By
Nitika Agarwal
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Sudarshan Khanna at his studio in 1999 |
He not just
believes but demonstrates toys as the simplest
means to absorb the successful blend of art and technology as Sudarshan
Khanna retraces his association with toy-making and the child psyche.
“To make
something happen, make it simple;” counsels Sudarshan Khanna, internationally
acclaimed author, educator, toy designer, one of India’s leading experts in
traditional folk toys, national award winner for his life time work for
design-science among children, past president of International Toy Research
Association, Founder-Chairperson of Toys for Tomorrow among a host of other
accolades…
Realizing his
penchant for design, Sudarshan belonged to the very first batch of product
design course at the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, India. He is reverential about his 35 plus-year long association with
the institute, as he graduated to become an educationist, establishing a post
graduate program in Toy Design and a Toy Innovation Centre there.
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Sudarshan Khanna's workshop organized by Katalin Zsuzsanna Orban in Romania |
“I am a
people person.” He explains. “The bulk of design is creativity but it is also
about reading people’s mind and understanding what they want and what they
should want.” This guiding principle underlines Sudarshan’s explicit toy designs
for people with special needs; ingeniously aiding recognition, coordination,
sensitivity and even nuances of science. Sudarshan’s eyes twinkle with
unbounded enthusiasm as he reminisces, “How do you teach gentleness to a child?
Or how do you teach centrifugal force to the visually impaired?” Such questions
are seamlessly answered by some of the toys from his huge collection!
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Toys by sudarshan Khanna |
Gravitating
further towards people with special needs was impacted by Siegfried Zoels, director
of ‘creativity workshop for special needs’ in Germany. Several discussions led
to a beautiful prototype of a toy by Sudarshan that triggered more designs; these
were eventually introduced into the market. “He was also greatly instrumental
in my setting up the Toy Innovation Centre and post graduate program of Toy and
Game Design at NID,” he keenly adds.
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Siegfried Zoles with Sudarshan Khanna at Toys for Tomorrow forum at NID |
Social
activist Baba Amte’s workshop at ‘Anandwan’, a community rehabilitation centre
for leprosy patients, proved to be one of his best learning experiences. It
also later led to a new approach for ‘System Design’ at NID - a program on design
for community.
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Baba & Sadhna Amte, at Anandwan |
“Design helps
me experience immense pleasure out of unveiling the unknown; to discover and
explore the complexities of behavioral science and mechanism,” he gushes. Renowned
American designer, Charles Eames reinforced
his vision and understanding of
design that, ‘ordinary can be transformed into extraordinary’. That design, is
a remarkable learning resource that educates through discovery and first-hand
experience. Toy design especially, allows him to determine the incredible
strength and diversity in materials that he inadvertently discovered in
traditional folk toys.
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Eames in 1977 at Sudarshan Khanna's toy displayat NID |
Recognizing
craft as ‘design’ and not just craftsmanship, Sudarshan discovered profound
wealth of knowledge in several extraordinary craftspeople from various parts of
India. It was from an old potter and toy maker, Buddha Chacha (old uncle), that Sudarshan recognized
the true strength of hard work and dedication.
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Traditional India |
Acknowledging
unknown geniuses, who apparently innovated some very unique traditional toys,
Sudarshan, encouraged by Zette
Emmons, the present curator of a museum in New York City, documented
these in his first book, Dynamic Folk Toys. Zette had lamented that such an interesting
monumental resource was slowly depleting and thus a book would have invaluable
documentation in cultural and educational contexts.
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Zette Emmon with toy makers in Ahmedabad, India |
Ushering in
creativity, innovation and storytelling as an essential component of growth,
Sudarshan conducts workshops for teachers to help them experience the relevance
of holistic learning. His connection with Antal Kelle, a Budapest based
Hungarian designer, he identifies gleefully as his ‘twin’ brother is uncanny.
They believe to share similar vision on principles of education and design
philosophy that develop and intensify with mutual discussions and practice.
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Various Workshops by Sudarshan Khanna |
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Sudarshan Khanna with Antal Kelle, eminent toy innovator and designer, Budapest (Aug'06) |
Ever so
enthusiastic about his toys, Sudarshan Khanna is currently the design
consultant to ‘Universal Learn Today’, by India Today Group that seeks to
manage the curriculum in schools through creative ways of thinking, by means of
design.
Incredible devotion!
ReplyDeleteExtremely good content.
ReplyDeleteI would like to participate in the workshop conducted by Mr. S. Khanna. Actually looking for a chance to work with him in a workshop.
Wonderful overview.
ReplyDeleteOf course there is lots more !!!!!!
After longtime I found such detailed yet engaging overview.
ReplyDeletePankaj please share your experience if you could attend his workshop