A visit to the 'gombe ooru'

national honour

Long before children rode up and down the dusty streets on their shiny metallic bicycles and tricycles, a colourful wooden horse would steadily lull them into a wakeless dream. However, the sturdy rocker, over time, lies forgotten along with the other wooden toys.

Whether it’s an abacus, animal-shaped toys, eggs, balls or whistles, the artisans of Channapatna have been an integral part of growing up for many of us.

Flashes of red, green and mustard yellow, eyes that are nothing more than a dot of paint, thin lines of black for a smile and a finish that makes the sun dim... each of these toys have a story to tell.

According to Rahim Khan, a seasoned craftsman, the making of the toy is not what matters but it’s the finished product that does. “We use different kinds of wood and paint... to make each doll there is a different technique; only the artisans will understand the work that has gone into each of them.

It’s not the work of an individual, but Channapatna as a whole. This art is a gift to our town. In the end, it's the finished product that matters.”

While each Channapatna toy is handmade, mass-produced look-alikes have infiltrated the markets and most people are unable to distinguish between the two. “Our craftwork is more durable, long-lasting, eco-friendly and has a better finish. But people go for the mass-produced ones because they come for half the price of a Channapatna toy,” says Rahim.

Subbu Rao, manager at ‘Maya Organic’, says that their sales have been affected because of these intrusions. “Many artisans themselves try to sell these mass-produced dolls and if we catch them, we blacklist them,” says G Muniswamy, General Manager (Marketing) of Cauvery Emporium.

On why the prices of the toys have suddenly shot up, Subbu Rao says, “The price of wood, lac, electricity and everything else has gone up... the craftsmen need to make a living.” Rahim adds, “Ten years ago, the price of wood was per tonne was Rs 10,000, but now it’s become Rs 50,000. The price of paint has also gone up.”

For the artisans of Channapatna, which is popularly called ‘gombe ooru’ (toy town), it's no longer just about the toys. Karthik says selling toys is just a small part of his business. “We manufacture items that can be used on a day-to-day basis and are sustainable.

With toys, after a few years, children outgrow them. We make products that are affordable, aesthetically appealing and aren't seasonal. The main aim is to reinvent and reinterpret Channapatna crafts, to an urban audience,” he says.

Yusuf, an artisan at Channapatna who collaborates with Karthik, says, “The reason I decided to work with Karthik (and Varnam) is because his designs are different. He knows what he wants and he asks for a clean finish.” 

While some artisans are excited about Channapatna representing Karnataka on the Republic Day tableau and their toys going as a gift to the US President Barack Obama, most craftsmen are unaware of the development. According to Yusuf, it changes nothing. “It might create a little more awareness but it’s directly helping only a select few craftsmen,” says Karthik.