Ethnographic Research
Research Question
Sounds that are significant to the social group ie
The phenomenon of interest in the sound/s that is meaningful to the social group.
Ethnography research is deep diving into a culture by living with or spending extended time with the people, getting to know their way of life from their perspective.
The social group chosen was cement pot makers from Unnao, UP located in outskirts of Gandhinagar, Gujrat.
EXPLORING
groups that
speaks known languages
OBSERVING
social group’s day
Transcribing
Observations were written individually
Coding
Arriving to common grounds of all team members’ findings
Decoding
by finding meaningful sounds
Where does that market stand?
The cement pottery market in India is a growing segment, but it hasn't entirely replaced traditional clay pottery. Cement pottery often finds favor in urban areas due to its modern look. But these skilled craftspeople are limited who do not sell for the premium market. It holds a niche market, handcrafted clay pottery with unique designs can find a premium market as art pieces or collector's items. Above all, it offers advantages like increased durability, faster drying times, and potentially lower costs.
How to Reach
Researchers reached Chandkheda by auto/car at mid-morning sometime after noon to get to know their day at different times of the day.
NID Gandhinagar
Kudasan
Motera
Adalaj
Swagat City Mall
Chandkheda
User Group
Umar
Chief of the family and Work
Most associative
Aalam
Chief’ brother
Second in command
Silent one
Aamir
Chief’s brother-in-law
Third in command
Interactive, Ashique
Shahrukh
Aamir’s brother-in-law
16-year old, stuck
Kehnaaz
Chief’s Wife
Reserved one
Our social group consisted of four members, sheikh Muslims, potters from Unnao, UP. Kehnaaz was the member of the family but was not included in the social group ethno research, since she was not part of the occupation they follow.
work Schedule
Cast pots in plastic molds
Lay them under the shed
Separate previous day’s dried pots from molds
Lay them under the sun for few hours
given final touch (scrubbing and filling)
Greasing pots for next day
7 AM
~1-2 hrs
till afternoon
2:30-3 PM
Done by Shahrukh and Aamir
Snapshots of Coding
Snapshots of Coding
Barriers/Parhej
System
Dynamics
Skill
System
Aap-hum-Woh-log
Class
Religious belief
Class
BARRIERS/PARHEZ
Self-made
Gender
Religion
Class
Dynamics
Family
Power
Work
Skill
objects
Sounds
Tagging about Privileges that ‘Woh-log’ and pain that ‘Hum-log’ have on all grounds
Talked about different practices that their religion perform
Self-made barriers by not engaging with customers much
Differentiation in gender( family as well as researchers) on seating arrangement, phrases
Specific job allotted to men in the group according to blood relation
gluggy cement, granular cement(masala), whisky bottle to smoothen surface, plastic coverings, towel, grease
Splashes, Scraping, washing the dirt off, clanging, scratching, drawing strokes
Groups’ Tags
aap bata nahi pa rahe hain, aur hum samajh nahi pa rahe hai
aise bolte h
ladeej logo ke saath sharam lagti hai na
Musallam hu isiliye koi jagah deta nahi
woh parhez karte hai
bado ki izzat aur choto ka lihajj
Arre chair pe baith jao, aap log ko aadat nhi hai na”
scraped off
wistful ‘hehein’ laugh
Ye log to ne to bahut tarakki Karli hai”
Hindu dharam ke hain isliye kya
draws a line at the end of the outer walls of pots, I guess to remove the mould from the cast easily
They all stick to one thing they are good at and develop their situations around it.
Researchers’ Tags
Significant sounds
Aap log, Hum log segregates the two groups, social group, and the researchers in clear boundaries of caste, class, religion, and gender. The social group prominently used this in daily conversation, multiple times a day. ”Aap apna hath mat
ganda kariye "
Times when researchers had to fill in the gaps when things like infertility, why they eat khasi meat, how it is like being a farmer, privileges of higher caste. ‘Samajh rahe ho na?’ addressed the understood and the undiscussables.
Female researchers of the group felt behavioural difference which was because the social group felt uneasy when they are among ladies they do not know. ‘Sharam Lagti Hai' was also used as an excuse to avoid mixing with people of the opposite gender masked under the pretense of showing respect. They used the word ‘parhez’ which denotes distancing. “Ladeej log hai to woh parhez karte hai.”
”Nhi nhi, aisa nhi hai koi sab log chhu sakte hain, par thoda haath vagerah dho ke kar sakte hain. Kohni(elbows) ko dhona hota hai aur kaan(ears) bhi” - "Wajoo karna" holds great significance for our social group as it is closely tied to the concept of religious purity. It’s connotation is strongly associated with Muslim religious practices that are meant for cleansing, such as Roja(Fast), Waju(Cleansing before touching Quran) etc.
‘Jaise jiska haath saaf ho’ is seen in how their daily activities are divided. They regard the social boundaries and create reifies them on the basis of culture, language, and class.
Instances of doing the same thing repeatedly for prolonged period of time-‘Ghisna’, it also means the action of scraping. Their profession, poverty, sob stories, all point toward the fact they’re going in circles. The name of the sound is a metaphor which was not used in actual conversations, but words like “issi mein pura ho jaayega sab”
Synthesis
The team was successful in establishing a positive rapport with the members' social circle, which can lead to no hesitancy when it comes time to see them again. The dynamics of relationships inside the social group and their relationships outside of blood were also understood by the researchers.The team did not overstep any barrier on the field thus avoiding any anxieties for the social group. But had an interesting group of people who were welcoming, and some their dismissals were shown through their behaviors. Like walking away from women, not driven to make us work along with them. This was an issue for the female researchers of the group to find the sounds from them.
The social group was clueless of our presence during early days. It was only the older guy of the group who had most conversation in day one and the rest of the members gradually familiarized to the research in rest of their visits. They connected well to one of the researchers with respect to their caste which was crucial for the engagement in some stages
Thank You
Thanks for Visiting!