At a time when heritage buildings are making way for new concrete structures, glass facades, here is a man who has been involved in preserving, creating and restoring heritage buildings with its intricate wooden pillars of the bygone era. Many of the heritage buildings are a symbol of craftsmanship of the past. They are witness to economic prosperity of the period.
Gopal Acharya, a wood sculptor from Balkur in Kundapur taluk has been involved in traditional heritage craftsmanship for the last 20 years.
He has restored the palace of Vijayanagara vassal, Guthina Mane, Mahal, Darbar hall and several heritage houses in association with Vijayanath Shenoy of Heritage Village in Manipal.
Speaking to City Herald, he said: “I hail from a family of sculptors. I started the wood work when I was 15 years old. In the beginning, we were visiting various villages and were carrying out the work. I used to purchase dismantled traditional pillars and other heritage wooden works from mills for my personal collection. Later, I came in contact with Vijayanath Shenoy of Heritage village, Harish Pai and Manohar Shetty of Sai Radha who were also interested in heritage structures and got an opportunity to work on relocating of palaces, mahals, houses at Heritage Village in Manipal.”
He has done wooden works for more than 600 houses on the heritage style across the country including in Bangalore, Mysore, Mumbai, Delhi. He has been involved in giving life to the forgotten legacy.
He has carved Udupi Sri Krishna Temple sanctum sanctorum seven years ago, Darbar Hall at Rajaangana in Udupi during Shiroor mutt’s paryaya in January, Brahmaratha (chariot) of Sri Krishna Mutt during the Palimar mutt paryaya, Guthumane at Pilikula, wooden carvings of Karmballi Venkatramana temple, Ambalapady Janardhana Temple in Kaup, Sri Lakshmi Janardhana Temple, Benne Kudru KalaMahasti Amma Temple, Sringeri Mane of Sringeri Car Street, and Sanskrit Patashale at Sringeri, Peshawar’s house in Maharashtra, Nava Mahal, Jangama Mutt of Moodbidre, Saligrama Divine Park and so on.
With the help of Harish Pai and Vijayanath Shenoy, he has relocated Palace of Vijayanagara vassal from Koppal, Mudhola Darbar hall, Kuchumugur Jain Basadi, Maddale pillar house, Christian House of Jeppu, Kunjoor House , Navayith House of Bhatkal, well carved house of actor Shivaram, Hebri Beedumane, at Heritage Village in Manipal.
Kunjoor Chowki Mane is nearly 180-years-old and was built on Kerala style in Kunjoor belongs to Shivalli Brahmin family. It had ornate ceilings besides inbuilt handles to hang vegetables.
Harkur Oolaginamane is 400 years old and it belongs to Bunt family situated at Harkur. The house has 11 drum shaped columns called ‘Maddale kamba.’ It had elaborate exterior and modest interior. About 500 year old Kamal Mahal of Kukunoor near Koppal belongs to a vassal of Vijayanagara empire had beautiful classical ornate wooden carvings and was restored at Heritage Village.
“After looking at the carvings at Puttige mutt, Lakshmi Mission Works of Coimbatore has invited me to work on such heritage style in Coimbatore,” he said and added that the Guthinamane at Pilikula is built on the model of 600 years old house.
“Before dismantling any heritage structure, I make a thorough study and number each and every minute wooden carvings. Each and every pillars and joints are numbered and the whole process is videographed, so that it helps during relocation. I give priority to the original structures before restoring it. The original structures are not harmed.”
“Wooden carvings vary from floral, traditional motifs, to geomatrical patterns. Carvings on wood are a laborious process. But to me, it is a art passed on by my family. Creating heritage structures is a passion to me. Our whole family is involved in this heritage works. Heritage houses are difficult to maintain. So people started dismantling the houses and giving way for modern houses. However, now many have started demanding for houses on heritage style. An awareness on heritage is being created,” he added.
“I visit various places and make a study on the heritage structures, so that I get an idea for my work on heritage structures as demanded by the people.”
Acharya has won national award for the work on Sringeri Patashale and district-level Rajyotsava award in 2006.