Karnataka: Channapatna toys will get online push

MYSURU: In a shot in the arm for traditional Channapatna toys, which has been facing threat from the influx of Chinese toys in the market, Mysuru royal couple Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and Trishika Kumari have taken to promote the former. They are planning to sell those made of organic materials at national and international markets by creating an online platform for them.
Speaking to reporters after visiting Channapatna Toys Handicrafts Showroom and inspecting the cluster of houses involved in making such toys at the toy town of Karnataka — Channapatna — on Thursday, Yaduveer said his family members, especially Trishika Kumari, had initiated to promote the toys as it would reach out to children outside the state and abroad.
A platform to promote these products with Mysuru royal family brand name will be announced here next week as such measures are a must to popularise and market such products. The move not only helps local artisans, but also keeps the tradition alive — Channapatna toys were patronised and promoted by the royals from time immemorial. These toys are known to reflect the culture and tradition of the land.
As local artisans use natural resin to colour toy parts and to polish them to a glossy finish using organic products (lac, a natural resin), Channapatna toys can be the best competitor for Chinese toys which are made of plastic and other eco-unfriendly materials. The components are then bought and assembled by toymakers.
Trishika Kumari also indends to promote products produced by women at the international level.
Channapatna has been making wooden toys (aka lacware toys as they use lac) for over two centuries now. The town produced dolls mostly for domestic consumption. It’s been struggling to reach the international market.
The state government and Karnataka Handicrafts Development Corporation are also making efforts providing marketing support to Channapatna artisans and toys through e-commerce players. The Mysuru royal family will also be making similar efforts. “Not only Channapatna, toys produced for children from other parts of Karnataka will also be promoted under the proposed platform shortly,” he said.
(With inputs from S Ramesh)