TOY STORY OF TELANGANA  –  NIRMAL 

In this edition of traditional toys, I’m highlighting Nirmal toy makers who are carrying on an age-old tradition. It is a small town with a rich cultural history; Nimma Naidu, the 17th-century ruler, had a great passion for art and toy-making. With this passion, he gathered 80 artisans and established a toy manufacturing business. Nirmal is a small town in the Adilabad District of Telangana that became famous for its wooden toys. This art has lost its luster, and only a few families continue to practice it. It has become a stop-by-spot for visitors to Adilabad who are visiting the kuntala waterfalls and are unaware of the age-old art that is surviving.

It’s a 400-year-old tradition of creating soft wood toys and paintings that holds a special place in the world of handicrafts. Every home in the country is decorated with finely curved figures and paintings. This art had seen ups and downs, the most significant of which was the death of its patron, the Nizam.

In the 17th century, the Naqqash families were flown to Nirmal town from Rajasthan by Neema Naik, who adored this art and named it after him.

Making of toys:

• Naqqash make the toys, which are made of a locally available soft wood called Poniki, which is white sander wood. During Nizam’s rule, with this wood, they made furniture. They’re making toys out of this wood now.
• Ganjifa playing cards are also traditionally made in Nirmal by senior artisans. They used duco paints for Nirmal’s paintings, which have a more natural shine than natural dyes.
• The toys are also painted in enamel colors, which give them their characteristic sheen.
• These toys are also painted with an herbal extract that gives them a golden sheen. Mughal miniatures, which are paintings done on white wood poniki and owned by art collectors, are more appealing. Flora and fauna are the main themes or subjects chosen by these artisans.
• The Naqash craftsmen have contributed their extensive knowledge in the form of unique wooden toys. Nirmal toys can be found in living rooms, offices, and art galleries.
  

Equipment:

• Wood
• Cutting machine
• Saw
• File
• Sawdust
• Water 
• Glue
• Tamarind seed paste
• Colors 
• Painting brushes

Making process:

1. Wooden logs are sawed into planks.
2. They are then cut into smaller pieces and shaped.
3. Glue is used to adhere shaped pieces. 
4. The structure is coated with tamarind seed paste mixed with sawdust.
5. This structure is designed to dry.
6. They’ve been sanded perfectly.
7. There is careful attention to detail.
8. Wooden toys have been colored and are ready to be displayed for sale.

Conclusion

1. These toys are also painted with an herbal extract that gives them a golden sheen. Mughal miniatures, which are paintings done on white wood poniki and owned by art collectors, are more appealing. Flora and fauna are the main themes or subjects chosen by these artisans.
2. The Naqash artisans have contributed their extensive knowledge in the form of one-of-a-kind wooden toys. Nirmal toys can be found in a variety of settings, including living rooms, offices, and art galleries.