they taught us the sense of ownership and the attitude of sharing; they brought friends unknown closer in minutes; they helped us build and play in teams; they instilled creativity and made us wonder at their charm; they made us explore and creatively use them in ways they weren’t meant to be……..they were a part and parcel of our lives…..they were our prized possessions.
Think…..Did you ever play with those colorful wooden toys and
animals? Or enjoyed riding on the wooden horse that rolled back and
forth? Well, if you spent your childhood in Karnataka and you have had
these wooden toys, there are fair chances that these toys came from
Channapatna, after being carefully crafted by the gifted hands of
proficient artisans.
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| Wooden toys at display |
While toys hold such a special place in our memories, little do we
come to know that there are many lives that depend on these beautiful
pieces of art. The local artisans say that Channapatna, now the toy town
of Karnataka, was introduced to this art of wooden-toy-making by Tippu
Sultan who had got Persian artisans to train the local artisans.
While traditionally, the artisans were involved in making Dasara
toys, the product range has been changing with times according to the
requirements of the customers. With more than 3000 artisans in the town,
a few hundreds are involved in the making of traditional toys and a
majority of them make contemporary wooden articles. A visit to any of
the shops would prove the above, wherein a major portion of the shop is
occupied by corporate gifts, bangles, montessori educational materials
and modern utilitarian products. Designs by master-craftsmen and
professional designers also occupy the stores. Even the smallest piece
of toy looks quite innovative, well-crafted and as colorful you can
think of.
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| A masterpiece symbolizing the artisan's expertise and the beautiful expression of his mind...... |
Seeing the artisans making the toys is absolutely mesmerizing. A
small piece of ivory wood, (called ‘ale mara’ in the local language) of
uneven shape gets transformed into a masterpiece in no time. It gets
final touches amidst the fingers of the artisan, with the sandpaper
criss-crossing in different directions. Then comes the magical moment
where the vegetable dyes, basically organic colors – bright yellow,
spinach green, sunny orange, shades of red and black – thoroughly get
smeared onto the wood. The perfection of the structure, its symmetry and
design speak loudly of the talent and expertise of the artisan. This
makes the toy organic in nature, completely safe for children unlike
many toys in the market that are toxic and hazardous.
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| Unfinished pieces of art |
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| An artisan shaping a piece of wood |
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| Organic colors |
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| An expression of art in the making.... |
A talk with a few artisans reveals the sad part of the story. While
many families are involved in the making of the toys, sometimes the
whole of the family, a good percentage of the next generation is moving
to the cities in search of lucrative jobs. However, despite the
increased costs of raw materials and huge competition from a number of
players in the toy market, the Channapatna toys still hold a special
place for many buyers across the country and abroad.
The present day computer games, toy mobiles and baby laptops prepare
the kids for the fast-paced, technology-driven world and are quite
entertaining. But I believe, the traditional toys can give an
all-together different feel that can make a child imaginative and
creative. These toys have their own charm and enable the child to be
less dependent on an exterior source for fun, inspiration, entertainment
and find joy in the simplest of things. Our kids are definitely missing
a lot of interesting stuff if they have not explored the Channapatna
wooden toys with their little hands.
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