India – Page 12 – Take off with Natarajan

These 35 Girls Share One Pair of Boxing Gloves, But They’re Sure Of Reaching the Olympics Someday…

March 27, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

In Chennai, 23-year-old Narmada J, ex-boxing champ at state-level, is training young girls for free along with her friends. Even without adequate boxing gear and facilities, they aim to box their way into the Olympics.

Every day after they are done with their classes Chithra, Mercy, Kalaivani, Gayathri and others make a beeline for a sandy ground located near the Police Boys Girls Club and the Housing Board tenements of Kannagi Nagar, one of Chennai’s suburban localities chosen by the state government’s slum clearance board to relocate the city’s poorest. This is where the youngsters spend a few hours working out followed by some sessions of boxing held under the watchful eye of their coach, J. Narmada, 23.

They don’t have access to even the most basic boxing gear like a punching bag or a proper rink. They have to share a single pair of gloves among 35 girls. And, the most nutritious diet they can afford is millet porridge with an occasional egg.

But such deprivations haven’t stopped them from performing well at divisional level boxing tournaments at Kannagi Nagar.

Girls in select lower income neighbourhoods of Chennai are receiving training in boxing, something that has given them the confidence to stand up for themselves and dream big

Credit: Hema Vijay\WFS

In fact, today there are 70 other girls training hard to become professional boxers in at the Corporation Higher Secondary School in Ayanavaram and the Jayagoplal Garodia Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Choolaimedu.

“Chennai girls are the best. They have the guts to dream. In places like Manipur, where boxing is almost a part of regular schooling, they have good training facilities and boxing gears. But even though Chennai girls don’t have that, they have no doubts that they can punch their way to the Olympics,” remarks a proud Narmada. This young coach’s face lights up when she talks about “my girls”, and how much they have progressed in the last few months.

“With just four months of training, the girls at Kannagi Nagar have managed to bag two gold and two silver medals at the Divisional Level boxing tournament held in Kancheepuram district. They also won one gold medal and three silver medals at the Chennai Divisional tournaments. Imagine how far they can go with intensive training and the right equipment,” she points out.

Narmada perfectly understands the tough circumstances those training under her face on an everyday basis. Like her parents, those of her pupils, too, eke out a living as fishermen or daily wage labourers. But, being unaccustomed to an easy existence, they are eager to grab the few opportunities that come their way. They are extremely tough and spirited, qualities that give them a definite edge in a ruthless sport like boxing.

Today, Narmada is a heroine to these primary and secondary school girls.

Coach, J. Narmada, 23, is a true heroine for the primary and secondary school girls she trains for free week-after week.

Credit: Hema Vijay\WFS

And why not, as she and her friends train them for free, week after week. The sessions take place after school hours, and sometimes, during school as well. “On my own, it might have been difficult to convince the schools to support the girls’ training. But the fact that I work with Magic Bus, a non-profit that works with schools to bring about behavioural changes in children through sports, has been of immense help,” remarks the committed sportsperson.

She has won bronze medals at the Nationals in 2007 and 2008, and was named the best boxer at the state level in 2008. She has also won the Gold at the state level in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Though she didn’t make it to the international platform, Narmada has made up her mind to ensure that her girls do. To make her “mission” a success she has roped in her old classmates E. Sevvandhi, M. Bhuvaneshwari, M. Nila, and S. Durga to join hands with Magic Bus.

Narmada herself had gotten into boxing in 2006 when she was in Class 6, thanks to a Chennai Corporation initiative. “We didn’t even know what the sport was called, but we would go to tournaments and feel happy when we won a medal,” recalls her friend and fellow player Sevvandhi. It was around that time that the state government had introduced boxing along with judo, karate and other such combat sports for girls in corporation-run schools.

Of course, even back then, boxing was not new to Chennai slums; like carrom tournaments, men and boys in the lower income neighbourhoods, especially those in north Chennai, had taken to boxing, with local ‘area’ and ‘street’ tournaments holding sway. The craze for this extreme sport perhaps began in the 1970s when the Nehru Stadium in the area had hosted boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

So, how did Narmada’s parents react when she decided to take up boxing? “More than my parents, my relatives were afraid that I would injure myself. My parents were very supportive; though they rue that all my medals and certificates have not come useful as they haven’t got me a job,” she says. Narmada credits much of her own progress to her coach J. Loganathan, who she says has been motivating and guiding her all along.

After school, Narmada enrolled for a degree in physical education (B.Sc. Physical Education) and became an instructor with Magic Bus. As a social worker, her “salary is less, but satisfaction is boundless”. She says, “Frankly, to bring about behavioural change in children, I had to bring in behavioural changes in myself, as I am a role model to them,” she muses candidly. A remarkably talented woman, Narmada works as a gym trainer in the mornings to earn her bread and butter.

At the moment, Narmada’s main priority is to get a few boxing bags and gloves for the girls training with her.

Credit: Hema Vijay\WFS

As of now, her friends and she have pooled in some money to buy three pairs of boxing gloves that are shared between 100 girls! A pair of gloves costs Rs 2,000, while a boxing bag costs Rs 2,800. They are hopeful that someone would step in and sponsor the same for them.

What does boxing give these young women? “To some extent, the ability to protect themselves. But the crucial thing is the self esteem they develop as they play; it comes with moving to the next level and winning the cash awards at the various tournaments,” explains Narmada. They carry themselves with a lot of confidence, which is crucial for moving ahead in life. “My speed is not what it was but if my girls make it to the big leagues then I will be more delighted than if I would have made it myself,” says Narmada.

Even though it remains to seen whether they make their state and country proud in the future – although they are raring to make it big in the boxing arena – for the time being, the opportunity to play has given them the boost they needed to stand up for themselves and dream.

Written by Hema Vijay for Women’s Feature Service (WFS) and republished here in arrangement with WFS.

Source…..Hema Vijay in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

Behind The Success of Rajasthan’s Star Female Athlete Is a Woman: Her Mother-In-Law…!!!

March 27, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Meet Sneha Jain, one of Rajasthan’s best female athletes – national and Asian record holder, winner of 149 gold medals in Masters tournaments, and the mother of two.

The track has been an integral part of Sneha Jain’s life for decades now. As one of Rajasthan’s best female athletes, she has worked hard to build a successful sporting career. From representing her state nationally in 100 metre sprint, long jump and triple jump competitions, to setting national and Asian track and field records, to winning 149 gold medals in Masters tournaments, this 40-something mother of two has done it all. But here’s an interesting fact – she became a sporting sensation after her marriage.

Unlike many Indian sportswomen for whom nuptials essentially mark the beginning of the end of their career, Jain has blazed her own trail of gold glory with the support of one woman – her mother-in-law.

