When you come across a toy, have you ever wondered about the mind behind its creation, the person who conceptualized and designed it? Such thoughts never crossed my mind until I encountered the Domino Blocks from the 1950s, manufactured by A. C. Gilbert. On the back of the wooden box, an uncommon sight caught my eye: it read, “Domino Blocks by Anne Farrell.”

The first time I discovered the existence of the LEGO cross was in the fall of 2002, when I stumbled upon it on an online auction site. Intrigued by this unique item, I decided to purchase it and subsequently asked the Danish seller about its history.

Chaos is a science of surprises that revolves around unpredictability and unexpected outcomes. It serves as a reminder to anticipate the unforeseen, such as disrupted traffic patterns, volatile weather conditions, turbulent financial markets, etc. One fundamental principle within chaos theory is the Butterfly Effect, also known as the ripple or domino effect. This concept suggests that even an insignificant action, like a butterfly flapping its wings in New Mexico, can eventually lead to significant consequences, such as a hurricane forming in China. While the cause and effect may not be immediately apparent, the underlying connection is undeniably real. For instance, consider the scenario of an ice storm in eastern Oregon causing a power outage that affects an Amazon data center. As a result, you find yourself staring at a blank TV screen, unable to continue watching Netflix.

You always wonder what was the spark that inspired Sarat Chandra to write Charitraheen, Tagore to compose Gitanjali, and Einstein to come up with the theory of relativity. I never looked it up. Newton first thought about gravity after he observed an apple falling from a tree. As for Satyajit Ray, it was the opportunity to illustrate a children’s novel, Aam Antir Bhepu (Mango Seed Whistle), which ultimately led him to direct his magnum opus - Panther Panchali (Song of the Road), the first movie of his Apu trilogy.

Growing up in Calcutta, Satyajit Ray, the famous Indian movie director, had a silent presence in my life through his many movies and short stories. Feluda, one of his immortal creations, captured my childhood imagination along with the Belgian teenager, Tintin. Ray’s sketches almost always accompanied his stories. Come to think of it, his sketches were the first thing that attracted me to his writings. His drawings always seemed to capture the essence of the story plot. I wasn’t really surprised to learn that his career as an illustrator began much before his start in movies and writings. He mastered his craft as an illustrator and story teller from his stints at advertising houses.