Finding a friend in paper dolls

 The area smells like a furniture shop, from the heavy use of Dendrite. Foam cuttings are strewn all over the place and the children are busy making something with their dexterous hands and keen eyes. Anjali Children’s Festival was witness to several workshops on November 12, one of which was on ventriloquism, conducted by veteran artist Prabir Das of Kolkata. He attends to every confused child struggling with scissors, foam or glue.

This is Das’s second time at Anjali and says he’ll visit every year with the permission of health and time. “To meet these children is a great experience. I conduct such workshops throughout the year but the enthusiasm and the ambience at Anjali is unmatched,” he says.

For Das, the inspiration to approach ventriloquism as a career came when he was in Russia in 1968 where he watched the Russian Circus in its full flair. “When I came back, I realised that ventriloquism owes its origin to India” he says. He claims it is registered in the Vedas how sages and hermits who claimed to talk to gods were nothing but well practised ventriloquists who created illusions of conversations with God.

When asked how such a workshop can prove helpful to the differently-abled children, he says that with regular practice and stern heart, the children will gain confidence and learn to put words to their thoughts. Apparently even the kids had similar views on the efficiency of the workshop. Jerin Shifani, a student from Kanyakumari seems pleased with her decision to choose this workshop over all others. “I like making and playing with dolls and Sir is also very sweet and patient with us,” she says. A smile spreads over Das’s face as he sees his students feeling content with the product of two hours’ labour. A face of foam and paper smiles with him too.