I literally stumbled onto Origami in 1976 when I was passing through a personal trauma and it was only this indulging with paper that helped me through those difficult times. Paper was one medium which had always fascinated me from my childhood. I used to enjoy folding paper and making paper patterns by cutting various shapes.
I started with a book by Robert Harbin and gradually progressed to make the models and entertain my children. Then as luck would have it, I got a chance to host a few children's' programs on television which was the new and upcoming medium in India at that time. The name of our group is ORIGAMI MITRA, which literally means origami friends, as "mitra" in Hindi, is the equivalent of friends, in English.
Since then I have been very fortunate to come across people having this same passion for origami. Love for paperfolding brought us together initially and then socially and thereby laid the foundation of lasting friendships which ultimately culminated into the birth of our group ORIGAMI MITRA. Mrs. Indu Tilak, though much older than me in years was a great source of inspiration and a true friend, philosopher and guide. There was also tremendous support from my family especially my mother-in-law. We have held a number of exhibitions and conducted many workshops for various organizations and associations. It is wonderful to have had the 2002 exhibition in the 50th year of Indo Japanese friendship. I was fortunate to have met Mr. Kase in 1983 and in 2002.
My favorite action model is the kotongkong - the tumbling toy. Origami is like a vast ocean and I think I am still on the fringe with a long way to go.
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