A perfect tribute to Missile Man Kalam

While the whole country is celebrating the 84th birth anniversary of former president Dr A P K Abdul Kalam on October 15, the Horticulture Department has planned well, in advance, to pay rich tributes to the ‘Missile Man of India’ by installing his replica made of noodles at Kuppanna Park  where the Dasara flower show is being held.

The Dasara Horticulture Show has added one more feather to its cap with a first of its kind replica, created of vermicelli or noodles, using 100 kg wheat flour, by artisans from Hubli.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, the artisan couple — Shivalingappa and Saroja Badiger — said, they were happy to recreate Abdul Kalam at the much sought after flower show. Though it was only a day, after the inauguration of the show, they have been praised by visitors for the extraordinary work.

However, Shivalingappa said, the concept was given by the department and he and his wife just executed the work. It took them more than 15 days to complete the replica.
They have used 100 kg of wheat flour, which was cleaned and kneaded to make the noodles. Later, the figure was made using fabric and the noodles stuck with glue. Once the noodles dried up the fabric was removed.

Shivalingappa said it was a challenge to carve Kalam, as he had a unique hairstyle and facial structure. As it is well-known that Kalam loved children, the artisans planned to create replicas of a girl and a boy also. While the structure of Kalam is of 5 foot 7 inches, the children are three feet each. A five-feet tall rocket to complement the scene is also created. He claims that they are the only artisans making replicas using noodles.
They created the replica in Hubli, packed it carefully with the help of fabric and boxes for transit. They had to just install it on the premises, Shivalingappa said.

He experimented with noodles for the first time, creating Onake Obavva that was displayed during the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Chitradurga in 2010.

Later, a replica of Vidhana Soudha was displayed in Bengaluru in 2011, Gommateshwara in Shravanabelagola during Akhila Bharatha Sahitya Sammelana and farmer, oxen, and elephant during Vishwakavi Sammelana in Belagavi.

Shivalingappa, a sculptor, has also created pictures of various leaders including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with rangoli and has been felicitated by the leader himself.
The noodles replica stays intact for years, but has to be sprayed with pesticides to prevent ants and insects from destroying it, Shivalingappasaid.