ALAPPUZHA: Arvind Kumar Pai, a school teacher has spent two decades amassing over 100,000 matchsticks from 21 different states. His collection is a treasure trove, with 70 percent of the matchsticks found on the roadside. Notable items in his collection include the special Chandrayaan launch match, priced at Rs 700 and the Gandhi Puzzle Matchbox, which costs Rs 650. The Gandhi puzzle matchbox, launched by a manufacturer in Kolkata to honor Mahatma Gandhi's 154th birth anniversary, features a glow-in-the-dark rendition of ISRO's Chandrayaan in a limited edition. Arvind began his collection with matchsticks brought home by his father, Muralidhara Babu, who used to smoke. He recognized the educational value in matchstick labels which can teach children about names, spellings, place names and images of things like flowers, fruits and animals. His aim is to make learning fun and engaging. In addition to matchsticks, Arvind also collects stamps, coins and one-rupee notes. His mother Ranjitha Bhai, his wife, Jyotilakshmi who is also a teacher and their daughter Siddhi, all support his passion for collecting. The Chandrayaan and Gandhi puzzle matches were launched by a match company in Kolkata. The Chandrayaan set comprises four large matches with space-themed scenes and brief descriptions. The Puzzle matches were introduced as a tribute to Gandhi, and when correctly arranged, they form a complete picture of Gandhiji. These unique items were acquired from the Kolkata-based company.