To remind the younger generation about the struggles faced by great people who fought for the country’s freedom, goldsmith UMT Raja has carved the images of 10 freedom-fighters on a piece of bamboo.
He has burnt the piece of wood and also used a different style to carve them in two days.
He said that many leaders have struggled for the country’s independence but he could only carve 10 of them.
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Leaders whose images found a place on bamboo are Mahatma Gandhi, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, Subramania Bharati, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Rabindranath Tagore, Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and B.R. Ambedkar, besides Swami Vivekananda.
Mr. Raja compares the carving on bamboo to making a flute.
“Bamboo is used for making flutes. We enjoy music from the simple instrument. But the piece of wood is shaped with fire and sharp instruments to bring out the music. Similarly, freedom was earned 69 years ago by the sweat and blood of many fighters,” he said.
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Carvings on the piece of bamboo that measures about three-and-a-quarter-feet-long have been made by burning the metal rod used to make gold jewels.
He said that the rod was heated and used for carving the images as it would leave a lasting impression on the bamboo than paint, as the latter would fade or get wiped away.
On completion, he used flame to give finishing touches to the images.
The artist said that the piece of art is not only for youth to admire it but to kindle in them an interest to strive hard for the betterment of the country by getting inspired by these leaders.
“Youth should find an irreplaceable place in shaping our country and a place in history like these leaders,” he said.