Lakshmi Narayan

In the small town of Channapatna, known as the "Gombegala Ooru" or Toy Town, Lakshmi Narayan continues a craft that dates back to the reign of Tipu Sultan. She works with soft ivory wood, shaping it on a lathe and coloring it with natural lacquer dyes made from seeds, leaves, and minerals. Her favorite piece is a set of nesting dolls depicting the Dashavatara. "My father put my hands on the lathe when I was six," she recalls. "He said the wood would teach me everything." Today, she runs a cooperative of 40 women woodworkers, all creating toys and decorative objects that are chemical-free and safe for children.