When dolls tell real-life stories

AHMEDABAD: A doll is a doll is a doll, right? Wrong. If you have been lucky enough to see the 12cm-tall creations made by Belgian nurse Francoise Bosteels, 65, it is the experience of watching an untold story of a part of India come to life. This is no hobby but a powerful movement for social justice and a celebration of life, which will be exhibited at the Loyola Garden Jubilee Hall at St Xavier's School in Memnagar on Thursday and Friday.
From the charred body of a man depicting 2002 post-Godhra riots to a woman clutching a tree marking the 1970s Chipko Movement and a woman cradling a dead child symbolizing the Bhopal gas tragedy, each one of her dolls make an impact.
It is a journey of 35 years from Kanyakumari to the Thar desert through Bosteels' eyes. "I have seen in awe people putting Ganesha, Krishna and Jesus together and worship them in the south. In contrast, I felt the pain of a Muslim woman who burst into tears while watching an exhibition of my dolls in Ahmedabad four years ago, as she remembered the madness during riots," she reminisces.
Made of wool, cotton balls, pipe cleaners, bamboo and wood, the dolls are dressed, complete with gold and silver threads for jewellery, sewing machine, a harp, for recreating a scene. For instance, no effort has been spared to make the bespectacled Gandhi along with his trademark spinning wheel. Interestingly, none of these dolls have eyes, nose or mouth. According to Bosteels, these not required and also gives the viewer freedom of interpretation. Over 130 such happy and thought-provoking tales will be on display during her exhibition.
The dolls even spurred two books 'Through the needle's eye' and 'The dolls speak' which have poems dedicated to each creation by many dignitaries, including danseuse Mrinalini Sarabhai. Currently based in Bangalore, Bosteels still has an unfulfilled wish. "I have been to many places across India but am yet to see the Himalayas. Maybe another doll will follow once I experience the life there." This will add to the collection of 280 dolls personalising an incident or time. Some stories are meant to be told.