The whirr of machines and smell of carved wood hangs in the air of the Indian toy workshop, a centuries-old art form still in the game despite cheaper plastic alternatives.<\/p>\n
Karnataka’s Channapatna is famed for its wood and lacquer toys, carved from ivory wood from a local deciduous tree — and dipped in brightly coloured dye from natural ingredients including turmeric and indigo.<\/p>\n
“I felt interest in learning toymaking after I saw people in my neighbourhood doing it,” said toy maker Rupa, who uses only one name. “I felt that I could also learn the craft.”<\/p>\n
Rocking horses, baby walkers and dancing dolls cut from wood are a common sight in workshops, which employ around 2,500 artisans in the town.<\/p>\n
Channapatna’s toymaking industry dates back to the 1700s when Tipu Sultan, ruler of the then kingdom of Mysore, asked artists from Persia to train the locals.<\/p>\n
Rising competition from mass-produced toys, including cheap replicas made in China, has cast a shadow on the growth of the industry in the town — but it has endured.<\/p>\n
The town’s products saw a surge of interest in 2010 when former US first lady Michelle Obama bought several in the capital, New Delhi, during an official visit to India.<\/p>\n
Toys were once all hand-carved, but the use of electric lathes and other machinery has helped keep the industry economical.<\/p>\n
“In the old days, every work demanded artisans,” said B Venkatesh, who runs two small workshops in the town. “But now, with a few at hand, machines can help with different tasks.”<\/p>\n
Business is not bad for the 53-year-old, with his factory getting orders for around thousands of from suppliers all around the country during peak months.<\/p>\n
He says people value the long-lasting quality of the toys.<\/p>\n
“When we dry the ivory wood properly, and apply lacquer and vegetable dyes, the toys will remain the same for hundreds of years,” Venkatesh said.<\/p>\n
But he warned his trade would “perish in the long run” without more support.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the government pledged a scheme aimed at making India a global hub for innovative and unique toys that showcased local culture.<\/p>\n
Venkatesh said authorities needed to go further by opening workshops to help cultivate a new generation of artisans.<\/p>\n
For those already in the business, their craft is more than a simple matter of livelihood.<\/p>\n
“Making toys gives me a sense of joy and happiness,” Rupa said.<\/p>\n
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)<\/i><\/p>\n
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