At first, she strikes you as an average housewife - shy, petite, soft-spoken, and quite at home in cotton sarees. Say " Ikebana" and watch her moist, honey colored eyes light up! Give her a bunch of carnations, a cutter and some foliage, and watch her nimble fingers create magic.

A Love of Flowers
Meet Meenakshi Devi - an MA in Economics, married at the tender age of 19, a mother of two, tragically widowed at 45, settled in Hyderabad. Her love for flowers and gardening, led her to pursue her hobby seriously. She trained under Horyu Meena Ananthnarayanan, the only Grand Master in India. In 1995, she completed her 4th Master degree from the Ohara School of Ikebana in Japan. Today, she is a highly qualified Instructor, with the Associate Second Master's Degree.

A Life Flowers
With the untimely death of her husband, she leaned more towards Ikebana. Seminars, exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops followed. Her travel too, tinged with Ikebana - a seminar in Kuala Lumpur or a workshop in Vijaywada! She conducts classes regularly in Hyderabad, disseminating her knowledge among housewives and school children. She has trained over 100 students.

Ikebana gave her much more than solace. She discovered a new meaning to life, it taught her acceptance and patience. She shyly says " I become a part of the arrangement whilst doing it". She finds it therapeutic, meditative, peacegiving and immensely creative. Her words of wisdom: "Cultivate a hobby. It adds meaning to life, relaxes you, and you can always earn from it."

Other Interests
Her driving force in life: An encouraging husband and a supportive mother. Her other interests: playing the veena, designing wedding mandaps, environmental issues and the Crafts Council. She is the President of the Hyderabad Chapter of the Ohara School of Ikebana, for the past 3 years.

An Eco-Friendly Attitude
She vehemently discourages the use of plastic, and advocates eco-friendly products. At a recent exhibition, she ensured all flowers were arranged only in baskets, thereby promoting basketry as a craft. While designing wedding mandaps, she is particular about using only natural materials. Ikebana taught her the value of nature and all things natural. For, only if there is nature, is there Ikebana. She believes,ikebana extends beyond the home. It cultivates a love for nature, and a desire to preserve it.

A Breath of Fresh Air
In today's world, Meenakshi is like a breath of fresh air. Her thirst for knowledge, unquenchable. Her aim? To become a Grand Master. Awards and honours, there have been many, but what touches her most is honest appreciation of her work.

In Meenakshi's case, it would be apt to say, her flowers speak for, and about her !! Her life flows, like Ikebana .....her arrangements reflecting her love for flowers, gently meandering into decorative wedding mandaps, where, the use of crafts, mirrors her love for eco-friendly products. It turns full circle with an awareness of nature, flowing back to the beauty of a blushing pink carnation, nestling against fluid foliage. Exuding inner calm, fragrance, joy and beauty- just like Meenakshi.

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