![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/47CLDTZVSBARZPOGU6QXPKGTMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf338b6ba6bfff420b38684635b5746b7b8b214eb629d69bab64fd9501a29982&width=400&height=225)
For decades after independence, the shop enjoyed the reputation of being the place to go to buy imported toys
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIHB32RA6JC6FBQVYLGBE4XW3M.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a9662cffeebcad54b9af51939d06bbdba8fef1d5471d070dbfe9cb43378294e3&width=400&height=225)
Amit Sundra, 53, outside Ram Chander & Sons toy shop in New Delhi. He is the fifth-generation owner of the family-run shop that opened in 1932. All photos: Taniya Dutta / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LRWFKFUTQ5FKTLQVVHAFAKCK3Y.jpeg?smart=true&auth=cd00ec2733584674fd332866f626fce2da4f9d329b5887291dc74d2d458d48f3&width=400&height=225)
Amit's father Satish, 86. His grandfather opened the shop in Ambala in 1830. His father moved it to New Delhi in 1932
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CERCQAYQERFPXGSAB25E5EI3EI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=94502e4bddfe85cfe00fb5f4f5170e581060aefa9cb7987318236aac71c0317c&width=400&height=225)
The shop is believed to be India’s oldest toy store
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WP7XOQOCD5GYBOG3TMZC4HGDRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ed285e2a94b162f123846553c1da03fb7af99bfbaa7552bb9bcea6258cfee725&width=400&height=225)
Toys fill the shop windows
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YSUDCPVEFFXFPVKS3L3QOLJDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=00ff34771a4fc6b53afadfaf9f006eb82243803b6830d4303242aaba2c1ad164&width=400&height=225)
The shop sells German-made Rolls-Royce models, plus replicas of Peppa Pig and the Avengers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CX5TODOGCFCHRE7OEP655262ZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8337a5e866d8013ef0ea6b861a74de4ddd1c512e9df8013a4370e8a4cf4378ea&width=400&height=225)
A man stops to look in the shop's window
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HNMGVEYEWVG4PCW3URM6AXPJ2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=236a8cc151c0e8eca7f9e4c2f10f9359160e2af09d08235ffa92bd1ea2213d89&width=400&height=225)
The store stocks a wide collection of airplane models and cuddly toys
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/57X3ANY3UJGVTDUFNRKZ5UVLLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6a6bb663cd31494b10b7d008c072aebb102a31d307815fbcf60a30d06a43e43&width=400&height=225)
The shop also sells board games and puzzles
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ICUB7KLNW5GJDIDHDLELHCK6WE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d855fbdd5ee4d252e88d6e1acf557151cc14a1e93e1b01a89b69d900da3d869&width=400&height=225)
The store enjoys a prime position in India's capital
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/47CLDTZVSBARZPOGU6QXPKGTMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf338b6ba6bfff420b38684635b5746b7b8b214eb629d69bab64fd9501a29982&width=400&height=225)
For decades after independence, the shop enjoyed the reputation of being the place to go to buy imported toys
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIHB32RA6JC6FBQVYLGBE4XW3M.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a9662cffeebcad54b9af51939d06bbdba8fef1d5471d070dbfe9cb43378294e3&width=400&height=225)
Amit Sundra, 53, outside Ram Chander & Sons toy shop in New Delhi. He is the fifth-generation owner of the family-run shop that opened in 1932. All photos: Taniya Dutta / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LRWFKFUTQ5FKTLQVVHAFAKCK3Y.jpeg?smart=true&auth=cd00ec2733584674fd332866f626fce2da4f9d329b5887291dc74d2d458d48f3&width=400&height=225)
Amit's father Satish, 86. His grandfather opened the shop in Ambala in 1830. His father moved it to New Delhi in 1932
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CERCQAYQERFPXGSAB25E5EI3EI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=94502e4bddfe85cfe00fb5f4f5170e581060aefa9cb7987318236aac71c0317c&width=400&height=225)
The shop is believed to be India’s oldest toy store
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WP7XOQOCD5GYBOG3TMZC4HGDRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ed285e2a94b162f123846553c1da03fb7af99bfbaa7552bb9bcea6258cfee725&width=400&height=225)
Toys fill the shop windows
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YSUDCPVEFFXFPVKS3L3QOLJDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=00ff34771a4fc6b53afadfaf9f006eb82243803b6830d4303242aaba2c1ad164&width=400&height=225)
The shop sells German-made Rolls-Royce models, plus replicas of Peppa Pig and the Avengers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CX5TODOGCFCHRE7OEP655262ZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8337a5e866d8013ef0ea6b861a74de4ddd1c512e9df8013a4370e8a4cf4378ea&width=400&height=225)
A man stops to look in the shop's window
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HNMGVEYEWVG4PCW3URM6AXPJ2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=236a8cc151c0e8eca7f9e4c2f10f9359160e2af09d08235ffa92bd1ea2213d89&width=400&height=225)
The store stocks a wide collection of airplane models and cuddly toys
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/57X3ANY3UJGVTDUFNRKZ5UVLLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6a6bb663cd31494b10b7d008c072aebb102a31d307815fbcf60a30d06a43e43&width=400&height=225)
The shop also sells board games and puzzles
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ICUB7KLNW5GJDIDHDLELHCK6WE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d855fbdd5ee4d252e88d6e1acf557151cc14a1e93e1b01a89b69d900da3d869&width=400&height=225)
The store enjoys a prime position in India's capital
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/47CLDTZVSBARZPOGU6QXPKGTMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf338b6ba6bfff420b38684635b5746b7b8b214eb629d69bab64fd9501a29982&width=400&height=225)
For decades after independence, the shop enjoyed the reputation of being the place to go to buy imported toys
Postcard from Delhi: Survival is no child's play for 'India's oldest toy shop'
Ram Chander & Sons was known as the place to go for quality imports before the economy opened up and e-commerce surged
![Taniya Dutta](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Ff16b3521-2438-42ac-a914-4072ef298f1c.png?smart=true&auth=2e7bd18a9d681304782408cd2ad4662f50ed2dec6f481149b8eb1cac80d9d410&width=70&height=70)
Taniya Dutta
17 May, 2024
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