Postcard from Chandigarh

What's the most exact parameter for defining the beauty of a city? "It's when the most stepped on thing is also a piece of art," says V N Singh, Nodal Officer of Le Corbusier Centre...

Take home a bit of the city in the form of these smartly designed souvenirs

What8217;s the most exact parameter for defining the beauty of a city? 8220;It8217;s when the most stepped on thing is also a piece of art,8221; says V N Singh, Nodal Officer of Le Corbusier Centre, as he pulls out a coaster in that flatters Corbursier8217;s famous manhole design to perfection. The grid-system on the cover staring in the face, 8220;it8217;s set to make its way in the new souvenir collection of the city that will be housed in the Museum shop of the centre,8221; he tells us and leads the way to the rear end of the building, where the shop will be inaugurated in the first week of December. 8220;The increasing number of visitors and their will to take back a bit of the green city prompted us to undertake the endeavour,8221; Singh says. The collection here will give due to Le Corbusier8217;s designs including the Open Hand, Tower of Shadow, the Capitol Complex, the grid map, his modular structures and the man behind Chandigarh himself. 8220;Chandigarh specific t-shirts, cups, mouse pads, notepads, bookmarks, tiles8230; you can bag any of these in the range of Rs 50 to Rs 300,8221; Singh points out, as his eyes rest on a book rack where titles like Footprints on the Sands of Indian Culture by Sarabjit Bahga and Surinder Bahga, Celebrating Chandigarh by Jaspreet Takhar, The Indian Architecture by Pierre Jeanneret, Edwin Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew and Le Corbusier Ideas and Forms by William JR Curtis fight for space.

Meanwhile, local book stores like Capital Book Depot and English Book Shop too are offering umpteen choices of books on the making, development and the modern architecture of the city. PS Sawhney, a sculpture artist from Sector 45, has fashioned his own assemblage. Rockgarden being his favourite muse, here the keychains based on Nek Chand8217;s creations grab your attention instantly. Priced at Rs 25 only, 8220;fridge magnets, the latest addition, have been very popular among the city residents. Depicting the sector-wise map of the city, it gives an instant overview of any given location,8221; chirps Sawhney.

The city has caught the fancy and fascination of many travelling and world renowned architects and tourists. Recently, Lesserre Olivier from Switzerland, who was in town for an architectural study, bought over 20 different pieces of coffee mugs with old lithographs of Chandigarh and photo-frames inspired by the lake for friends back home. He felt they give a deep insight into the city and its people. CITCO having started the initiative, the Sukhna Lake was amongst the first stops where Chandigarh souvenirs were launched. Here, you can pick a box of coffee and beer mugs, slip pads, salt and pepper dispensers, wall plates and pens among other things dedicated to the city. 8220;The Open Hand models made of brass and manhole covers are the most hot-selling items,8221; Babar, one of the managers of the store, tells us. As for the tourist shop near the booking counter at the Lake, you can get a mug with your picture printed on it!

Amongst the book lovers, Chandigarh8217;s coffee table book priced at Rs 500 too is a fast moving item. Vivek Atray, the man who conceived the idea of fashioning the first set of Chandigarh souvenirs, tells us that about 200 copies of it have been sold in the last three months. The Rock Garden too houses a collection. At Lalit Kala Academy it8217;s an insight into the minds of the city artists that appeals. Diwan Manna, Chairman of Chandigarh Kala Academy, tells us that bookmarks, t-shirts, mugs, pens, prints and cards have been fashioned depicting their works, which is a mix of abstracts, figures, landscapes and the city. The range capturing the distinctive iconography of the melting pot of communities, creating a dynamic portrait of the city, 8220;at the academy, the products range from Rs 15 to Rs 550,8221; reels Manna, insisting that Chandigarh souvenirs should be made just as popular as the Eiffel Tower of Paris. 8220;They should now be made available on the road side, as well as in posh hotels,8221; he says. Is anybody listening!