Some handiwork this!

PUNE, June 21: When Dr V S Patil, MS, tells you that he is obsessed with hands, you do not consider it a very unusual affinity, considering ...

PUNE, June 21: When Dr V S Patil, MS, tells you that he is obsessed with hands, you do not consider it a very unusual affinity, considering the fact that the doctor is actually one of the foremost hand surgeons of Pune. It is only when you are invited to have a look at the form this obsession has taken, that you realise the implications of his revelation.

For spread across a vast sideboard of his living room are over 100 items that he has painstakingly collected over the past many years, each in the distinct shape of a hand. There are rings, pendants, earrings, vases, lighters, tie-pins, stickers, key-chains, bracelets, decorative pieces, lamps, framed pictures, paper clips, can-openers and what have you, all in the shape of a hand. In one case, there is a tiny pair of hands crafted out of chalk while at the other end is a set of coasters, each with a palm painted on the surface 8211; Patil8217;s latest and favourite acquisition!

8220;I think my passion for collecting anything and everything in the shape of hands dates back to 1979, when I casually purchased a hand-shaped opener,8221; says the 58-year-old hand surgeon. 8220;After that, the collection just grew. The intentions were further fuelled in 1992 when on a visit to Paris a friend of mine took me to his place and showed me his amazing collection that revolved around hands.

8220;He had a showcase full of beautiful items in the shape of hands, alongwith unusual things like hand-shaped arms of a chair, sandalwood spoons and close-up photographs of hands of famous people. Then, in 1995, when I stopped over at Lausanne in Switzerland, on my way to Helsinki for a conference, I visited this museum that had sculptures of hands in all shapes and sizes. This also inspired me immensely.8221;

Opening his briefcase, he further fishes out newspaper clippings with articles on hands like of a boy who had six fingers on each hand and photographs of places like Sydney8217;s Bandi beach, where over one lakh life-size plastic hands have been put on the beach8217;s surface to resemble a sea of hands. He also displays a sachet full of birthday cards sent to him by friends and family over the years, all with pictures of, you guessed it, hands on them.

8220;This is a purely non-academic collection and I pursue the interest for my own pleasure. Lately, though, I have started making little presentations of the collection on slides, during the interlude in conferences. And almost everyone marvels at the items. I do not think any other doctor in India has a collection like this,8221; adds Patil.

Contributing in a big way to all this is his teenage daughter, who has also learnt to keep a lookout for objects in the shape of hands and get them for her father. 8220;My most treasured item, though, is this rare little book that I own, The Hand, that has anatomical transparencies of hands. Published in 1952, there are hardly any copies of it in the world. In fact, even the museum in Lausanne had borrowed it from me for sometime,8221; reveals Patil with visible pride.

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The doctor8217;s future plans include the construction of a huge showcase in his hospital on Laxmi Road, where all his prized items will be put on display on a permanent basis. 8220;I always ask people if they have come across anything interesting in the shape of hands, and if they have, to send it to me. Many have obliged,8221; he smiles. Now that8217;s called lending a helping hand to a good cause!

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More