Thanjavur dolls now dance into GI registry

The dancing dolls (‘thalai aatti bommai’) of Thanjavur can now boast of one more feature — the Geographical Indication (GI) mark. The doll has been included in the Government of India’s GI istry, a statutory recognition of the toy’s geographical origin to the Thanjavur region. From now on, the term ‘dancing doll of Thanjavur’ would refer only to the authentic ‘Raja-Rani’ pair, which stand on a curved pedestal. The GI-registered dolls, which are believed to have come to Thanjavur during King Sarafoji’s regime in the early 19th century, are unique as they remain vertical and upright always, thanks to a clay tablet placed inside the round curved pedestal. “Now that we have got GI protection, Regthe term ‘dancing dolls of Thanjavur’ will refer only to these two-piece toys representing an elderly couple. Other toys — which come in bright colours, standing positions and in four pieces — cannot stake claim to this famed term,” said advocate and intellectual property right (IPR) attorney Sanjay Gandhi. Among the other products registered with the GI registry are Darjeeling tea, Chanderi saree, Kancheepuram silk, Mysore sandal soap, Solapur terry towel and Kangra tea. Under the Geographical Indication of Goods (registration and protection) Act, 1999, agricultural, natural or manufactured goods originating or manufactured in the territory of a country, or a region or locality in that territory, are registrable as geographical indications. Besides ensuring monopoly for the association or group — the Thanjavur Chamber of Commerce in this case — the GI mark shields a product from bogus claims and poor quality. In the case of the Dancing Dolls, the GI registry has taken note of the unique production method involving plaster of Paris, papier mache, wood pulp and sago. It recognised the ‘rajarani’ motif of the doll tradition and attributed the dolls to the skills of artisans in and around Thanjavur. “The alluvial soil and clay available on the banks of river Cauvery enhance the uniqueness of the Thanjavur Dolls,” it said. Now that it has been registered, artisans can register themselves with the Chamber to become GI-recognised craftsmen. The membership will also entail inspection by internal and external experts. The experts are mandated to audit the quality of the dolls in keeping with the culturally rich tradition of Thanjavur. Other protected products are Kancheepuram silk (Tamil Nadu) Bhavani Jamakkalam (Erode, Tamil Nadu) Salem fabric (Tamil Nadu) Madurai Sungudi (Tamil Nadu) Coimbatore wet grinder (Tamil Nadu)