K. R. Meenalochani had an interesting childhood. While children her age played with regular toys, she had more interesting ones. These were toys her grandfather had made from scrap items. She learnt the art of utilising waste materials and when the time came to choose a career, she chose to be a teacher who would carry forward her grandfather’s legacy. She became a crafts teacher and is teaching at Kola Perumal Chetty Vaishnav Senior Secondary School in Arumbakkam for the last 24 years.
She recently participated in the Foreign Exchange Teaching programme, conducted by Cude Academy of Handicrafts, Hawaii, where her work was appreciated and she was declared the best teacher among those from 10 countries who participated. Talking about her experience, she says, “The programme was for a month and I was expected to teach handicrafts, based on the materials available at the island. I taught them how to make artefacts and day-to-day items with dried leaves, shells and wood,” she says. The organisers were so impressed with her work that they have invited her to be the coordinator for next year’s event.
She says it was because of her grandfather that she learnt to think differently and preserve things as well. “He is my true inspiration. As a child, I was awed by the things he did.He’d use objects that were considered useless and turn them into usable products,” she says.
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However, if she had not received any encouragement from the school, she wouldn’t have had the chance to showcase her art. “I have been teaching here for years and I make it a point that my students learn how to preserve and conserve. Whatever I teach them is organic and plastic-free. With the help of my students we have a roof garden. With the support of the management, I have won various awards, at regional and national levels.”