Moti Ram Chand prepares cards for the New Year at Cheshire Home in Ranchi, and some of the designs on his cards. Pictures by Manik Bose

Ranchi, Dec. 30: For him passion for life is something, which never dies and this is what keeps the 50-year-old Moti Ram Chand going.

Chand, who is suffering from polio and is on a wheelchair, enjoys making New Year greeting cards. And this hobby has kept him engrossed every winter for the past 30 years.

Neither has age nor Chand’s physical disability diminished his enthusiasm. Spending hours altogether making cards does not even tire him out.

Wrapped in his woollens, Chand said: “Making cards from silk threads and stitching interesting designs is very easy and exciting. I feel elated that my cards are being appreciated by all — from students to various organisations.”

Chand has worked on around 20 designs.

“As far as designing the card is concerned, I take inspiration from nature — flowers, birds and the landscape,” Chand said.

He started working on the cards from November and has made 300 cards so far. Each card is priced at Rs 15. “The Cheshire sisters helped me to pick up this hobby as they felt that my strength lies in this particular field,” he said.

The sister-in-charge of Cheshire Home, of which he is one of the oldest inmates, Sister Teresita, told The Telegraph that involving the residents at Cheshire into vocational courses gave them a platform to express.

“We also want to make them realise that they are useful to the society and are not considered as a burden,” Sister Teresita said.

She added that the disabled spend almost an hour every day to make New Year greeting cards. “We do not force them. They design these cards according to their convenience. They all enjoy being creative,” Teresita added.

She further said that most of the cards are bought by schoolchildren while many women organisations place orders, too.

“At the moment we are short of supply but Chand wants to work for longer periods to meet the demand,” Sister Teresita added.

There are around 35 disabled children, who are engaged in various vocational courses like stitching, candle making, card making and computer operations. These vocational courses are conducted thrice a week for two hours.

Around six residents here are also working at the printing press of Cheshire Home.