Sneha Jain has represented Rajasthan nationally in 100 metre sprint, long jump and triple jump competitions

Recently, when Jain couldn’t make it to Sri Lanka to participate in the International Masters Athletics meet to make a bid for achieving a landmark personal medal tally of 150 golds because an uncle suffered a massive cardiac arrest, it was a déjà vu moment for her. A decade ago, in 1996, she had missed the opportunity to become part of the national athletics squad as she had to rush back home from the national sports camp at Bengaluru after her mother, who was suffering from uterine cancer, passed away suddenly.

When this tragedy struck her young life, Jain had established herself as a foremost female sportsperson in her state and had, in fact, been a regular at the nationals since 1989. She was ready to distinguish herself in the big league but fate had something else in store for her.

Jain had already given up on education having dropped out of college after the first year. She had more pressing obligations at home, taking care of her mother and younger brother besides travelling to Mumbai on and off as her mother was being treated there. There was simply no time to go to class. Then she lost her mother and her sporting career also came to a near standstill. Between 1996 and 2000, she wasn’t able to do anything concrete to further her dream of playing for the country.

It almost seemed like the end of her career – and then she got married.

“My elder sister, Lata, decided that I should get married so that I can move on from the loss of my mother and start life afresh. It did turn out to be a wise thing to do because it was my mother-in-law who motivated me to revive my career. Unlike most mothers-in-law, mine offered to lend me a helping hand in the household chores if I agreed to return to the track! Could I ask for more,” shares Jain, who began practicing regularly once again and even managed to get into the nationals in the very next year –and in the subsequent years thereafter.

“However, I didn’t win any medals because my body needed some more time to return to form,” she elaborates. Of course, by the time she regained full fitness she had turned 35 and became ineligible for professional sporting events.

As one of Rajasthan’s foremost female athletes she has worked hard to build a successful sporting career.

“I hadn’t heard about the Masters competitions back then. I was quite disappointed that in my second stint I was unable to hit my earlier performance levels,” she says. It was in 2007 that she came to know about the Masters tournament and that gave her fillip to go on. “I took part in my first Masters National Games, which was held in Jaipur, where I created a national record in long jump,” she says, adding that this record remains unbeaten.

Back in form and full of confidence, Jain restarted her hunt for medals. During the 15 years of marriage, she has won 149 gold medals and holds a national and an Asian record in her name. Last year, in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, during the 37th Masters National Games, she was adjudged the best athlete after she won five golds – in 100 metres, long jump, triple jump, 4×100 metres and 4×400 metres relays.

In many Indian families, it’s not all that easy for daughters-in-law to continue pursuing their passions – especially if they are related to sports. Yet, Jain is conscious of the fact that she has been fortunate because the elders in her marital home not only supported her career but also pushed her to become the best and win laurels.

“My husband accompanied me when I participated in my first Nationals post marriage in Hyderabad. Once my daughter was born, in 2002, I took her along with me everywhere,” she says, adding, “I’m out of town for nearly three to four months in a year participating in some competition or the other but the family has never complained.”

In fact, as Jain had started running by the time she turned five she has inspired her two children – daughter Aarchie and son, Vansh – to follow in her footsteps and get an early start.

Whereas Vansh, 10, is doing well on the track in school, Aarchie, who is in Class 9, has already been part of two under-14 national events held in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and Hardwar, Uttarakhand, respectively. “She’s been practicing with me for the last two years. I’m her coach. I want her to continue my legacy. She participated in the 100 metres sprint and 100 metres hurdles competitions,” says the proud mother. Aarchie joins her mother at the Barkatullah Stadium, two kilometres from their home, every evening at four to put in a three-hour practice session. By the time Jain is back after this gruelling routine, her mother-in-law has already done the preparations for dinner so she has “to just cook”.

Apart from her two children, no one in the family is into sports. Her sisters-in-law’s children are studying to be chartered accountants or company secretaries. Her husband is into transport business and her brothers have their own businesses as well. Jain got a job in the Post and Telegraph Department in 1993, when she was in the first year of graduation, under the sports quota and has been representing the Department ever since.

She’s currently posted at Jodhpur’s head post office located on Station Road where she shows up in tracksuit because she has to head to the stadium directly after office.

“As a sportsperson who has won medals, I get two hours off in duty. My office hours are from 10 am to 4 pm,” she informs. Apart from that Jain is on the executive body of the Masters Athletics Federation of India and is involved in organising national events. Today, she is gearing up to fulfil a long cherished dream. in May, Jain will head to Singapore to participate in the Asian Masters championship in the hope that she will finally be able to achieve the 150 medal mark.

Source….Written by Renu R. for Women’s Feature Service (WFS) and republished here in arrangement with WFS.

Tanaya Singh in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

This Man donated every Rupee he EARNED to the poor ….

March 24, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

What began as a challenge ended up a way of life for ‘Paalam’ Kalyanasundaram, whom the UN adjudged one of the most outstanding people of the 20th century.
This is the story of his inspiring journey, as told to Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com

IMAGE: The extraordinary Paalam Kalyanasundaram. Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

Thin, frail, clad in a dull white dhoti and sleeveless vest, ‘Paalam’ Kalyanasundaramlooks older than his 75 years. Though born into a wealthy agricultural family where he was surrounded by abundance, his possessions today are a couple of dhotis and shirts and a small black bag that he carries everywhere.

He doesn’t have a house of his own, but the doors of many homes in Chennai, including that of superstar Rajinikanth, are open to him.

He never married because he did not meet a person like Sarada Devi, Ramakrishna Paramhansa’s wife. yet, hundreds of children are willing to take care of him.

I meet this extraordinary human being in a tiny one room house in a slum. He is like a grandfather to the young girl who lost her father to cancer a few years ago. She eats with him, runs errands for him, travels with him and takes care of him more than he takes care of her. He has many such grandchildren.

As we speak, a young man walks in. A driver from the interiors of Tamil Nadu, he had come hearing of Paalam’s large heart and wanted to help by driving him around. A man like Paalam, he says, should not travel in autos and buses.

This is the kind of unconditional love people have for him.

Paalam worked as a librarian in a college for 35 years and donated every paisa he earned as salary to charity. To meet his needs, he worked as a waiter in a small hotel after college hours. He also gave away his entire pension to the poor.

He had won many awards including the best librarian award from the Government of India. The International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, honoured him as one of the ‘noblest of the world.’ The United Nations adjudged him one of the most outstanding people of the 20th century.

The Man of the Millennium award from an American organisation gave him Rs 30 crore (Rs 300 million) along with the award. He donated the entire amount to the poor.

Today he runs the organisation Paalam (bridge), which works as a bridge between donors and the needy. “I do not earn any money now, so I can only act as a bridge,” he says.

