Take a walk in the streets of Channapattana, a small town between Bangalore and Mysore, and you can’t help but feel sorry for growing up. Colourful and finely crafted wooden toys of Channapattana are sure to seize the attention and praise of even the elder most.
Tipu Sultan, then the ruler of Mysore, is believed to have invited artisans from Persia in 18th century to teach locals to make wooden dolls. The art has since been passed on from generations to the present. Lots of changes have undergone with lapse of time to suit the changing needs and demands of the market. The toys are made of ‘hale’ wood which is soft and light and grown in and around Channapattana. Vegetable based dyes are used to colour the dolls so that it is safe to be handled by children. It is said that these dolls are as safe as home made food.
While these toys are articles of play and decor for most, they are source of livelihood for many. Close to a thousand artisan families are dependent solely upon the traditional craft. Channapattana toys got the tag of registered Geographical Indication (GI) in 2006, a status well deserved by the work of fine craftsmanship practiced over centuries. GI protection raised hopes of protection against fakes, growing demand and export promotion which would result in rejuvenation of the dying industry.
With Chinese counterfeits flowing into the market with competitive price tags, original Channapattana toys are facing threat of extinction. Machine made counterfeits from China are priced less than half of the original toys and are sold in open without any abatement. With poor enforcement records, the Status of GI has done little to help the artisans at the grass root level. While the Channapattana toys have attracted enough eyeballs to make themselves famous nationwide, the enforcement machinery of law and other concerned authorities have only turned a blind eye to the counterfeits in the market.
News source:
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/Are-you-falling for China.html
http://www.thebetterindia.com/547/the-channapatna-toy-story/
http://www.sinapseblog.com/
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