In a shop tucked away in the heart of Indian capital, Amit Sundra listens patiently to customers, helping them to find the right toys to buy. In between sales, he politely entertains visitors who drop in just to take photos.
Placed neatly in the cramped space are German-made models of Rolls-Royce cars, planes, cartoon and comic-book characters such as Peppa Pig and the Avengers, and Barbie dolls. Prices range from 100 rupees to 65,000 rupees ($1.15 to $17.70).
At first sight, the Ram Chander & Sons toy shop in a colonial-era white building in Connaught Place, the commercial hub of New Delhi, seems ordinary in comparison with the fancy delicatessen and imposing cineplex nearby. It is the sign outside that catches the eye: "India’s oldest toy store."
“People come from all over world. They come to buy a souvenir or just to get a picture of them clicked with my father, who is a great storyteller and one of the oldest in the toy business,” Mr Sundra tells The National.
He says he is in the process of seeking official recognition as the oldest toy shop in the country.
'Oldest surviving toy shop'
Mr Sundra, 53, is a fifth-generation owner of the family-run shop that opened in 1932. He took the reins from his 86-year-old father, Satish, in 1989.
The family’s journey in the toy business began in 1890, when Mr Sundra’s great-grandfather Seth Chunnilal opened a shop in the cantonment in Ambala, a bustling city in the British-era province of Punjab, which is now in neighbouring Haryana state.
The business later moved to the town of Kasauli, about 60km to the north in the foothills of the Himalayas. The nearby town of Shimla was at the time a popular summer resort for the British ruling elite.
The shop in the Indian capital was opened by Raj Sundra, Amit’s grandfather, in the upmarket Lutyens' Delhi area that has remained the country's seat of power, even after independence from British rule in 1947.
The shop in Kasauli was closed after independence, as its mainly British clientele dropped sharply.
Mr Sundra says his shop sold toys imported from Germany, Japan and England and was popular with British officials and, after independence, senior government officials and civil servants.
“Before independence, my grandfather used to close this shop in the summers and open the Kasauli shop as all the British would go up in the hills. Post-independence, that practice stopped. Prime ministers, politicians – they all visited us to buy toys.”
Slow decline of family-run shops
For decades after independence, Ram Chander & Sons enjoyed the reputation of being the place to go for anyone in India looking to buy quality imported toys.
But its fortunes began to turn after India began opening up its economy in the 1990s, leading to an influx of Chinese-made toys at much lower prices. Before this, Indian buyers had the option of buying high-quality imports from the West and Japan, and toys made domestically.
“Toys made in Japan, England and Germany were upmarket. And then there were toys by domestic manufacturers who made wooden or tin toys and all kinds of board, puzzle games that weren’t of high quality,” Mr Sundra says.
"Chinese toys invaded the market, but with the passage of time, bad products also came."
In 2021, the Indian government banned imports of toys that did not meet its quality standards and two years later increased the import duty on toys to 70 per cent, from 20 per cent. The moves were aimed at boosting domestic manufacturers, but in turn hurt businesses selling imported goods.
Imports of toys declined by 52 per cent in 2023, government data shows.
“We can still import but there is a huge duty and permissions required. There is a great vacuum right now. No stuff is coming in and one is reliant on local manufacturers who try, but no great innovation has taken place. Most copy each other,” Mr Sundra says.
His business has also had to contend with the opening of more toy shops, including branches of the British chain Hamleys that is now owned by Indian conglomerate Reliance Group, and the arrival of e-commerce giants.
“The footfall at the shop has reduced by 30 to 50 per cent. There are also lots of stores opening up in local markets.”
The rise in online sales has also affected business. “Often, they sell products at a price which is lower than even our buying price,” he adds.
Mr Sundra says is he determined to keep the shop going but fears he will be the last generation in his family to run the business.
“Traditionally, all the mom-and-pop shops are dying out. Stores are shutting left, right and centre. We are here. For us, it is a legacy, it is about honour and we just keep trying to survive," he says.
“I don’t think the shop will continue after me because of the whole process of interacting with people – all kinds and quality of people – and general pressure to survive that children do not fancy very much."
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Allardyce's management career
Clubs (10) - Limerick (1991-1992), Perston North End (1992), Blackpool (1994-1996), Notts County (1997-1999), Bolton Wanderers (1999-2007), Newcastle United (2007-2008), Blackburn Rovers (2008-2010), West Ham United (2011-2015), Sunderland (2016), Crystal Palace (2016-2017)
Countries (1) - England (2016)
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
No.6 Collaborations Project
Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
SPECS
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Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff
By Sean Penn
Simon & Schuster
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
