For some, dolls are a nostalgic escape from childhood, but for college students in Delhi, dolls symbolise healing, empowerment and the revival of traditional crafts. On World Doll Day, today, here’s how they are bringing back the love for dolls.
Crochet craze: Healing with hook and yarn
Think Captain America and Superman crocheted to cuteness! That’s how Medhini, an entrepreneurial venture by Kinjal Bansal from Delhi University's Kamala Nehru College captures hearts. She has turned her love for crochet into a business. “My friends and I all enjoyed crochet, so starting a side hustle with crochet dolls felt natural,” says Bansal, a second-year BSc (Hons) Zoology student. “Recently, someone from North-East India ordered customised dolls resembling her family. Such acts of love help heal our inner child and improve mental health.”
Threading traditions: Puppetry finds new life
“The stories of kings and queens should not just entertain but also promote balanced lives,” says Swayam Rajgaria, president of the Enactus wing at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). This group collaborates with city artisans to revive puppetry and traditional dolls. “Our work focuses on showing artisans that puppetry is not outdated. We facilitate their shows, volunteer during performances, and cheer them on. We’re a group of seven students who spend our free time nurturing our love for these nostalgic dolls.”
{{/usCountry}}“The stories of kings and queens should not just entertain but also promote balanced lives,” says Swayam Rajgaria, president of the Enactus wing at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). This group collaborates with city artisans to revive puppetry and traditional dolls. “Our work focuses on showing artisans that puppetry is not outdated. We facilitate their shows, volunteer during performances, and cheer them on. We’re a group of seven students who spend our free time nurturing our love for these nostalgic dolls.”
{{/usCountry}}Scrap to fab: Sustainable dolls for all
Design students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi are making doll dreams come true for children from all walks of life. “We’ve teamed up with IIT’s NSS wing to repurpose leftover cardboard and scrap fabric into dolls,” shares Daksh Kumbhat, a second-year Bachelors of Design student, adding, “Fashion waste and its ecological impact are significant concerns. This project promotes sustainability and empowerment. While we provide raw materials, NSS members train underprivileged women to sew and stitch these materials into dolls sold at local markets. This initiative merges sustainability with socio-economic upliftment.”