Arun Yogiraj, who built the statue of Ramlala in Ayodhya, said- My father never praised my work. Always used to say and improve. Then he heard from his friends that he always used to say that I would become a very big sculptor one day.
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A tourist who came to buy the idol was broken by me. Out of 500 idols, he selected only 3 idols. All those idols were made by his father and grandfather. On asking, that tourist said- only these three idols are life. Life is seen in them.
Arun Yogiraj came to Maharaja Ganga Singh University of Bikaner on Monday. Here he shared many unheard stories with Dainik Bhaskar.
Arun recalls his old days and says- I got a lot of options in life, but I chose sculpture. Was working after doing MBA. There was a time when it was difficult to pay for a week of milk. After the MBA, the job was also found, but left. After this, the idol was used with his father.
Left the work of Europe, made a statue of Shankaracharya Arun says- I remember. We got an offer to work in Europe. Staying there, he had to learn for 1 year. Statues were also to be made. During this time, we got the work of making the idol of Shankaracharya of Kedarnath. Then I decided to make a statue of Shankaracharya of Kedarnath instead of going to Europe. This was the biggest decision in my life.
Father never praised Arun says- My father always scolded me. He never publicly described my work as better. It took some shortage in it. Never told me perfect. Only used to scold that it did not do it right, he did not do it right. He always tried to get praise, but never got. It was only after making the statue of Shankaracharya that he called me and praised me. After his passing, it was found that he used to tell his friends that I would become the best sculptor in the world. But, never said so on my mouth. He always used to say that improvement needs.
Five generations doing sculpture work Yogi says that the five generations of his family are doing the same thing. His father, grandfather and great -grandfather have been doing the same thing. My grandfather was a disciple of the Rajguru of the Mysore royal family. Under his direction, Guru used to take training under tradition. The Maharaja then bowed to him. I think that making idol is such a big task that a Maharaja bows to him. Then why do others consider this work as small.
Said- Tourist landed Khumari Arun says- I too had the same thing that I am the biggest sculptor in the world. A tourist broke my face. There are more than 500 types of idols in our office in Mysore. When a tourist came, he chose only three idols in these many idols. I asked him why did you choose only these three idols? The tourist said on this- there is life in these three idols. There is a movement among them. Those three idols were made by my father and grandfather.
Then I understood that just copying will not work. Then I started taking everything about my father very serious. Tried to understand the sculpture again. That is why I separated from the normal artist.
Used to talk to Ramlala Arun says- When the idol of Ramlala was being built, there was a lot of pressure on us. Think what my situation must have been to see the idol that the whole country is waiting for. Shilpastra says that a man cannot make an idol. Then I started talking to Ram ji. Said- You tell what we have to do? We were making what they wanted. In every centimeter, I thought that the country had to give something. I knew that they were inside this statue. I used to tell them how to tell.
Sai Baba’s 300 feet statue Right now we are getting projects from all over the world. The US once canceled our visa. Today we are working there again. In America, Sai Baba is preparing a three hundred feet statue. Its model is ready. Projects are also going on in Kurukshetra and Hyderabad, on which work will start soon.
