Flight of imagination

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Flight of imagination

Tuesday, 17 January 2017 | Archana Jyoti

Flight of imagination

A refreshing effort from a differently- abled woman Khawaishen, a collection of 28 poems, shows both maturity and simplicity. It speaks about life and relations. By Archana Jyoti

Writing poetry has been a passion for Manjri Sinha. The Chennai-based Notion Press has published her first book on Hindi poems  Khawaishen (desires) which was released recently from the platform of Family of Disabled (FoD), an NGO working for the empowerment of people with disabilities, at Arpana Art Gallery. The occasion was the inauguration of an exhibition, Beyond limits-2016, an annual exhibition showcasing artworks of the artists with disabilities from across India.

Manjri, who writes in the pen name “Manjusha” is herself a differently-abled woman. She suffered severe neurological issues 15 years ago and is on wheel-chair since then.

As the name suggests, Khawaishen, a collection of 28 poems speaks volumes of the courage and determination of Manjri to pen her thoughts about love, life, friendship, relations and observations on the world around her with a style that is from rhyming to free style. The book starts with a sad poem about her brother and sister who died at an early age. The mother of two has effortlessly and delicately woven her intimate feelings, at times satirically complaining about the changing norms in the society.

The collection was released by Padamshree award winner and philanthropist Vikramjeet Singh Sahney. Impressed at the Manjri’s lucid and simple writing, Sahney said that the collection reflects her versatility in the many subjects she has talked about. later Sahney along with the guest of honour, MBl Bhargava, a philanthropist and social worker, inaugurated the painting exhibition of artworks where 82 artworks by 45 artists suffering from various forms of disabilities were on display.

Thirty-five-year-old Mandeep Singh Manu, who suffers from cerebral palsy,  Chinmay Pradhan, a speech and hearing impaired from Nagpur in Maharashtra, polio inflicted Niyaz Husain and Vyom Aggarwal from Ghaziabad were among those who got the chance to showcase their impeccable creations.

“The aim is to give them recognition and appreciation apart from monetary gains. Exhibition by artists with disabilities could materialise due to the generosity of renowned writer Ajeet Caur and her daughter Arpana Caur, a famous artist at the Academy of Fine Arts and literature, who have continuously donated the gallery space and Punjab National Bank, which has co-sponsored all the exhibitions.

“At least 29 paintings were sold ar the exhibition,” said Preeti Johar from the FoD.

Arpana Caur’s paintings support several projects for the underprivileged, including free vocational training in the Academy of Fine Arts and literature of which she along with her mother. She supports a leprosy home in Ghaziabad, and ration projects for poor and old widows through Om Wahe Guru Ashram.

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