- Akila Kannadasan, The Hindu

The travelling craftsman

Coconut shell artisan and zero-waste wedding decorator Ananda Perumal gives sustainable lifestyle an artistic spin

The sight of beedi rollers around his home in Tirunelveli disturbed Ananda Perumal; he often dreamed of providing them an alternative livelihood. Transferred to the city from Madurai, the bank employee frequently travelled to the villages and tribal settlements of Tamil Nadu. The “art in the everyday life” of the people he met, and the inspiration he drew from organic farming pioneer, the late G Nammalvar, encouraged him to pursue coconut shell craft. It is his artistic expression, as well as something that can provide people a livelihood.

“Coconut shells are available at every household in Tamil Nadu. Why discard it? Why not make something of it, helping those involved in the craft in the process,” says Ananda. His team from Kavin Art Gallery has adopted the village of Alangulam and is training beedi rollers there in coconut shell craft. “At least eight people have given up beedi rolling,” says the 36-year-old. His aim is to create a self-sustained model village that Nammalvar envisioned.

Ananda’s USP, are sculptures. He carves intricate shapes by hand, employing a tool goldsmiths use. His sculptures are detailed, and look delicate and sharp at the same time; he frames them with glass. “The demand for such work is low, and I make items on order,” he says. His terrace at home is his studio. Ananda also makes spoons, jugs, bowls, and jewellery, and refrains from using any sort of cutting machines.

Ananda trains school children in the craft — he has held workshops in schools in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. “I’ve recently started making jewellery out of PET bottles and also teach the same to children,” he says. PET, non-biodegradable as it is, may as well be put to some use, he feels.

His work with coconut shells has taken Ananda places. He travels extensively, teaching people at the pit stops he makes. “I’m often asked why I openly teach what I know; if I don’t fear that I’ll become dispensable,” he says. “But I’m constantly learning something from the people I meet,” he smiles.

Ananda also does stage decorations for weddings. Unlike the cookie-cutter designs of white backgrounds with red rose pin-ons, he uses upcycled material — an old tree branch to clay pots — gathered from places around the venue.There’s no polystyrene, glitter nor flex. Instead, words are hand-written on cotton cloth. “I engage youth from Sivakasi, whose family members work in the fireworks factories,” he says. “This is in the hope that they too don’t enter the industry like their fathers,” he adds. Ananda has so far done up the stage for 70 zero-waste weddings in South India.

Ananda’s wedding decorations team, called Nigal, does a site visit four days ahead of the wedding. “In the process, we become friends with the family.” His most memorable stage is the one he did for a couple in Virudhunagar. “We worked on it for three months. We sowed pasalai kodi seeds around the stage.” On the wedding day, the bride and groom tied the knot surrounded by lush green leaves.

Ananda Perumal will be in the city for a workshop at Yaadhum Sustainable LifeSpace, Porur, 10 am to 4 pm, November 24 and 25. To register, call 9629623044.