THANJAVUR: For artisans who create Thanjavur paintings here, the Geographical Indication (GI) registration in 2007 should have acted as a major boost. But it didn’t. For, local artisans are yet to get authorised user registration to claim the GI tag. So, products made elsewhere, like in Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchy and Pudukkottai, are also marketed as “Thanjavur paintings”.
The paintings got listed under the GI registry on May 16, 2007, in the name of Thanjavur Oviya Padhukappu Sangam. In fact, five applications for authorised user registration are pending with the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, according to information sourced through an RTI petition.
Of the five, four are by artisans from Thanjavur and one is by the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation (Poompuhar) in Chennai.
Though the GI tag for Thanjavur paintings was given for those created in the district, even today paintings made in other places are being sold as Thanjavur paintings, which is in violation of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act.
Since no artisan has been awarded the registration, no one could raise an objection to the ‘infringement’, said an artisan.
Many artisans, who create Thanjavur paintings in the town, were unaware that the art form got the GI registration and some didn’t know how to register as authorised users.
Though the paintings, renowned for their ornamentation, including gold plates, gilded metal pieces, semi-precious stones, date back to the 16th century Nayak rule, such creativity flourished during the Maratha rule (17th-19th century).
B Sambaji Rajah Bhonsale, a royal descendent of the Maratha rulers and a renowned Thanjavur painting artist, said he was not aware of the GI registration. “There was opposition from those who produce such paintings in Chennai. So I thought the GI tag has not been awarded for the paintings,” he told Express.
A Anand, a first generation practitioner, said though he was aware of the GI tag, he didn’t know how to register himself as an authorised user.
As the GI tag applies to only those paintings made in the territory of Thanjavur district, according to the map provided during registration, those practicing the art form elsewhere need to relocate to the town so that they can market their products as Thanjavur paintings. “If they relocate to Thanjavur, we are ready to guide them,” said Sambaji.