For 65-yearold Madhavan Nair, a gifted craftsman of Kodanchery, any coconut shell is a potential material for making beautiful decorative objects. His craftworks include hair clips, teaspoon, flower vase, lotus, lamps of different shapes and sizes and many other decoratives items made out of coconut shells. “Craft is an exciting way for me to spend my leisure time. Since coconut is grown in abundance here, the craft of making decoratives out of it can generate a decent revenue,” said the skilled craftsman-cum-farmer. Carving coconut shell is very difficult and timeconsuming, he said. An Electronics Engineer from the United States of America approached him to learn the craft out of pure interest. “She saw my products during the Malayora Maholsavam exhibition held in Thiruvambadi. Surprisingly, she devoted day and night to learn the art. I don’t know why our people show less interest in this craft,” he said. “When I started to focus on this craft, even my friends and relatives teased me. Gradually, I learned to ignore their teasing. Later, most of my critics started admiring me,” said Madhavan Nair. The second exhibition of his handicraft products was held at the Nalanda Auditorium in connection with the state-level Neera Coconut Farmers Meet organised by the Agriculture Department. He takes four to five days to complete a single product. The machineries he uses include knife, sandpaper and stone. An owl made out of coconut shell is his masterpiece. “I am not ready to give the black owl to anyone since I am not sure about my ability to make same piece again,” he said.