It may be hard to believe that a man like Paalam Kalyanasundaram lives on this planet, but he does, and here is his story.

Childhood in a village

You will realise how backward my village, Melakarivelamkulam in Tirunelveli district, was when I say that there were only 35 houses. We had no road, no electricity, no primary school or even a tiny shop to buy a match box!

Till I reached high school, we only used kerosene lamps at home.

It was only when I came to Madras for my post-school education that I saw, for the first time in my life, a train, a cinema theatre, big shops and even electricity.

I lost my father, a rich landlord, when I was 10 months old. I was brought up by my mother and maternal grandmother. My biggest life lesson came from my illiterate mother.

Before she got married, my grandmother ran a small idli shop in her village and my mother and her sister worked as servers. My father, a rich agriculturist, used to visit the village to sell his farm products. As this was the only idli shop there, he was a regular visitor.

A 45-year-old widower, he would leave his two small children at the idli shop while he completed his work. When he found that my mother lovingly looked after them, he wanted to marry her. My mother had two conditions — that her mother would stay with them and he had to bear the expenses of her younger sister’s wedding.

He agreed and they were married.

My elder brother was born when my father was 50, I was born 11 years later. Within a year, my father passed away.

IMAGE: Kalyanasundaram’s mother urged him to share his meals with others (Image used for representational purposes only). Photograph: Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters

When my brother and I were young, she would tell us, ‘Even if you have all the money in the world, you will not be happy. To attain happiness, you should not be greedy. You should donate one tenth of whatever you have to the needy. You should help a living being — human or animal — every day. If you follow these three things, you will be happy.’

My life was not shaped by what I learnt in school or college, it was shaped by my illiterate mother’s thoughts.

Every morning, when my brother and I got ready to go to school, my mother would pack either 10 biscuits or 10 murukku (a savoury snack) or 10 chocolates and tell us, ‘Before you start eating, you should give one to somebody else. Without doing that, you should not eat anything. It can be a beggar or a dog or even your friend.’

One day, the snack she gave me was a delicious sweet. I couldn’t control my desire, I ate all 10 myself. In the evening, I asked her for some more after confessing I hadn’t shared any earlier since it was so tempting. She was so angry and disappointed; she slapped me hard and said she would have made more if I had shared it with someone.

A challenge, and a saviour

When we became teenagers, the voice of all my friends cracked, but mine didn’t. My classmates would constantly tease me about my shrieky, feminine, voice.

It disturbed me to such an extent that I wanted to commit suicide.

Depressed beyond words, I went to meet a Tamil writer who was my hero and told him I was fed up living a boy’s life with a girl’s voice. I was 16. He was shocked. He took me to a hotel and ordered some food.

Later, he spoke to me for two hours. ‘How Kalyanasundaram speaks is not what makes your life,’ he said. ‘What society speaks about Kalyanasundaram is what matters. You should live such a life that people speak highly about you and your life.’

I have not forgotten his words.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru addresses a meeting in New Delhi during the 1962 war with China. Photograph: Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images

A war and a challenge

In 1962, when the India-China war started, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru urged all citizens to donate to the war fund. I was a student of library science at Madras University.

I didn’t have any money, so I immediately took the gold chain I was wearing and donated it to the Prime Minister’s Fund.

When Kamaraj (the then chief minister of Tamil Nadu) came to know of this, he arranged a meeting at Marina Beach (in Chennai) on May 1, 1963. When he complimented my donation as a great social service, I said I had done it for my own satisfaction and happiness.

A newspaper editor asked, ‘Till now, you have been donating what your mother and grandmother gave you, not what you earned. When you start working, can you donate your entire salary for at least five years?’ Taking it as a challenge, I agreed.

When I was in school, I wanted to see all the other children there as well. But most of my friends from the village could not afford the fees. So, after I turned 14, I gave free tuition to the village children. I felt it was unfair that I could study because I belonged to a rich family and my friends could not because their parents were poor.

Keeping a promise, and more

I am a gold medallist in library science and have master’s degrees in Tamil literature and history. After my studies, I decided to work as a librarian at the Kumarkurupara Arts College at Srivaikuntam near Thanjavur.

At that time, our family income from agriculture was around Rs 2 or 3 lakhs (Rs 200,000 to Rs 300,000). I remembered what I told the newspaper editor. I knew I could donate my salary of Rs 140 and live on the family income.

But what is so great about giving away Rs 140 for charity when your family income is in lakhs? It becomes great only when that Rs 140 is all you have.

When serving became a tribute

After donating my entire salary, I chose not to take any money from my family. To take care of my basic needs, I worked in a restaurant in a small town away from my college.

After college, from 5 pm to 7 pm, I worked as an honorary professor teaching students Gandhian studies. From 8 pm to 11 pm, I worked as a waiter.

Though the owner asked me to work as a manager or a cashier, I wanted to work as a waiter as my mother was one when she was young. I didn’t consider it demeaning even though I was the chief librarian of a college.

The hotel paid me Rs 600 as salary. I was also given free food.

Slowly, people came to know that I worked in a college and the restaurant came to be known as the one where a college teacher worked as a server! Many people would come there just to see me.

Even today, people point out the restaurant and say this was where a college professor worked as a server.

IMAGE: In rural India, many poor children do not have access to education (Image used for representational purposes only). Photograph: Parivartan Sharma/Reuters

The joy of giving

After giving away my salary for five years, I thought why not donate my entire salary for another 10 years and prove the editor wrong?

After 10 years, I realised I felt good using my money to educate poor children. I continued to donate my entire salary till my retirement, that is, for 35 years.

Nobody knew what I was doing till 1990. It remained a secret as I didn’t want to publicise what I was doing.

When our pay scale changed to what the UGC (University Grants Commission) prescribed, everyone got huge arrears. I also got Rs 120,000.

I met the district collector and asked him to keep the money in a trust to be used as scholarships for the education of orphaned children. He asked if I had any conditions. I said I wanted members from all communities who were involved in charity work to be on the trust so that the scholarships would be used properly even after my death.

When he wanted to arrange a public meeting to appreciate my gesture, I told him I didn’t want anyone else to know about it. He agreed, but, without my knowledge, sent this information to newspapers, agencies and radio stations. It was flashed all over India. His reasoning was that he wanted more people to follow what I did.

That’s how, after April 16, 1990, people came to know of a person called Kalyanasundaram.

A sacrifice, happily made

I knew that if I got married, I would not be able to donate my entire salary. So I decided to remain a bachelor.

If I had met a person like Sarada Devi, who was the perfect wife to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, I would have got married.

A superstar for a son

After I gave my entire pension, gratuity and provident fund to the poor, the United Nations named me one of the Outstanding People of the 20th Century.

