Cement sculptures to attract visitors at Gandhi Bhavan

Special moments of Mahatma Gandhi, such as walking with his grandson on Juhu Beach in Mumbai during the Dandi March and a mediation posture will come alive on the premises of Gandhi Bhavan, here from November 6.

As many as 35 artists, and their assistants from various places, are busy preparing cement sculptures, depicting various special moments of Mahatma Gandhi, as part of a camp organised by the Kannada and Culture department, Karnataka Shilpakala Academy, Rangayana and Centre for Gandhian Studies, under the University of Mysore (UoM).

The cement sculptures camp was organised to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Gandhi Bhavan premises, in Manasagangotri. Artists from districts like Bidar, Belagavi, Bagalkot, Shivamogga, Mysuru and Mangaluru are involved in the work.

Twenty-five cement sculptures, such as a 30-feet long statue of Dandi March, 7-feet long sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi along with Rabindranath Tagore, 8-feet long statue of Gandhi spinning the charkha, 7-feet long statue of Mahatma Gandhi walking with Manuben and Abha, and a 7-feet long statue of Mahatma Gandhi with a microscope will be the attractions at Gandhi Bhavan.

Speaking to DH, Director of Gandhi Bhavan M S Shekar said, "The sculptures of Mahatma Gandhi's historic moments are not just statues, but depict the ascetic beauty of Gandhi's life. The sculptures exhibit our culture, and represent the social and spirituality principles of Gandhi.

He said the sculptures will be inaugurated on November 6 in the presence of Gandhians. During the occasion, the artists, who have toiled to make the sculptures, will be honoured.

Artist Kumar Babu Gorate, a resident of Chikodi in Belagavi, who is experienced in preparing cement sculptures for the past 10 years, expressed happiness about making a statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Artist K Narayan Rao from Shivamogga said, "The artists are working on various themes of Mahatma Gandhi's life. We have assigned them the theme and they should complete it before November 5.”