Inside Bulandshahar’s Pottery Cluster, Where Craft Meets Market
Khurja’s ceramic cluster in Bulandshahar supports generations of artisans, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern production for domestic and global markets.
In Khurja, located in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahar district, pottery is more than a decorative product. Ceramic wares made here find place in homes, hotels, galleries, and export showrooms, supporting a long chain of livelihoods—from clay preparation and moulding to painting, glazing, and firing.
Recognising this deep-rooted ecosystem, ceramic products have been identified as Bulandshahar’s district product under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, with Khurja’s pottery cluster at its core.
At the heart of this cluster is Guljeet Singh Minhas, an ODOP beneficiary who runs Minhas Pottery with his family and a team of local artisans. The workshop traces its origins to 1960, when his father moved from Kanpur to Khurja and started the unit with technical training in ceramics and limited resources. Over time, the enterprise grew steadily, shaped by Khurja’s strong craft culture.
Today, Minhas Pottery focuses on artistic ceramics for galleries, exports, and established Indian brands, consciously avoiding mass-market production. According to Minhas, this approach helps retain skilled artisans within the district and ensures stable local employment.
Raised within the workshop environment, Minhas later studied ceramic engineering, enabling him to modernise operations while preserving handmade quality. In 2012, he replaced coal and diesel-based kilns with gas-fired kilns, improving product consistency, quality control, and environmental efficiency.
The unit works primarily with fine stoneware, sourcing raw materials such as quartz, feldspar, and specialised clays from across India. Production combines semi-automatic processes with detailed hand-finishing, ensuring each piece meets premium market standards.
ODOP support has played a significant role in this transition. Through the scheme, Minhas accessed financial assistance and subsidies that enabled investment in modern machinery. He continues to train artisans and interns in-house, strengthening Khurja’s pottery tradition as both a craft and a sustainable livelihood.