An American organisation honoured me with the ‘Man of the Millennium’ award, which included Rs 30 crore. I distributed the entire amount to the needy.

When Rajinikanth came to know of this, he organised a meeting at the Kamarajar Arangam and gave me money and 101 sovereigns. There itself, I gave away the money and 101 sovereigns to 101 needy children.

On seeing this, he adopted me as his father and wanted me to stay with him. But I couldn’t stay with him for more than a month as I found that life quite stifling.

I like to lead an anonymous, simple and independent life which I didn’t get while staying at his place. He respected my wishes and let me go, saying the doors of his house would always be open for me.

IMAGE: The man who became a bridge — Paalam Kalyanasundaram. Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

A much needed bridge

After my retirement in 1998, I decided to return to my village, but Nalli Kuppuswami Chettiar (the well-known textile industrialist and philanthropist) asked me stay back in Chennai and work for the poor.

I didn’t have a single penny — no salary, no savings. He promised to take care of my needs and the expenses of an office. Even today, he takes care of everything.

Now that I don’t earn any money, I decided to be a paalam (bridge) between the needy and the donors. That is how people started calling me Paalam Kalyanasundaram.

Source…Shobha Warrier in http://www.rediff.com

Natarajan

Mangalore Boy Uses Kites to Harness Wind Power & Generate Electricity…!!!

March 24, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

A young boy in Mangalore bagged the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award for his innovative project that harnessed the power of wind, through kites.

22-year-old Royston Vijay Castellino, who studied at the Srinivas Institute of Technology, Mangalore, looked into the impact of wind power systems, and concluded that they have limitations to produce electricity. However, his innovative model, which uses a kite to harness wind from high altitudes, wipes out those inefficiencies.

Calling it the “Winds of Change”, he has also applied for a patent.

Representational image

Source: Wikimedia Commons

In 2015, he had completed a project on this as part of his BE electronics and electrical engineering course in his final year. The aim of his project, according to Castellino, was to make wind power generation low cost, increase efficiency, and make it useful in generating electricity in rural areas.

When he experimented on kites, he discovered that the power is at its peak from a kite when it is rotated to make an infinity symbol in the sky. “I also observed that a four-line kite gives more power than a dual-line kite. So, I started to build a strong base with a four-line kite control system,” he said.

To work on the model, he said that he first ordered a four-line power kite from China. Then, he found bicycle parts, crank wheels and sprockets to use as materials. He modified a ceiling fan with permanent magnets, and then wound the rims of the bicycle wheel with threads. He used a wireless transmitter and receiver circuit to control the kite through a motor, and a chain drive to increase the speed. “The output can be improved by increasing the area of the kite,” he explained, “And the project can be made fully automatic by installing sensors on the kite which determine the position of the kite and send data to the base station.”

Since wind energy can be intermittent, he said that two similar kites can produce continuous power. “By installing two kites, energy can be transferred to the utility grid directly. This project can be made highly portable by using a vehicle as a base station which consists of a generator and control system.”

Last year, he was awarded the Project of the Year Award by Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology, at a competition organised by Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru.

Source……Neeti Vijaykumar in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

How a Zero Rupee Note Can Help You Fight Corruption and Bribery in India….!!!

March 22, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

India has a unique tool meant for fighting corruption in a non-violent manner and to shame corrupt officials asking for bribes – it is called the Zero Rupee Note. Launched by 5th Pillar, an NGO working against corruption in the country, the Zero Rupee Notes are for people to use whenever someone asks for bribes.

It empowers common citizens with the knowledge that they are not alone in this fight, and also gives them a very strong weapon to say no to corrupt practices.

Source: Wikimedia

The Zero Rupee Note was conceptualised by Vijay Anand, the founder of 5th pillar, in 2007. The NGO’s volunteers started distributing the notes in market places, railway stations, bus stops, shopping malls, etc. It resembles a fifty rupee note but is larger than a thousand rupee note. The organization’s contact information is printed on it along with an anti-bribery message saying – “If anyone demands a bribe, give this note and report the case”.

It also carries a strong pledge for citizens to take – “I promise to neither accept nor give bribe.”

Source: Facebook

More than 3 million notes have been distributed across the country so far and are being used well. One of the impact stories described by 5th Pillar on their website goes as follows –

“Mr. Ashok Jain went to retrieve his towed car from Chennai’s C1 police station. The police asked him to pay Rs. 800 (Rs. 150 fine + Rs. 650 bribe). Mr. Jain said he would pay in exchange for a receipt, which the police wouldn’t give. After much talking and pleading, Mr Ashok called his friend Vinod Jain, who came to the station and handed a Zero Rupee Note to the police. The police saw the note, withdrew their demand for the bribe, accepted the Rs. 150, and gave the receipt without question.”

“Many factors contribute to the success of the Zero Rupee Notes in fighting corruption in India. First, bribery is a crime in India punishable with suspension and jail time. Corrupt officials seldom encounter resistance by ordinary people that they become scared when people have the courage to show their Zero Rupee Notes, effectively making a strong statement condemning bribery,” Vijay told Zee News.

Find more information about Zero Rupee Notes here.

source…….Tanaya Singh in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

Dharavi…….. Redesigned !!!

March 21, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

IMAGE: Is this all a potter’s wheel can churn out, ask Jorge Mañes Rubio and Amanda Pinatih. Photograph: Kind courtesy Design Studio Dharavi<

Museum is not exactly the word that comes to mind when you step into this little square of open land near the Kumbharwada (Potters’s Colony) signal in Dharavi, Mumbai’s much coveted real estate that sprawls over nearly 600 acres, houses families cheek-by-jowl in tiny one-room homes that lean into each other, accessed by everything from roads to very, very, very narrow lanes bisected by vein-like gutters though which flows sludge-like, smelly dark liquid… the amalgamated refuse of the thousands of people who inhabit this patch of land once infamously known as Asia’s largest slum and then made famous by Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.

In front of you is a bright white 8 feet by 4 feet cart, a little like the one you see pushed vegetable vendors all over Mumbai. Only, it is larger, made of metal, brightly lit, with brick-coloured panels that open welcomingly to 24 feet, can bear the weight of almost 1,000 kgs and looks quite out-of-place.

It is this dichotomy that, hope Amsterdam-based artists Jorge Mañes Rubio and Amanda Pinatih, will draw the people of Mumbai in. And inspire the people of Dharavi, many of whom stand around stoically, wondering what was happening.

“Museum,” say best friends Akansha, Ayesha and Riya, bright eyed 10-year-old Class 6 students who stay nearby. They explain that museums normally “carry things about the past” but this one is different. This one, they proudly say, showcases “Dharavi ki kala (the creativity of Dharavi).”

