelain, electro ceramics, kiln furniture, special ceramics, decorative wares, toys, figurines and bone china are produced in large quantities every day.