Master craftsman's showing was cancelled and now, there are no dates till 2014
Master craftsman's showing was cancelled and now, there are no dates till 2014
Jaidev Baghel (59) has two strong sentiments linked to the November 26 attacks apart from the shock and horror synonymous with the attacks, of course.
That evening, Baghel had an exhibition of sculptures at the Jehangir Art gallery, a booking he got with difficulty after four years.
But the four-day exhibition was called off because the gallery shut after the massacre. A year later, Baghel still cannot hold the exhibition both Jehangir and the NGMA are booked till 2014.
But Baghel has put the disappointment behind him long ago. Almost as replacement for his loss, on December 21, 2008, the sculptor was asked to create a tree of life for the Taj, the site of one of the six attacks.
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Baghel who stays in Kondagaon village, 250 km from Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, said, "I want to hold an exhibition in Mumbai, but all the important galleries are booked.
Baghel said he sold the Tree of Life in 2000 to Krishna Kumar, the MD of Indian Hotels Ltd, for nearly Rs 1 lakh, while he was showcasing his art at the NGMA.
"I am happy that my sculpture stands for the new chapter for the Taj," said an emotional Baghel.
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In an earlier conversation Baghel had said that he made the sculpture keeping in mind the pain of the 'merciless felling of trees in Chhattisgarh'.
Who is Baghel?
Master craftsman Jaidev Baghel was born at Kondagaon in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh and belongs to an artisan community whose hereditary specialisation is gadwakam or bronze metal casting.
Jaidev learnt the technique from his father, Sriman, a well known craftsman of his time. He was awarded the National Award in 1977. About 20 apprentices live and work with him.
What is the tree of life?
The Tree of Life is an approximately six-foot high sculpture, cast from an alloy of brass and bronze. It is considered a symbol of immortality in many cultures.
The memorial to the people who lost their lives in the hotel is, therefore, not a symbol of loss, but a symbol of life in all its potency.
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