CUTTACK: To mark 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Cuttack, artisans are busy giving finishing touches to a gigantic sculpture of 'Gandhi meeting' held in the city. It will be placed on the banks of the Kathajodi river on March 23 this year as Gandhi visited Cuttack on March 23, 1921.
More than 25 artisans of Kathagada Sahi, including main sculptor Laxmidhar Rana, are engaged to create the structure. The state culture department has sanctioned Rs 30 lakh for making the gigantic sculpture, an official said. Culture director Bijay Kumar Nayak said, "It was a historic event involving the Father of the Nation during the Indian freedom struggle and we want to preserve the memory for posterity. The sculpture will be placed prominently on the river banks where every one can see it."
The artisans are trying to finish the work before March 21.
"The Gandhi bronze sculpture will be 10-ft high and 20 ft in width. Gandhi will be seen sitting on a wooden chair while wearing a cloth cap," Nayak said.
Rana said, "It is a privilege for me to make the sculpture of the Father of the Nation."
The historic meeting was attended by Gopabandhu Das, Kasturba Gandhi, Nilakatha Das and Acharya Harihar Das and it was presided by Gandhi. At the meeting, Gandhiji urged people of the state to support the freedom struggle. Cuttack women donated huge amounts of gold ornaments for the freedom struggle at the meeting, said an a historian.
"I have tried my best to depict the exact historic event on the sculpture. It took 45 days to finish the statue work alone," added Rana. "First mud work was done to make a replica of the structure and a layer of wax put on it and after that melted bronze was embossed on it. And it was left for three days to become cool and get into proper shape," added Rana.
Rana, 60, is known for his bronze statue work. He has made sculptures of Jawaharlal Nehru, Harekrushna Mahatab, Biju Patnaik and Chakhi Khuntia, among others, in Odisha and outside.
More than 25 artisans of Kathagada Sahi, including main sculptor Laxmidhar Rana, are engaged to create the structure. The state culture department has sanctioned Rs 30 lakh for making the gigantic sculpture, an official said. Culture director Bijay Kumar Nayak said, "It was a historic event involving the Father of the Nation during the Indian freedom struggle and we want to preserve the memory for posterity. The sculpture will be placed prominently on the river banks where every one can see it."
The artisans are trying to finish the work before March 21.
"The Gandhi bronze sculpture will be 10-ft high and 20 ft in width. Gandhi will be seen sitting on a wooden chair while wearing a cloth cap," Nayak said.
Rana said, "It is a privilege for me to make the sculpture of the Father of the Nation."
The historic meeting was attended by Gopabandhu Das, Kasturba Gandhi, Nilakatha Das and Acharya Harihar Das and it was presided by Gandhi. At the meeting, Gandhiji urged people of the state to support the freedom struggle. Cuttack women donated huge amounts of gold ornaments for the freedom struggle at the meeting, said an a historian.
"I have tried my best to depict the exact historic event on the sculpture. It took 45 days to finish the statue work alone," added Rana. "First mud work was done to make a replica of the structure and a layer of wax put on it and after that melted bronze was embossed on it. And it was left for three days to become cool and get into proper shape," added Rana.
Rana, 60, is known for his bronze statue work. He has made sculptures of Jawaharlal Nehru, Harekrushna Mahatab, Biju Patnaik and Chakhi Khuntia, among others, in Odisha and outside.
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