For the Wellbeing

Report by: Nisha Poulose, March 11, 2013 

for 

FRIENDS OF TIBET FOUNDATION FOR THE WELLBEING

Friends of Tibet Foundation for the Wellbeing, PO Box 16674, Bombay 400050, India.
Email: wellbeing@friendsoftibet.org Web: www.friendsoftibet.org/wellbeing

The whole report you find here: 

http://www.friendsoftibet.org/wellbeing/reports/wellbeing_mar_2013.html

Alexander Devasia and Sylvie Bantle of Sylviander House Art Museum, Alleppey who created an image identity

The Wellbeing image identity was created by Alexander Devasia whose relationship with nature and his own spirit is holistic and untainted. He connects to his soul and has a deep respect for nature and hence proved to be the perfect person to create the image identity of the Wellbeing programme.

We asked Alexander Devasia and Sylvie Bantle, long-time supporters of Tibet cause for a statement and these were the beautiful words they had to share:

"Wellbeing means a healthy nature! When I am sitting on my veranda surrounded by nature drawing everything that surrounds me — in the East the two blossoming cashew nut trees with yellow and red fruits, in the West the garden with the lotus pond and biotope — I forget myself and become one with this beauty. Humans can hunt and go fishing, harvest the fields and control the world. As more modern life goes on, we forget about keeping a space alone for the nature as our ancestors in Kerala did with a "kavu" near the house or the village. Everything could co-exist there — creatures and plants which were not of much use for the people, trees and creepers without tasty fruits or animals like snakes, beetles and mosquitoes … The Kavu was the spiritual corner of the place where people lived. They must have understood that their life without nature would not be possible.

I cannot think to live without nature around me, without all this variety of beings — I am a part of it. I share my life with these birds, butterflies, fish, frogs and turtles in the pond, the two squirrels on the roof, three wild cats in the garden and all the different trees — I am not getting tired of drawing the character of their leaves and blossoms … And every morning when I see everything in the light of sunrise again and again, I receive my first medicine of the day by inhaling the power of nature. She is the mother of all life, in health I will enjoy wellbeing for soul and body."

Alexander Devasia, one of the prominent contemporary Indian artists draws out the Image Identity for the Friends of Tibet Wellbeing Programme from Sylviander House, an Art Museum and Gallery he runs at Alappuzha in Kerala with his wife Sylvie Bantle. (Photo: Sylviander Art Museum)

Nisha Mary Poulose is a Bangalore-based researcher and architect who specialises on Urban Development and Planning. She is also a part of the Design & People network of volunteer architects. Nisha Poulose can be reached at: nisha.poulose@designandpeople.org