The fruits of Moen Jo Daro, which turn even soil into 'gold'

 

The fruits of Moen Jo Daro, which turn even soil into 'gold

'

 

When Samrin Solangi was born, her grandmother said, “This is a girl with golden fingers.”

And when Samrin put her hands in the clay, it really turned into gold.

Samrin Solangi lives in Haji Lal Bakhsh Sheikh village near Moen Jo Daro. She makes jewelry from clay and objects in the style of statues and seals found in Moen Jo Daro.

Twenty-year-old Samrin Solangi’s uncle and father also made art pieces in the style of monks, dancers, seals, elephants, etc. found in Moen Jo Daro. She learned this work from her father, who was a junior employee in the archaeological department.

Moen Jo Daro

Samrin says that she was fond of making things out of clay since childhood, so she skipped school and started doing this work, now she makes everything.

River clay

Haji Lal Bakhsh Sheikh village is located near the Indus River, from where they bring clay. The clay is first taught, then it is sieved and made fine. The fine clay is called mada. According to Samreen, after removing the mada, water is added to the remaining clay and kneaded, while the mada is mixed in it.

He has a monk or king priest mold, while the rest of the items are made by hand, which are made and kept to dry. In summer, they dry in one to one and a half days, and in winter, in two to three days.

Moen Jo Daro

Clay Jewelry

The custom of making and wearing jewelry from clay was centuries old, dating back to Moen Jo Daro, but recently this fashion has taken hold once again. They are now being made in many countries, including India.

 

‘Corona attracted social media’

Samreen Solangi’s home-made dal porridge was associated with tourists visiting Moenjo Daro, which has been affected by Corona. She says that tourists used to come less in summer and more in winter, but due to Corona, tourists have stopped visiting here, due to which the idols and seals made by her were not selling.

Sukkur student Aqsa Shoro helped Samreen Solangi and introduced her to social media, due to which her skill gained acceptance and she is getting orders for clay jewelry.

Moenjo Daro

‘We are the sons of Baba’

Samreen Solangi’s father’s skill is also inherited by her generation. She says that she has six sisters but no brothers. ‘When a brother is missing, a brother is a brother. We believe that we are sons for Baba and we do the same work as sons. Baba never let him miss a son. A son is a son. If daughters are also seen from this perspective, then daughters are also sons.’

Samreen’s father is not in good health. He does not work, but helps his daughters in this craft. Samreen and her sisters take care of them. They wake up early in the morning and start making idols, seals and sometimes jewelry from clay. It takes an hour to make a jhumka. The cost of each jhumka, including dye and oil, is three hundred rupees. ‘The income we get is just enough to live on because in addition to rations, we also have to buy dye and other materials, packaging.’

When I asked Samreen what her dream or desire is? So she smiled as usual and said, "I have no desire." I asked if something would happen, so she smiled once and said, "I want to see my family and friends happy."