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The fine art of
figurines PACESETTER Mudita Chandra
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Extra-curricular for an Extra Edge
Academics alone are not enough for a child's all-round development as hobbies are equally important
It is said that kids are malleable like clay and moulding them to exploit their maximum potential, exposure to varied experiences is a must. Academics alone cannot chisel a child's personality and extra-curricular activities are equally important for all-round development. Many schools have also taken up the initiative and are covering a vast array of topics apart from the textbooks. Endless hours in front of the television are being replaced by productive learning that marries fun with education. Increasing awareness and ready availability are the two most important factors in the rise of popularity of kids’ courses like pottery, robotics, Rubik's cube solving and much more. Parental aspirations vs kids' boredom While some parents send their kids for activity and learning classes to fulfil the dreams that they have for their child. Some see it as a way of giving their children an edge above the rest. Others like Noida-based Shilpa Jain feel it is a must to keep the children busy. Mother of a nine-year-old, Shilpa says, "My son used to complain of boredom the moment I would turn the TV off. Since he has started learning to play drums, he has really started enjoying things other than gadgets. I think it is important to channelise their energy in a positive direction, after they are through with their studies." Turning clay to art A unique way to teach art and improve motor coordination among children, clay and ceramic-based pottery has caught the fancy of kids who love the feeling that they have created something artistic. Clay Station in Bangalore was started by Ganesan Manickavasagam and Augustine Xavier in April 2009. It focuses on stimulating creative skills. They provide pottery classes to kids and also help schools and other institutions, interested in setting up pottery studios, with the infrastructure. Says Ganesan, "Clay is a very engaging medium and helps focus, explore and create. We have introduced this craft to a few thousand students, both adults and children. We have parents who are grateful to us for having introduced their kids to clay as it teaches them an important quality that is lacking in kids these days — focus. We charge Rs 350 for a one-and-a-half-hour session." Breathing life into machines For kids who show a scientific bent of mind and love the magical movements created by electrical, mechanical and digital activities, robotics opens up an extensive and awe-inspiring avenue. Varinder Jain, organiser of robotic workshops at Vardhman International, Gurgaon, and a teacher too, says, "We train kids in the age group of 5 to 16 years to design and make their own robots from the very first class itself. The kits we use are from LEGO and can be programmed to be controlled by a remote or a satellite. We have got an overwhelming response both from the parents and children. It is one of the best ways to teach the practical side of concepts they learn in school in an informal setting and develop problem-solving skills." A five-day workshop costs Rs 3500 but the skills that they develop during this time are invaluable. Cooking up stories Even the very fussy eaters would enjoy eating something they cook and bake themselves. Aman Patwalia of Tiny Feet Giant Leaps in Chandigarh organises mom-and-child activities for kids as young as 10 months; theme-based art and craft, chess, active sports, music and cooking workshops for slightly older kids up to the age of ten. Cooking is turned into a fun activity which boosts their confidence due to the sense of accomplishment and appreciation it earns them. She says, "Our cooking classes are a hit with the children as they learn to make various things like cookies, cakes, sandwiches, paranthas and more. We have story sessions at the end of cooking sessions to go with the foodstuff, like the story of the caterpillar turning to a butterfly for a caterpillar pizza or the story of the Gingerbread Man for ginger bread cookies. All recipes are decided upon by a nutritionist. The recipes aim to teach the kids about healthy food, weighing and measuring, sharing, enhancing coordination and motor skills in a hands-on learning atmosphere where they knead the dough, peel the vegetables, cook and present the dishes. We have also introduced social and table etiquettes as a part of the course." Language of maths Maths is one of the basic skills that education imparts to children and the calculations involved do seem unnerving to many children. AVAS (Abacus & Vedic Arithmetics Study) is an organisation started by Rajesh Gupta and Puneet Ahuja five years ago. Their course in Vedic maths aims to create interest in the subject by removing fear. Nalini Anand, CEO of the company, says, "We want to make our courses accessible for all and make sure that kids have a strong base in maths. Offered to kids starting from sixth grade, Vedic maths, based on pattern recognition, brings accuracy to calculations, reduces silly mistakes, saves time and builds confidence. The results of kids in school have shown as much as 90 per cent improvement. Starting from a reasonable Rs 600 per month for two hour-long classes per week for 4-5 months to complete one level, it is easy to apply and reconceptualise with regular Maths topics. Another activity that we offer is Rubik's Cube solving which is popular and keeps triggering the child's brain, increasing their patience level." Why Go Beyond the Curriculum
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The fine art of
figurines Though there are affordable porcelain figurines now available in souvenir shops, expensive idols have remained a symbol of luxury and the preserve of the wealthy However, two figurines stood out from the crowd of idols. The Spanish luxury house Lladro had on display a porcelain icon of Goddess Lakshmi with a staggering price tag of more than Rs 5.25 lakh. Rivalling that was the Ganesha idol priced at around Rs 1.20 lakh. That both the limited idols were sold out within no time speaks about the popularity of porcelain figurines. It appeared that what was a western fetish has now arrived in India as well. Thanks to companies like Lladro, Royal Crown Derby, Rosenthal, Herend, Meissen, Limoges and a host of others, porcelain has captured the fascination of uber-rich Indians. These delicate and beautifully crafted figurines that Indians earlier brought from high-end shops in western countries are up for grabs in India as many of these leading brands have set up shop in India. Ancient craft The love for porcelain figurines is nothing new. It is an ancient art and dates back to the seventh century China where it flourished during the Tang dynasty. The making of the delicate idols and porcelain vases was a closely guarded state secret and only members of the royal families were allowed to possess these. When