The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : The message on a nutshell

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Wednesday, Aug 12, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

The message on a nutshell

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K Murali Kumar

D. Bhoopathy with one of her carvings.

BANGALORE: D. Bhoopathy has decided to celebrate Independence Day in a novel way. She has decided to use the classic Kannadiga craft of carving copra to depict Independence Day themes.

“I approached Savitri Padmanabhan, who is an expert in carving coconuts,” Ms. Bhoopathy said.

Traditional

According to her, instead of having the “traditional figures of deities, the carvings can instead represent something that is more relevant to us, like ideas about our nation,” she said

“Instead of spending money on greeting cards, we should encourage such things and provide a livelihood to others,” Ms. Bhoopathy said.

Cartoonist

Ms. Bhoopathy, who calls herself an amateur cartoonist, has published two books of cartoons – one in Kannada and the other in English. For the past few years, she has been drawing cartoons and distributing them in schools, hoping to “inspire children”. She recently got coconuts carved for a few students from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). “I have also made specialised Christmas and wedding coconuts,” Ms. Bhoopathy said.

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