Puppets can enrich child’s life

Unusual as it may seem, objects as ubiquitous as paper, a spoon, an empty bottle or even cartons can be used to make puppets to help your child learn and even be applied for therapeutic use. Sadly, the art of puppetry has not been explored beyond entertainment.

That’s what the People’s Universal Popular Puppetry Educational Theatre (PUPPET) stands out for. For nearly three decades, Puppet has popularised this art form as a medium of educating the masses on social issues. And now, it’s on a new mission—to assist city educationists, psychologists, councillors and even doctors.

While puppetry is being explored as a medium for imparting knowledge, therapy, personality development and awareness in other countries, it is still not taken as a serious art form in our society, rues Ranjana Kanitkar, a well-known puppeteer and founder of Puppet.

Some educational institutes in the city have invited Puppet to conduct shows and train teachers. It easily engages the young ones and the lessons are delivered more effectively.

Kanitkar recalled how a shy girl in a school came up to her after the puppet show and started talking to ‘Chingi’ (puppet’s name).

The organisation, founded in 1982 by Hemant and Ranjana Kanitkar has been a strong propagator of the art.

The couple travelled almost in every state, in urban and rural areas to train non-governmental organisations and rural artistes all over the country to use puppetry to spread awareness about social issues.

So far, over 55,000 people have been trained under Puppet through more than 800 workshops. They also worked in collaboration with Unicef and ministry of science and technology to educate people through puppetry.

Realising its potential as a strong medium to reach out to the masses, the couple also set up a training centre in Karjat. They designed training modules and trained various people about making puppets of different types, writing scripts and presenting shows.

But the demise of Hemant in 2007 was a major setback to Puppet organisation. However, Ranjana has decided to go on with the mission.

“We tried to promote it as a source of social awakening on issues related to superstition, health, need for education, sanitation, water conservation, sex education and various other issues. But now we need to move ahead. Few know that it can educate, heal, distress, help one to express, bring suppressed feeling to fore, help people connect and do lot more,” said Kanitkar.

She added, “Let children make puppets and play with it and see how they connect. Through puppets they open up, project their thoughts as well as explore their strengths and talents. That’s how it helps in therapeutic process of patients as well,” she added, as she made a puppet with two paper cups by drawing a face on it.
Kanitkar said that one doesn’t necessarily need string dolls or big puppets, as shown in television shows; regular household items can also serve the purpose. “It appeals to all ages and we want this art form to reach parents, teachers, therapists, social workers and corporates,” she said.

After Hemant’s demise, the organisation had to sell the building in Karjat to carry forward the work of Puppet. They are planning to set up a centre in Pune which would serve as a training centre, museum of puppets and also library with literature about puppetry. They also plan to bring experts for lectures and training.
However, her desire to take it to the masses needs financial support. Those interested in the art can contact Kanitkar on 020-25380112.