Victoria Technical Institute

A Unique Gift.

The Victoria Technical Institute

Victoria Technical Institute has a 124 year old history behind it. It was opened in Victoria Memorial Hall, Pantheon Road, Egmore, in the year 1889 in commemoration of the silver jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria. The Victoria Technical Institute was moved to Mount Road in 1956. What began as an Institute which was mainly concentrated on creating a social impact and upliftment of the rurally-based artisans, continues even till today its legacy of patronizing thousands of them.

 Handicrafts

Handicraft opens the doors to ethnic India, with its attractiveness and utility. Different types of clothes ranging from baby frocks to Bed Spreads, Indian Paintings, Wall Hangings, Indian Jewelry, Sculptures, Pottery, Handcrafted Furniture, Home Decoration etc can be found here at Victoria Technical Institute.

Handicrafts at VTI

The vision of VTI is to showcase true colors of Indian culture that is embraced by people of all ages, religion and regions. VTI with its legacy lasting more than a century, even today is dedicated to provide with high quality genuine handcrafted products directly from its base and in the process provide fair wages to the artisans.

An Artisan and the VTI

Art is the nectar of human life. An artisan has a capacity to reproduce what he has seen his ancestor passing down to him, and this is what a new generation artisan gives to VTI even today – says Mr P. Vijay, CEO at the Institute.  People enter the Institute and see different techniques, handicrafts and a huge variety of art which elevates them to a different plane. The quest of art and culture of India for a foreigner comes to an end when he enters into this building. And most importantly, he can also take along with him a culturally rich experience of India. This collection has come from different villages across the country right from Hoshiarpur to Mysore. An aritsit in Hoshairpur shows their talent in making a detachable dressing table of enamel inlay work, whereas an artisan in Mysore specializes in making bronze idols of Lord Vishnu and Ganesha.  When I enter the Institute, what catches my attention is this arresting piece of handicraft of a decorated elephant which one witnesses while watching a royal parade in Mysore. I am left astounded as I discover that it is worth a huge sum of Rupees Sixty Lacs.

VTI as a Charitable Institute

 This VTI is also a charitable institute which seeks to encourage differently abled children and  refugees of Srilankan Women’s Organization. A vast variety ranging from embroidery work on different types of clothes ranging from small baby frocks to Bed Spreads, ornaments and stone and pearl-studded ornaments are just some of the creative expression of  people from the organizations.  I got engrossed and went to third floor, I saw items made out of rosewood such as dressing tables and dining tables as well as pooja ghar, jhoolas, and idols of gods such as Vishnu and Shiva and laughing Buddha,, Tanjore Paintings of Lord Krishna all of these created by the indigenous artisans in the remote villages of India. The foldable dressing table my personal favourite is from Hoshiarpur, Punjab and Mr P.Vijay tells me that it  furniture work that they have been procuring from the district for years. Rosewood furniture here is so elegant and has made its way into the homes of  an informed buyer in such a way that the turnover this section alone made last year of over a crore itself.

I ask Mr P.Vijay if they find many visitors attracted to the Institute, “You will be amazed when I tell you that many customers keep coming back here. Apart from repeat customers, we also have people coming from other numerous walks of life often giving us orders from abroad to ship these furniture items.   

    

“We have training centers wherein the artisans are trained to hone their skills in training centers located at Mahabalipuram and another at Kumbakonam. Apart from this the Institute also organizes a competititon in October every year on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi.       

     

Insights from the Modern Buyer.

Surguna, Operational Manager at Tata Consultancy Services, Chennai tells me that he is drawn to a second time visit to VTI because he can walk out with a purchase of value topped up with feeling of total satisfaction. He in fact brought along with him a friend who wanted to take home with him a slice of Indian culture to gift someone.     

Handicraft items can be the best gift for occasions says Tasneem, who was a regular customer, and when she visited this year the Institute almost after ten years, still feels connected to the Institute in the way of the items that it offers.

A visit to Victoria Technical Institute will allow you to connect yourself to our rich heritage which we can proudly carry with us into the future.  

- Alifia M.B.V