The existence of toys in India dates back to the primordial Indus Valley Civilization. With modernisation, arrived the need to take manufacturing a notch above. A predominance of imported toys in India’s current toy market which counts around 1.75 billion USD, gave impetus for the initiation of Toycathon 2021 under the umbrella of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Intrinsically, Toycathon is an inter-ministerial action administered by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell with substantiation from All India Council for Technical Education, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
A challenge to bring about self-reliance in production of toys and consequently characterize our culture, heritage and institutionality by turning ideas into action, Toycathon 2021 was an innovative opportunity for academics, students and entrepreneurs alike to express fertile ideas in the genre of toy making and claim prizes up till 50 lakhs.
A prime occasion, Lovely Professional University was the Nodal Center for Toycathon 2021. Involving 16 teams across the country and a pristine panel of judges, the contest transpired from June 22nd’21 to June 24th’21. The digitally held Inauguration ceremony marked the presence of and address by revered Executive Dean of Lovely Faculty of Technology and Sciences, Dr. Loviraj Gupta and Head, Division of Student Welfare, Dr. Sourabh Lakhanpal. Mentored by professionals and individuals of expertise from the field, teams tabled their presentations and archetypes displaying efficacy alongside feasibility, demonstrating admissible frameworks, and integrating points of key focus laid out by the Government of India for Toycathon 2021.
A proficient panel consisting of Chairpersons Sangathipriya. J and Dr. Shriram K V, accompanied by Members Samatha Juluri, N. Divya, Dr. Shasanka Sekhar Rout, Aarti Karandikar, Jagadeeshwar G Shivan, Smita Ramesh Sankhe, Dr. Saurav Mitra and Dr. Karunesh Tiwari; presided over the contest and evaluated teams on their dexterity from June 23rd through to June 24th, as the event progressed. Enveloping and enriching agenda alongside holistic objectives, Toycathon 2021 was a comprehensive episode of the year, hosted by Lovely Professional University, keeping faith with its motto of transforming lives through education by encouraging and endorsing the act of #ThinkBIG.
