I am known as Etikoppaka toy or more traditionally as Etikoppaka Bommalu. I belong to the small village of Etikoppaka. It is located on the beautiful banks of the river Varaha in Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. My roots were sown some 400 years ago, when the local jamindars who ruled this small village, realized the potential of building and selling toys. I am made from soft wood which comes from a tree called Ankuri Karra (Wrightia tinctoria). Then natural dye created from seeds, lacquer, bark, and leaves is used to color me. But what gives the final touch to my true richness of colors is the lac. Lac is a colorless resinous secretion of many insects. This is mixed with the dye already prepared from natural sources like vegetable, seeds, bark, and leaves, during the oxidation process. This finally creates what is known as lacquer. When coated with lacquer, I obtain my lovely color and shine and hence I am also known as lacquer toys. The process of making me is thus an art in itself known as turned wood lacquer craft. I possess the unique quality of being made with purely natural ingredients and am proud of the fact that I do not contain any harmful chemicals or toxic content.
Right from pre-independence era till this 21st century, the art of making toys like me has survived and been passed down through generations by the skilled craftsman of this village. Their love for keeping their tradition alive has made me popular in all households across India, as well as many countries across the globe. The hard work of these approximately 200 artisans got appreciation and support from the Government when I received the Geographical Indication tag in 2017. This gives me a competitive edge and recognition in global markets. It also gives me exclusivity as it marks my origin to a geographic location and no one else can use my name. These artisans have also earned rewards from various forums like the National Innovation Foundation, UNESCO handicrafts and the Crafts Council of India. However, they also face day-to-day struggles in keeping their art form alive. Fluctuating demand leads to financial constraints and many of the artisans end up taking loans. The extinction of the trees used to make me due to changing environmental conditions is another barrier they have to overcome. But in spite of all the challenges, the craftsmen of this village are determined to keep their tradition alive.
On this note, I end my story. I and my fellow Etikoppaka toys are now available on an increasing number of platforms like Amazon and the government initiated Kalgudi platform.
#DWCRA #WomensEmpowerment #EtikoppakaToys #Traditional #Rural #Culture #AndhraPradesh
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