Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Vidyasagar, Aishy's Puzzles

Visited the Vidyasagar (Spastic Society of India, renamed) exhibition last Saturday.  Quite a pretty array I thought. Bright colourful stuff in papier mache - bowls, fridge magnets, jewelery boxes, wall hangings etc. Pretty table mats made of dried flowers and stuff, jute bags, folders and other such things. Picked up a few things. The place itself was quite warm and reminded me of the college fests where all of us enthu students put up stalls and had a roll!  I enjoyed just being there.

Two stalls that really caught my attention:

 
-Aishy's Puzzles: An autistic girl who can solve complex jigsaw puzzles using just spacial concepts (without looking at the picture or reading the instructions) in a few hours/ days depending on the puzzle complexity. Her parents frame the puzzles that she has solved and they are put up for sale. I wanted to pick up one of those but the pieces that I wanted were unique ones and not for sale. However, her parents would let me know when the next set of puzzles are ready - I definitely want to pick up one.
-Another child who does such wonderful 'reverse paintings'. I picked up a Ganesha. The boy was sleeping when I visited the stall.

The children from Vidyasagar have made most of the stuff there and they were also present in their respective stalls and actively selling and billing. In one of the stall, there was this boy who would pick up just about anything I touch and run to the counter to get it billed. We all had a hearty laugh and he laughed along...

This is one of the few really useful shopping trips that has left me feeling so good ... Chennaites, please visit...I think it is still on...

9 comments:

Jayashree said...

I read about it in the paper.....but i thought it got over last weekend. Where is the exhibition held???

JB said...

hi uma..jaya here..where is this exhibition...??

Uma said...

Jayashree - mayb you are right...not sure if it is still on...
Jaya - Hey, nice to see you here... this was in Kotturpuram, behind Anna University

Hema said...

I just had a look at Vidyasagar's website. Looks like we can shop anytime there (even when there is no exhibition). Their bags, pouches and skirts look good.

Subha said...

ahh...need to tell my sister, who is in chennai...

Swapna Raghu Sanand said...

The name Vidyasagar itself is one that inspires respect and trust. Its great to hear about the exhibition. Sadly, I am in Delhi and will miss the Chennai exhibition but it was informative to read about it.

Uma said...

Hema - Yeah, that's right. Though there were stalls by other NGOs as well during the exhibition

Subha: Pls do...and tell her to meet Aishy.

Swapna: You can still catch up info on the sites linked here...

Swapna Raghu Sanand said...

Hi Uma,

There's an Award for you on my blog. Congrats, and please accept it.

Uma said...

Swapna : Wow! That's so nice of you... Of course I'll accept it...whaddya mean :D