That, says 31-year-old Rubio, is the museum’s very purpose. Both Rubio and Pinaith admire the way the denizens of Dharavi have found ways to earn a living. “You can bring a purse here,” says Rubio, “or a jacket, or hand over a design for shoes, and they will replicate it for you.”

What they hope this museum will do is help the citizens of Dharavi tap into their creativity.

Looking around him, says Rubio, is motivation enough, as he recalls his first visit to Dharavi four years ago. Crammed into tiny spaces, where you would believe a nuclear family could live, hundreds of cottage industries flourish, making everything from earthen lamps to designer rip-off to food products to even soaps.

With a dash of creativity, they hope these entrepreneurs — from those who maintain their generations old family trade to those who are using the latest technology to set up new business — will be able to expand the scope of what they do, reach wider audiences and make more money.

To break the communication barrier, and earn the trust of the residents of Dharavi, they turned to URBZ, an experimental urban research and action collective. It was here that they met Shyam Kanle, who lives in Dharavi and has been working to improve the condition of its residents. Kanle, who belongs to a family of basket weavers and broom makers, stepped in as facilitator.

On February 18, the museum launched in Kumbharwada with exhibits made by the potters, given a design and colour spin by Rubio and his team, whose effort is being supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL and The Art of Impact.

The museum, says Rubio, who has bundled up his hair in a bun to beat the heat, is interactive and will include workshops and, like a few days ago, even a cricket match. Each of the items in the museum, emphasises Rubio, is made by local talent.

Yes, those are bats and you are supposed to play with them. To add some more change, Design Museum Dharavi offers modified gloves and stumps too.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Design Museum Dharavi

Twenty-seven hand-crafted bats, made from recycled wood in different shapes, sizes and designs, are tested by four teams from across Dharavi. Each has a brightly coloured grip. The leather gloves, too, are handcrafted and features different styles. Each team had its own uniquely designed tee shirt.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Design Museum Dharavi

Now that the bats and gloves had been designed, it was time for some intense concentration and a game of cricket. Even the pink stumps did not distract the players.

While some of the bats worked, others shattered in a matter of minutes.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Design Museum Dharavi

But the teams had a good time, and slipper-clad team Purple won the Golden Stumps 🙂

Photograph: Kind courtesy Design Museum Dharavi

The launch exhibit celebrated matkas (pots used to store water and keep it cool), brooms and tea cups.

Pots, that were generally stacked one top the other to save space, were given an exotic design spin.

Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Why should a cup look like a cup? “Why indeed?” asks Rubio as he spotlights the exotic shapes of the cups, with handles shaped like the human ear, triangles or even rectangles, all inspired, he solemnly assures, from the varied ways in which he has watched the Dharavi residents pick up a hot cup of chai.

Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Resting on a pristine white block placed on a brightly coloured reed mat are still more exotic tea cups even more exotic handles. A couple look like diyas and we wonder how useful they would be while sipping a hot beverage.

Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Experiment is everything, seems to be the motto. So there are more cup; some with saucers. “Sharing a cup of tea or sipping it from a saucer,” says Rubio is something he has noticed as he watched endless cups of chai make their way down thirsty throats.

Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Rubio and Pinatih share a moment with Shyam Kanle, who has helped them with the project, as they celebrate the launch of what has been called the first ever moving slum museum in the world.

Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Best friends Akansha, Ayesha and Riya, who stay nearby, pose in front of the three-sided broom (in the corner) which they have made themselves and of which they are very, very proud.

You might thing that broom is good for dusting…

Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

…But Rubio has other ideas. “Why not look at it as hand-held fan,” he asks with a smile.

Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

These exhibits grabbed a lot of attention. Not only were they bright and colourful, nobody seemed to know what they actually were.

“Diaries?” somebody ventured. Touching them put paid to that idea.

“Tiles?”

“Door-stoppers?”

“Coasters?”

“Design samples,” says Rubio, “that the potters can offer as options to their clients.”

Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

And these, ladies and gentlemen, were the most excited visitors to the museum.

Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Savera R Someshwar / Rediff.com

Source…….www.rediff.com

Natarajan

பாட்டில் குடிநீர்: அறிந்ததும் அறியாததும்…. உலகத் தண்ணீர் நாள்: மார்ச் 22…

March 19, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

உலகத் தண்ணீர் நாள்: மார்ச் 22

வெயில் காலம் வருகிறது. உடல் வெப்பத்தையும் தண்ணீர் தாகத்தையும் தணித்துக்கொள்ளத் தண்ணீர் தேவைப்படும். அந்தக் காலத்தில் வீட்டுக்கொரு பானைத் தண்ணீர் தாகம் தணித்தது. பொது இடங்களில் தண்ணீர் பந்தல்கள் முளைத்தன. தண்ணீரைப் போய் யாராவது விற்பார்களா என்று கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருந்த காலம் போய், தண்ணீர் வர்த்தகம் மிகப் பெரிய அளவில் கோலோச்சிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் காலம் இது.

தண்ணீர் இன்றைக்கு இலவசமில்லை. எவ்வளவு அவசரமென்றாலும், ஒரு லிட்டர் பாட்டில் குடிநீரை 15-20 ரூபாய் கொடுத்து வாங்க வேண்டிய நிலையில் இருக்கிறோம். பாட்டில் குடிநீர் நம் பாக்கெட்டைப் பதம் பார்ப்பது மட்டுமில்லாமல், வேறு பல சூழலியல் கேடுகளையும் சேர்த்தே செய்கிறது. அவை என்ன?:

>> சாப்பிடாமல் ஒருவர் சராசரியாக 10 நாட்களுக்கு மேல் உயிர் வாழ முடியும். ஆனால், தண்ணீர் குடிக்காமல் மூன்று முதல் 5 நாட்கள்தான் இருக்க முடியும். எனவே, சுத்தமான, குறைந்த விலையில் கிடைக்கக்கூடிய தண்ணீர் என்பது ஒவ்வொருவருடைய அடிப்படை உரிமை.

>> உலகில் தூய்மையின் அடையாளமாகக் கருதப்படும் தண்ணீர் மாசுபாட்டதற்கு அடிப்படைக் காரணம் நகர்மயமாதலும், தொழிற்சாலைகளும்தான். ஆனால், இன்றைக்குத் தொழிற்சாலைகள் சுத்தமான தண்ணீர் என்பதையே ஒரு விற்பனைப் பண்டமாக்கிவிட்டன.

