Soon, visitors and morning walkers at Bangalore University will have a visual treat to rejoice. A park with sculptures is taking shape at the Dr B R Ambedkar Study and Research Centre at the Jnanabharathi premises. An air of dust and sound of chisel is what welcomes one at the Study Centre now. For, 15 artists and other assistant artists are at work, designing to perfection, the sculptures of 14 social reformers.
Visitors will be welcome by a park housing sculptures of reformers including Jyothirao Phule, Navladi Krisharaja Wodeyar, Gauthama Buddha, B R Ambedkar and Basavanna among the others. Chosen by the Karnataka Shilpakala Academy from across the state to work on the project, these artists are bringing to shape stones, to depict incidents of importance in the lives of these reformers. The Bangalore University has joined hands with the Academy for this project.
This is being done as part of a 15-day workshop and at a cost of Rs 16 lakh funded both by the varsity and Academy. The workshop which is being directed by artist Shivaprasad was inaugurated on June 2 and will conclude on June 16.
An area where water collects in a pond next to the Study Centre is not being beautified. This is to depict an event in history when Ambedkar fought to get water for Dalits. An opem stage is also being built next to this water body for events scheduled in the future
The varsity claims to be building only the second pillar of this kind in the country after Mumbai. This will welcome visitors to the centre
This installation would be known as Naga Loka as Dr Ambedkar believed that all Indians were Dravidians and were the same as Nagas
Soap stone known as Balapa Kallu in Kannada is brought from H D Kote in Mysuru for the ‘Naga Loka’ sculptures according to Dr C B Honnu Siddartha, director, Dr B R Ambedkar Studies and Research Centre. “This is being done as part of the 125 birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar. We will install these sculptures with a description below each of these. The idea is to educate visitors and inspire them,” he said.
Dr Siddartha added that each of these would speak about a prominent incident or movement inspired by these reformers. “For instance, we have both Jyothirao Phule and Savitribai Phule’s sculptures. This is to promote equality for women,” he added.
Wait, there's more. Among the other sculptures is one which depicts Dr Ambedkar along with a Banyan Tree conceptualised as ‘Bheema Vrukasha’. “We hope that one day, his ideas are also propagated far and wide just like the roots of this tree,” said Dr Siddartha.
Yet another is that of Buddha. Ramakrishna P V, an artist from Channapattana explained that Buddha was sculpted with nature in the background as there was a need to put the essence of his teachings to practical use just as one learns from nature.