Marco Polo brought back porcelain figurines to Europe at the end of the 12th century, it was love at first sight. Trade routes were established between China and European countries and the business of porcelain flourished like never before. Such was the craze for these figurines that Europe too started experimenting with the art of replicating these. In 1730, German chemist Johann Joachim Kandler finally cracked the secret and came up with the right formula to create small figurines. And ever since then, there’s been no looking back. Delicate works Today, apart from China and Japan, these delicate works of art are being created by a vast number of companies in England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Denmark and most other European countries. These are also being extensively manufactured in America and Canada and many other parts of the world. Cities like Sèvres and Limoges in France, Dresden in Germany have come to be associated with high-quality porcelain figurines. Apart from Lladro, companies like Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Royal Worcester, Royal Crown Derby and many others are synonymous with high quality artistic figurines. Though there is a plethora of affordable figurines now available throughout the world, expensive porcelain idols have remained a symbol of luxury and the preserve of the wealthy. These have been treated as pieces of art to be cherished for a lifetime and passed on to the future generations. Perhaps, this is what makes these such coveted items. Figurines could be of historical figures, men and women in dancing poses, characters from fairy tales, shepherds with animals, horsemen, merry old men drinking beer, women in ancient attires, family scenes and virtually any depiction by the artists who create these miniature masterpieces. Decorative art The market today offers both very expensive pieces and also those that are mass produced and are available in department stores, gift shops and souvenir stands from where these are bought to be displayed in homes as decorative art. But the business was not what it is today. Towards the middle of the last century, interest in porcelain began to wane because of a lack of innovations and dearth of new designs. A number of units closed or began manufacturing tableware and sales of porcelain figurines plummeted. With the dawn of the new millennium, there was a sudden resurgence of interest. With the rise in demand, the value of the old collectibles has begun spurting. Such is the revival of interest that today leading auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s hold auctions of rare pieces of porcelain that go to the highest bidder. Several museums have sprung up around the world displaying the fine porcelain art. There are collectors around the world who are ready to pay enormous sums for old and rare pieces. A number of wealthy people guard these jealously as if these were family jewels. In a way, they are the true custodians of this timeless art of porcelain figurines.
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PACESETTER Mudita Chandra Mudita, an animal rights and welfare crusader, manages Sai Ashram, an animal shelter where injured and homeless dogs are cared for
Mudita Chandra, 30, has been working with animals since an early age, even before 2007 when she started as a volunteer at the Sai Ashram Animal Shelter in Delhi. She now helps to manage the shelter along with a few other volunteers. Many dogs who are in need of help seem to find her. She has had numerous dogs reach her home who are on their last legs, some too injured to be rehabilitated, some lost and some with skin problems, cuts and wounds and even a few just looking for a meal and a back rub. She candidly admits, “I have been caught stealing food from my fridge and kitchen and have asked my siblings on numerous occasions to claim to have eaten something I fed the dogs.” She adds, “Sai Ashram Animal Shelter was set up by Vishwant Kumar in 2000. Post his unexpected demise in 2007, a group of friends and animal lovers, including me, are trying to look after sick and injured dogs that are housed here.” The shelter now is home to over 300 dogs, two pigs and donkeys. It works closely with NGOs around Delhi like Red Paws Rescue to aid the shelter in its work and conduct workshops and awareness programmes in schools, colleges and companies. It also partakes in initiatives related to corporate social responsibility (CSR), with companies around Delhi. To support her shelter, Mudita plans to run the half-marathon on December 15 and collect donations for Red Paws Rescue to have an operation theatre and equipment at the shelter. Chandra adds, “It would also enable us to implement the ABC (animal birth control) programme, promoted by the UN to curb the population of dogs on the streets of Delhi.” She started out small by looking after the dogs near her home and continues to feed, neuter and look after 40 dogs. She is also involved in finding good homes for abandoned pedigreed dogs and puppies, which are left by their owners either due to the dog getting ill and the family no longer being able to look after them or due to a new baby in the family or even due to the dogs’ old age and the owners’ inability to look after the animals. Mudita's motivation stems from a quote she read about “Being the change you want to see,” instead of complaining about what's wrong. She believes in leading the way and setting an example for how you want things to be. “We all complain about how no one does anything for the environment, nature or our animals,” she adds. She is an animal rights and welfare crusader for whom it is important to contribute in whatever little one can, though what she is doing is by no means small. Her fund-raising efforts for her noble cause have helped her in receiving donations from individuals from all over the world. She also delivers awareness talks in companies — Absolute Data, Google India to name a few to educate people about dogs and how to look after dogs in one’s neighbourhood. Chandra has also worked with corporates as part of their CSR initiatives. Some people give food for the ashram dogs on a weekly basis and her garage has supplies of Pedigree (dog food), rice, chewy bones, biscuits, Cerelac for puppies, newspaper and medicines. There is also a healthy supply of old collars and leashes and winter coats, blankets and cushions, which people donate due to their dogs having outgrown them.” Chandra sums it up, “Our future plans include having an operation theatre whereby we can sterilise more dogs to reduce the number of stray dogs roaming the streets and pups getting runover by cars and we also hope to have a full time vet who can be here.”
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Recently during the festivals of Diwali and Ganesha Chaturthi figurines of Goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesha were in great demand. Markets were flooded not just with their idols in various shapes and sizes but also with the paraphernalia associated with the two deities. 
