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Australian Ralph Oertel is the reason why many around the world don’t dump empty cans. A collector of beer and soft drink cans, Ralph has shown people they ‘can’ do it too. Years ago, he attempted to create an international database of people (http://ralph.oertel.com/cans/collww1.html) who see cans as objets d’art.

Not as insanely addicted to this hobby is Chennai-based Kausalya Parthasarathy. Which is why her family helps her in her pursuit. Before she settled down in the United States, elder daughter Divya used to accompany her mother to stores such as Amma Naana and Fairlands that are likely to sell canned drinks made abroad. Following Divya’s relocation to the US, younger daughter Nithya took on the role cheerfully. For his part, husband Parthasarathy buys beer packaged in cans. As Kausalya stopped working long ago, his contribution is actually much bigger. With most canned health and fruit drinks priced above Rs. 40, he has to replenish his wife’s ‘shopping allowance’ often. Far from complaining about this, Parthasarathy pitches in to add value to the collection. With a carpenter, he has created open cabinets on the wall to showcase the cans.

Kausalya has segregated the cans on the basis of what was in them. Carbonated drinks are kept on one side, and fresh fruit juices on another. There is space allocated for beer cans too. Other sections include limited edition competition cans issued by soft drink majors like Coco Cola and Pepsi. Kausalya’s collection includes cans from 30 countries, covering a wide range of brands. To make her collection special, Kausalya focusses on unusual drinks. So, there is Tamarind Natural Drink and Hibiscus Natural Drink from Jus Cool, Calamansi juice from Starfresh, dates juice from Qurma, a rare puree of fruits from Hanson’s Smoothies and lots more of offbeat thirst quenchers.

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