The inheritors of age-old art of sculpture, who had built historic temples and other monumental structures during the Satavahana and Kakatiya dynasties and won accolades during the period for their creativity, are now leading a life of misery with only a few takers of their creative fine arts.
In Telangana State, the Ramadugu mandal headquarters in Karimnagar district is the only place were the ancient art of making sculptures on stones is still continued. It is believed that the sculptures had arrived at the Ramadugu village during the Satavahana dynasty for the construction of Fort in the village and settled forever.
Only 50 families remained
Presently, around 50 sculptors’ families are eking out their living by making various sculptures mostly idols of various Gods and individual portraits of politicians and others.
Now, majority of the sculptors have stopped their profession and taking up other lucrative jobs as there are few takers for the sculptures made of stones.
The busy street in Ramadugu mandal headquarter, which would abuzz with the chiselling sounds, had now turned deserted as majority of the sculptors have downed their shutters.
The Telangana State government which is making several announcements for the protection of the region’s art, culture and tradition should also focus on the protection of sculpture for the benefit of future generation, said sculptor Harihara Shekalla.
The sculptors are facing several problems in procuring the raw material of “Amrutha Shila (smooth stone, which can be chiselled easily), which is available only in Vengalayipeta village of Pegadapalli mandal in Karimnagar district.
Huge losses
The local farmers are not allowing us to take the Amrutha shila rock, he complained and added that they were forced to procure the rock from other parts of the State and incurring huge losses.
The business had come down drastically forcing the sculptors to shift their trade and the womenfolk were forced to take up beedi rolling to eke out the living, he said.
Next generation going for other professions
Ramanjaneya Chary, another sculptor said that it had become difficult to eke out the living by chiselling the sculptures and we are forcing our children to take up other profession.
However, we fear that the ancient art would fade away as the government was not taking up any measures for its protection, he noted.