>> 19-ம் நூற்றாண்டில் தங்கம் மதிப்புமிக்கதாக இருந்ததால், பணக்காரர்கள், முதலாளிகள் அதைத் தேடி ஓடினர். கடந்த நூற்றாண்டில் ‘கறுப்புத் தங்கம்’ என்று பெட்ரோல் அழைக்கப்பட்டது போல், இந்த நூற்றாண்டில் ‘நீலத் தங்கம்’ என்று அழைக்கப்பட்டுத் தண்ணீர் வர்த்தகத்தில் முதலீடுகள் குவிந்துள்ளன. பாட்டில் குடிநீர் விற்பனை மட்டுமல்லாமல், நகராட்சி தண்ணீர் விநியோகத்திலும் பன்னாட்டு நிறுவனங்கள் கால்பதிப்பதைக் கவனிக்க வேண்டும்.

> சுற்றுப்புறச் சுகாதாரம், உடல்நல அக்கறை அதிகமுள்ள இந்தக் காலத்தில் பாட்டில் குடிநீர்தான் சுத்தமானது என்று மூடநம்பிக்கை பரவலாக உள்ளது. அது மாநகராட்சி, நகராட்சி தண்ணீரோ, ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்றுத் தண்ணீரோ – குடிக்கக்கூடிய தண்ணீர் இன்னமும் குறைந்த செலவில் கிடைத்துக்கொண்டுதான் இருக்கிறது. அதைக் காய்ச்சிப் பயன்படுத்தாமல் பாட்டில் குடிநீரைக் குடிப்பதால், பிளாஸ்டிக் குப்பை கோடிக்கணக்கில் சேர்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறது.

>> பாட்டில் குடிநீர் பயன்பாட்டால், ஒவ்வோர் ஆண்டும் 15 கோடி கிலோ பிளாஸ்டிக் குப்பை சேர்ந்துகொண்டிருக்கிறது. இது 7,500 திமிங்கிலங்களின் எடைக்குச் சமம். அமெரிக்காவில் ஒரு நாளில் தூக்கியெறியப்படும் குடிநீர் பாட்டில்களின் எண்ணிக்கை 6 கோடி.

>> வடக்கு பசிஃபிக் குப்பை சுழற்சி (Gyre) என்ற பெரும் குப்பை மலை பசிஃபிக் கடலில் சுழன்று கொண்டிருக்கிறது. இதன் குறைந்தபட்சப் பரப்பு ஏழு லட்சம் சதுரக் கிலோமீட்டர்.

>> அமெரிக்காவிலேயே வாங்கப்படும் ஐந்து பிளாஸ்டிக் குடிநீர் பாட்டில்களில் ஒன்று மட்டுமே மறுசுழற்சிக்குச் செல்கிறது. இந்திய நிலைமையைப் பற்றி சொல்லவே வேண்டாம். இந்தியாவில் 100-ல் 5 பிளாஸ்டிக் பாட்டில்கள் மறுசுழற்சிக்குச் செல்வதே ஆச்சரியம்தான்.

>> பிளாஸ்டிக் (PET) பாட்டில்கள், பிளாஸ்டிக் கலன்கள் உற்பத்தியில் பாதிக்கு மேல் குடிநீர் பாட்டில்கள் பயன்பாட்டுக்காகவே உற்பத்தி செய்யப்படுகின்றன.

>> ஒரு லிட்டர் பாட்டில் குடிநீரின் உற்பத்தி நடைமுறை, போக்குவரத்து போன்றவற்றுக்காகக் குறைந்தபட்சம் 100 மி.லி. பெட்ரோல் செலவாகிறது. அது மட்டுமல்லாமல் பெட் பாட்டில்களின் அடிப்படை மூலப்பொருள் கச்சா எண்ணெய்தான். பெட் பிளாஸ்டிக் பாட்டில்கள் தயாரிப்பு, பயன்பாடு, குப்பையாகப் போடப்படுவது என பல்வேறு வகைகளில் சுற்றுச்சூழல் மாசுபடுகிறது, சந்தேகமில்லாமல் புவி வெப்பமடைகிறது.

>> இன்றைக்குச் சந்தையில் ஒரு லிட்டர் பெட்ரோல் – டீசலின் சராசரி விலை ரூ. 50 – 60. ஒரு லிட்டர் பாட்டில் குடிநீரின் விலை சராசரியாக ரூ. 15-20. அதாவது நான்கில் அல்லது மூன்றில் ஒரு பாகம். எதிர்காலத்தில் பாட்டில் குடிநீரின் விலை இன்னும் அதிகரிக்கலாம். இதிலிருந்து நாம் எவ்வளவு வீணாகச் செலவு செய்கிறோம் என்பதை உணர்ந்துகொள்ளலாம். அது மட்டுமல்ல, கச்சா எண்ணெயின் கடினமான சுத்திகரிப்பு நடைமுறையில் முதலீடு செய்து பெட்ரோல், டீசலாகப் பிரித்து விற்பதை விடவும், எளிதாகக் கிடைக்கும் தண்ணீரைச் சுத்திகரித்து ஒரு நிறுவனம் எவ்வளவு சம்பாதிக்கிறது என்பதையும் தெரிந்துகொள்ளலாம்.

> ஒரு பாட்டில் குடிநீரை உற்பத்தி செய்வதில் தண்ணீரைவிட, பிளாஸ்டிக் பாட்டில், மூடி, லேபிள் போன்ற மற்ற அம்சங்களுக்கே அதிக அளவு செலவிடப்படுகிறது. பிறகு பாட்டிலைப் பேக் செய்ய, போக்குவரத்துக்கு, கடைசியாக மயக்கும் விளம்பரத்துக்குச் செலவு செய்யப்படுகிறது.

>> பாட்டில் குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் ஆறுகள், நீர்நிலைகளில் இருந்து ஒரு லிட்டருக்கு 1.50 பைசா முதல் 3.75 பைசா என்ற விலையில் தண்ணீரை மிகக் குறைந்த விலைக்கு வாங்குகின்றன. அதைச் சுத்திகரிக்க 0.25 பைசா, பிளாஸ்டிக் பாட்டிலுக்கு 3-4 ரூபாய் என வைத்துக்கொண்டாலும், மொத்தச் செலவு 5 ரூபாயைத் தாண்டாது. பிறகு இதையே 4 – 5 மடங்கு லாபத்தில் விற்கின்றன.

>> குளிர்பான நிறுவனங்கள் தங்களுடைய விற்பனை சந்தையின் முக்கிய அம்சமாகப் பாட்டில் குடிநீரை வைத்திருக்கின்றன. இரண்டுக்குமான விலை வித்தியாசம் அதிகமில்லை. பாட்டில் குடிநீருக்கான உற்பத்திச் செலவும் குறைவு. அதேநேரம் குளிர்பானம் அருந்தாதவர்கள்கூட, பாட்டில் குடிநீரைக் குடிக்கிறார்கள். சாதாரணக் குடிநீர் சீர்கெட்டுவிட்டது என்ற பிரசாரத்துக்கும், பாட்டில் குடிநீர் மிகப் பெரிய அளவில் விளம்பரப்படுத்தப்படுவதற்கும் இதுவே அடிப்படைக் காரணம்.

