WAYANAD: It was the promise of Sanoj to his children last summer vacation that he would come up with a never-before-seen toy for them. Sanoj, who has studied till only seventh standard, surprised his family when he installed an awesome toy in front of their house.

A fish pond and ten wooden dolls that functioned continuously around it. When one doll catches fish from the pond, the other one pedals a cycle, another one rows a boat. Another doll grinds the paddy while the next person cuts firewood; two others cut the trees.

All these dolls work 24X7 with the help of a water wheel. Spring water from the nearby paddy field is channelized through pipes to the turban, which starts rotating. When it rotates, the steel string connected from it to ten dolls will make them work.

There is also an in-built mechanism to produce music using bamboo sticks and small sticks. The 2-centX1.5 metre pond is a boarding for ornamental fish. Sanoj’s house is also filled with artefacts made using coconut shells and coconut.

For his craftsmanship, Sanoj always gets the full support and appreciation of his wife Lakshmy, elder son Abhinav (first standard) and younger son Adhi Dev (LKG).