Tamil Nadu’s Poompuhar Demands GI Tag For Thanjavur’s Cut Glass Work

Thanjavur glass artefacts are a classical South Indian painting style. They originate in the town of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The art form draws its inspiration from way back about 1600 AD, a period when the Nayakas of Thanjavur, under the suzerainty of the Vijayanagara Rayas, encouraged the art of chiefly Hindu religious subjects in temples. It is distinguished by its famous gold coating, and in a bid to preserve this art for posterity, the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (Poompuhar) and the Thanjavur Handicrafts Workers Cottage Industrial Cooperative Society Limited have recently filed applications for obtaining a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

The GI tag will preserve the temple town’s heritage of cut glass work (Thanjavur Kannadi Kalaiporul) and the Tiruvavaduthurai seevali used in Nagaswaram.

A senior official from Poompuhar, Chennai, said in an interview that an earlier application, filed in 2013, to the Geographical Indications Registry for the same craft was withdrawn in 2019 due to a lack of documentation. This time, they have got the requisite paperwork and are hence re-applying for recognition as Thanjavur Kannadi Kalaiporul. Elaborating further, he added that at least 25 artisans were involved in producing cut glass handicrafts in Thanjavur Taluk.

Thanjavur kannadi kalaiporul is a special art form of Thanjavur taluk in Thanjavur district. The art uses plain/mirrored glass pieces to decorate various articles and golden and silver glitter paper to add shine to the handicrafts. The glasses are individually cut and pasted onto wooden or metallic objects with homemade gum, and heat is applied to form geometric and self-repeating patterns.

While talking to a media portal, a Thanjavur-based glasswork artisan named L Selvaraj with over 50 years of experience said, “Thanjavur cut glass work was used in particular items such as poorna kalasam [a ceremonial pot with coconut and leaves made out of wood or metal], a jewel box, a kungumam chimizh (vermilion powder holder), a visiri (hand fan), and prayer artefacts and trays.”

The artisan further said that it can take up to two days for a craftsperson to make a handicraft, with items costing upwards of Rs 350.

Intellectual property rights attorney P Sanjai Gandhi, who is handling the application process, said, “Thanjavur glass work has a rich history behind it. A GI tag will help us revive interest in the craft and also train new generations of artisans.”