>> அதேநேரம் ஆற்றுநீரோ, ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்று நீரோ பெரிதாக எந்தச் சுத்திகரிப்பு நடைமுறைகளுக்கும் உட்படுத்தப்படாமல் பாட்டில்களில் அடைத்து விற்கப்படுவதாக குற்றஞ்சாட்டப்படுகிறது. பாட்டில் குடிநீரில் பூச்சிக்கொல்லிகள் கண்டறியப்பட்டது இதற்கு மிகச் சிறந்த உதாரணம்.

>> புது டெல்லி ‘அறிவியல், சுற்றுச்சூழல் மையம்’ (சி.எஸ்.இ.) 2003-ல் நடத்திய பரிசோதனை முடிவின்படி அதிகம் விற்பனையாகும் பிரபல நிறுவனங்களின் பாட்டில் குடிநீர் மாதிரிகளில் விவசாயத்தில் பயன்படுத்தப்படும் லிண்டேன், மாலத்தியான், குளோர்பைரிஃபாஸ், டி.டி.டி. ஆகிய பூச்சிக்கொல்லி எச்சங்கள் அதிக அளவில் இருந்தது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது.

>> பாட்டில் குடிநீரில் இருக்கும் நஞ்சு நீண்ட காலமாக உடலில் சேர்வது புற்றுநோய், கல்லீரல், சிறுநீரகங்களைச் சிதைக்கக்கூடியதாகவும், நரம்புமண்டலக் கோளாறுகளை உருவாக்கக்கூடியதாகவும், நோயெதிர்ப்புசக்தி குறைபாடு போன்றவற்றை ஏற்படுத்தவும் வாய்ப்புள்ளது.

>> 2007-2012-ம் ஆண்டுவரையிலான காலத்தில் சென்னையில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் 70 நிறுவனங்களின் சுத்திகரிக்கப்பட்ட பாட்டில் குடிநீரில் தீமை பயக்கும் பாக்டீரியா இருப்பது சென்னை மாநகராட்சி மேற்கொண்ட பரிசோதனைகளில் தெரியவந்தது.

> பாட்டில் குடிநீர், நீண்ட நேரம் வெயிலில் இருக்கும்போது பிளாஸ்டிக்கில் இருக்கும் தாலேட் போன்ற வேதிப்பொருட்கள் தண்ணீருடன் கலந்துவிட வாய்ப்பு அதிகம். அது ஒரு முறை மட்டுமே பயன்படுத்தக்கூடிய பிளாஸ்டிக் என்பதை மறந்துவிட வேண்டாம்.

இப்படியாக நாம் வாங்கும் ஒவ்வொரு குடிநீர் பாட்டிலும் உலகின் வளத்தைச் சுரண்டி, சுற்றுச்சூழல் மாசுபாட்டை பெருமளவு உருவாக்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றன. அடுத்து என்ன செய்வது என்று சிந்திப்போம்.

பாட்டில் குடிநீர்: மாற்று என்ன?

>> நகராட்சிக் குழாயில் கிடைக்கும் தண்ணீரை நன்றாகக் காய்ச்சி, வடிகட்டி, ஆற வைத்துத் தாராளமாகக் குடிக்கலாம். அதனால் உடலுக்கு எந்தக் கெடுதலும் இல்லை. அது விலை குறைந்தது, பாதுகாப்பானது, எப்போதும் கிடைப்பது.

>> ஒரு எவர்சில்வர் தண்ணீர் பாட்டில் அல்லது நல்ல தரமான பிளாஸ்டிக்கில் விற்கப்படும் பாட்டிலில் வீட்டிலிருந்தே எப்போதும் தண்ணீரை நிரப்பி செல்லலாம். இதனால் தேவையற்ற செலவு குறையும், பாட்டில் தண்ணீரில் இருக்கும் பூச்சிக்கொல்லி உள்ளிட்ட நச்சுகள் நம் உடலில் சேராமலும் இருக்கும்.

>> நிறுவனங்கள், அமைப்புகள் தங்களுடைய வளாகங்களில் பாட்டில் குடிநீரைத் தடை செய்து, சுத்தமான தண்ணீரை விநியோகிக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்யலாம்.

குடிநீரும் இந்தியாவும்

>> 2013-ல் இந்திய பாட்டில் குடிநீர் சந்தையின் மதிப்பு ரூ. 6,000 கோடி.

>> பாட்டில் குடிநீர் விற்பனையில் உலக அளவில் இந்தியா 10-வது இடத்தில் உள்ளது.

> சராசரியாக நகராட்சி குழாய் குடிநீரைப் போலப் பத்து மடங்கு விலையில் பாட்டில் குடிநீர் விற்கப்படுகிறது.

Source……..ஆதி வள்ளியப்பன் in www. tamil.thehindu.com

Natarajan

This 2-Year-Old Was One of the Youngest Rescue Volunteers during Chennai Floods….

March 16, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

At the time when many parts of Tamil Nadu were flooded due to incessant rains last year, and thousands of people were struggling to live through every passing day, there were a few localities in Chennai that remained unaffected. A. Vicky Kumar is the resident of one such area – there were no roadblocks, no power cuts, no loss to life and property. But he was deeply moved on seeing the plight of the rest of the city and his fellow citizens. With the view of helping as much as he could, he gathered about 12 volunteers including his wife Vishakha, and they set out to help in rescue operations. They called themselves ‘The C Team’. Closing their businesses for the entire month of December, the team started visiting slums, relief camps and individual homes to deliver rescue materials like food, clothing and medicines to people in need.

One of the most special volunteers of The C Team was Vicky’s 2-year-old daughter, Jiya. The student of a preschool named Developing Roots in Chennai, Jiya was a part of every field operation the team conducted.

“Many friends and well-wishers told us not to take her along for field work as she may fall sick stepping in to the dirty waters but we never bothered regarding what could happen because the need of the hour was to help the needy,” says Vishakha.

The entire team, including Jiya, were also recognized among thousands of other volunteers who put in their hearts and souls to work for Chennai, and she received a plant sapling and a certificate of appreciation from the music industry maestro Illayaraja, on December 17, 2015.

Jiya will be three years old this March. Kudos to her parents who were not scared of uncertain situations and ensured that their daughter got a glimpse of what such social activities look like, to make her understand the importance of helping others in need.

Have a look at her – busy during work.

Source….Tanaya Singh in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

” You’re Never Too Old to Play Holi. This Ad Proves That Age is no Bar…” !!!

