Out with Junk

By Vengrai Parthsarthy

The ‘Anjana Petti’ of our grandma’s days can be claimed to be the
forerunner  of the idea from which the ‘Organiser’ concept has spread
to  America! The’petti (box) which is still in vogue used to be a round
box with ten or twelve tiny containers for storing, pepper, fenugreek,
mustard  and other spices which go into the making of of the now famous
masala’ or ‘curry’ as they call  it. The tiny boxes get replenished periodically

from the sub-stock. Long before the O&M thought of timespace  and ‘economy

of motion’ regimens, our grandmas had the ingenuity to minimize  efforts in the

kitchen in their own ingenuous way.

The whole concept is based on the principle of ‘a place for everything and
everything  in its place’In America, it has been  said , that the idea took root in the garage, which
is now being  put to part-use  as workshop by handymen. Someone came up with the idea of organizing tools and things in a shelf with allotted spaces suitably designed.

The next step was the wall system in the living room. It was designed to provide space for the TV, the sound  system, adjustable shelves for trophies and even books.The idea spread and we have Organizers even for kitchen cabinets, closets, file racks , toys, board games and so forth. Organisers  may not be the ideal solution  for Indian conditions due to space and cost  considerations. But a beginning to unclutter the home needs to be made.

Professional Organisers, (the human kind), are now many. I met one in India. A precondition for success is for both spouses  to be involved , specially if they represent ‘throw it away’ on the one hand  and ‘It may be useful some day’ on the other.The children too have to be involved in the exercise.

Our houses are stocked with many unwanted things which should have been trashed or given away long ago. Just imagine: Broken lamps, used tins, worn out sandals, half-used paint cans, rusted or broken buckets are but some of the things which should   be trashed.. A rule of thumb is to throw away things which have not been used or even touched for several months, even years”

The pro added ‘I am not suggesting that memorabilia like the cup you won in school for the 100 meter dash or the Cricket bat which holds memories of your half century in a college match or  old vase which your mother-in-law had given,, even if gathering dust should be thrown away..

One sure way of avoiding disorganization  overload  is to learn not to hoard.. Give away: old  clothes and  utensils to the poor; books which have no more use to schools or book circulating libraries. You can even have a rummage sale  in association with friends .
In America they call it ‘Garage Sale’ where one can get some very good bargains..

The moral: :  THE UNMANAGEABLE CAN BE MANAGED..