The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : A platform to show their talents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

A platform to show their talents

L. Renganathan

At exhibition organised by TNPL Ladies’ Club at Kagithapuram

ADMIRATION: V. Murthy, Managing Director, TNPL, looking at handicrafts in the exhibition at Kagithapuram.

KARUR: Innate talents, when allowed to blossom, radiate a resplendent vivacity that s a joy to behold. One such occasion was a special exhibition got up by the TNPL Ladies’ Club at Kagithapuram near here recently that showcased the talent of the wives of TNPL staff, who utilised their leisure time in a wonderful and productive manner.

Over 20 stalls formed part of the exhibition and contained products ranging from simple woolen knit works to exquisite oil paintings and grand Tanjore art paintings, worth a small fortune.

“It took me about three months to complete the traditional Tanjore art painting depicting the infant Lord Krishna relishing a pot of butter. I had to take care of my family works and worked on the painting in between,” says Uma Vijayakumar, whose work attracted many.

There is a 10-strong group of women who have undergone training in creating Tanjore art works under the guidance of the Ladies Club secretary Hemamalini Salai Kanakaviyan. Mrs. Kanakaviyan says that they were creating art works for personal use and not commercial purposes. But one has to accept that the work of the women had a professional touch in them. There was also the wonderful Vinayaka and Goddess Annapoorani pictures, embellished with semi-precious gems and stones, a la Tanjore art painting style.

Another stall displayed among other things the eye-catching glass painting of Lord Krishna and oil paint picture of Tutankamen, a king of yonder Egypt. Not to be outdone, the girls of TNPL Matriculation Higher Secondary School had pitched in with home-made greeting cards, trying to cash in on the Teachers’ Day sentiments of the dutiful students.

A small value addition effort in the form of imaginative application of crayons and colours on a regular post card, led to the creation of Rs.2 worth greeting cards, that were a great hit with the students.

The ingenious concept of wealth from waste found full play as the women adept in home making conjured up jute flower vases, roof hangings, art works out of used CDs, and such other alluring works. Kamala Mahendran’s “delectable” dosai kindled the taste buds of all visitors.

What with the coconut white chutney peppered with mustard, the dosai was the cynosure of all eyes.

It could only be that much as few believed that it was in fact a “wax dosai” and not a real one. It was appealing to the eyes in golden brown colour. Most mistook it for real dosai and when realised the truth could have nothing but immense appreciation for Mrs. Kamala.

Club president Uma Krishnan said that the exhibition gave an opportunity to the women who were simple homemakers to display their talents.

Public appreciation of talent went a long way in spurring them to achieve greater things even as they stood shoulder to shoulder with their husbands in arranging the house, taking care of their children and of course looking after the husband.

The TNPL Managing Director, V. Murthy, declared open the exhibition and promised that he would coordinate with Tamil Nadu Women’s Development Corporation officials and the bankmen to facilitate commercial harnessing of the women’s talents.

The Director (Finance) A. Velliangiri, the Director-in-charge (Operations) T.V.V. Satyanarayana, Project Officer, Mahalir Thittam, P. Murugesan, and others were present.

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