March 15, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Screengrab taken from YouTube video uploaded by ParachuteAdvansed

It’s the festival of colour, eating gujiyas and creating mayhem with buckets of water but most of all Holi is about having fun with your loved ones – age no bar whatsoever.

This new ad, made by a popular hair product brand, is set in a senior citizens’ home and shows that you are never too old to play Holi. The video shows an excited resident waking up at the break of dawn to prep for the festival. He changes into an old kurta, waves away his morning tea and pockets gulal to smear on his friends at the old age home. No one notices his excitement except a female resident.

So he goes to the verandah ready to have some fun – only no one else seems interested in playing Holi the way he planned. Even the youngsters who come to visit the residents only sprinkle a dusting of colour as a festive greeting.

As the senior citizen Holi enthusiast sits by disappointed, both fists full of gulal, something awesome happens. We’ll let you watch the video to see how one person’s infectious excitement manages to bring colour to an entire home.

https://youtu.be/gPMjKIUNGDI

Source…..www.ndtv.com and http://www.you tube.com

Natarajan

Your Next Must-Visit Destination in India: A Unique Garden Made of Threads in the Nilgiris…

March 13, 2016Natarajan2 Comments

Flowers that never wilt and leaves that don’t dry up, can only be found in a dimly lit greenhouse in the heart of Ooty. This evergreen artificial plant kingdom is the only one of its kind in the world. All the plants here are fabricated with thread and look so natural that they rival real ones in beauty.

One of the most fascinating tourist attractions of Ooty is the Thread Garden, located right opposite the Ooty Boat House. This magnificent display of flowers, plants and lawns is fabricated entirely from thread, with the help of canvas, wire and glue. This amazing garden is indeed a sight to behold.

A unique technique known as ‘four dimensional hand wound embroidery’ is used to make the plants in this garden.

Welcome to the unique garden. Photo credit : Sonika Sharma

Welcome to the unique garden.

Photo credit: Sonika Sharma

Mr Antony Joseph, the man who created this spectacular wonder, used to work as a lecturer in a private college. He gave up his job when his father passed away, to look after the family’s textile brushes and wooden accessories business. Production in this unit was mainly for Coats Vivella Group Companies, which helped him develop his relationship with Coats India.

Around this time, Antony started developing other items too because of his interest in handicrafts.

Antony Joseph making a bouquet of flowers. Photo Credit: Thread Garden

Antony Joseph making a bouquet of flowers.

Photo Credit: Thread Garden

“Handicrafts have always been a passion and my initial research was in designing caps, wigs and brushes using Coats threads. The success of these items, at an exhibition conducted by Coats Vivella India Ltd, prompted me to increase the scope of my research. This resulted in the innovative technique of ‘hand wound embroidery.’ The company encouraged me to continue my research for designing novel hand wound embroidery crafts, supplying me the main raw material – the embroidery threads,” adds the proud designer.

In 1988, he started a unique research and work centre with nine ladies, making plants and flowers using this technique. Canvas is cut in the shape of the leaf or the petal. Glue is applied and the thread is wound neatly onto the piece of canvas. No needles and no machinery are used to make these beautiful plants. This painstaking technique is done with only the nimble fingers of the artisan and hence it takes very long to complete a project. Grass and stems, as well as the stamen and filaments of the flowers, are made with a wire base and embroidery thread is wound on the wire to complete the pieces.

The various parts of the plant, once ready, are glued together in such a manner that they look extremely natural. When a bunch of flowers is placed in a flowering pot it is very difficult to differentiate it from a natural bouquet, since the design and the colours of the threads used are so perfect.

Keen concentration and patience are the hallmark of every one of the artisans. They have to make sure the winding is perfect, without any overlapping of threads, knots and gaps between the threads.

Bird of Paradise created with threads Photo Credit: Sonika Sharma

Bird of Paradise created with thread

Photo Credit: Sonika Sharma

In the initial years, Antony Joseph had several opportunities to display these spectacular works of art in many parts of the country.

“People really wondered at these novel creations and my experimental pieces sold easily anywhere they were exhibited. This helped me to run my work centre back home in Koratty, near Thrissur, in Kerala,” he says.

In 1993, Coats India accepted this newly developed craft technology and published an article with colour transparencies in its magazine Needle ‘N’ Embroidery. The Crafts Council of India sent him a special message congratulating him on his invention of hand-wound embroidery, without the use of needles or machinery.

He received appreciative messages from almost every part of the country and this encouraged him to continue his research and create new varieties of plants.

Beautiful white flowers made of thread. Photo credit : Sonika Sharma

Beautiful white flowers made of thread.

Photo credit: Sonika Sharma

Antony wanted to establish a garden with many varieties of flowering and non-flowering plants using his unique embroidery technique. He was able to employ 50 women and train them in this craft. After 12 years of untiring work, they were able to successfully fabricate around 100 different plant species and were ready to set up a garden. He initially set up the Thread Garden in Mallampuzha, a popular dam site in Kerala. However, due to floods, he had to shift from there. In 2002, he chose the present location opposite the Ooty Boat House and ever since then this place, which looks so unassuming from the outside, has been on the tourist map of the Nilgiris.

For this amazing feat, Antony Joseph and his artificial garden have been mentioned in the following books of records – India Book of Records, Tamilnadu Book of Records, and Unique World Records – as the first thread garden in the world.

Plants in pots and water lily's in the water Photo credit: Thread Garden

Plants in pots and water lilies in the water

Photo credit: Thread Garden

Antony Joseph hopes that this garden gets a mention in the Limca Book of Records as well as the Guinness Book of World Records. There are some criteria yet to be met to achieve these accolades, which he is striving for.

“Making artificial pieces of flora look natural is the real challenge! This Thread Garden is a success story of overcoming this formidable challenge. Creation of each piece of art is an imaginative expression of nature as it is. To achieve the ultimate goal a permutation and combination of forms, light, shades and patterns has been used” he emphasizes.

The one of its kind evergreen garden.

Photo credit: Thread Garden

The garden, as such, is complete and there is nothing more to be added to it. However, the artisans still work on making these flowers, back home in Kerala. Their products are encased in glass cases and sold at the sales counter in the garden premises. A list of instructions on how to take care of the flowers in the glass case are given to every buyer.

The sale of these glass encased flowers helps promote the craft.

Encased in glass, flowers sold at the sales counter.

Photo credit: Aparna Menon

Mr Antony Joseph can be reached on his mail id mail@threadgarden.com.

About the author: Aparna Menon is a freelance writer, writing for various newspapers for the past 10 years. Her main fields of interest are wildlife, heritage and history. A keen traveller, she loves to read and write and does a lot of art work too.

Source…..Aparna Menon in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan