Ram Sutar - The Nation's beautifier

We have heard of Raphael, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo - All of them have added volumes to history. But here, amidst us, is India's very own and precious Ram Sutar - The creator and maker of numerous sculptors that we see around us. For those of you, who have visited Pragati Maidan, will recognize this great artist for spectacular statues of leaders, authors and visionaries like Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and Pt Jawaharlal Nehru.

I had the fortune of meeting him and his son Anil Sutar while I was on my way to Dainik Jagran office in Noida. Right across the road I noticed beautiful sculptures of freedom fighters and some deities. The sight was so magnificent that I felt compelled to rush inside the premises. While I was immersed in admiring the statues a voice behind me said, "Babuji se mil lije". I stepped into the office and was greeted by Anil Sutar. He was accompanied by several other men. While departing, one of them remarked "he is one of his kinds and the only one in India. You will learn a lot from him". By now I had registered that destiny had brought me in front of a great great personality. Anil Sutar, a replica of his father told me all about his work. As he spoke I craned my head around the tiny office admiring all the paintings of Ram Sutar. Just then a shabbily dressed, old man, covered in paint and dust walked in. Well it was the legendary Ram Sutar himself. Frankly, had I not been observing the paintings I couldn't have even given a wild guess on his identity? The man who had been awarded Padma Shri from former President K. R. Narayan and who is the creator of over hundred paintings and monumental sculptors was standing in front

of me in the most modest way that I could have ever imagined him. He didn't pause for long, but returned to his work. My curious mind struggled with questions but I didn't have to ask much. The 89 year old man's actions spoke loud and clear. I closely studied him for a long time. Ram Sutar's love for clay and his positive spirit was quite apparent. His old features didn't show a trace of fatigue as he stooped low to paint a 6ft horse.

Michelangelo had once said, "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it." Ram Sutar is one such man who can discover beautiful models out of every stone. From figures made out of small river bed stones, corals, peanut shells, to paintings, murals, sketches, statues, architecture, Ram Sutar has touched every horizon of art. While walking on the beaches of Mauritius Ram saw the corals and transformed them into art pieces. Similarly while eating Pistachio he would keep the shells aside to make a face out of them. Ram Sutar is an inspiration for all the budding artists. His simple lifestyle and complete dedication to art is what makes him unique. Ram has firm faith on Karma and that is why despite all the fame and appreciation on his credit, his always remains down to Earth.

After a long conversation, Anil handed me a biography that he had written on his father - "Sculptor Ram V Sutar - A life story".  This book was published on his 85th birthday. Anil Sutar now walks on his father's footprints and is also a renowned sculptor of India. Little decisions over time make a big impact on our lives. My instant desire to see the sculptures now has given me a vision of dedication. Ram Sutar’s story has left an indelible mark on my heart forever and I don’t think I’m ever going to remain the kind of person I was.

Just two days after I'd visited them, I got to know of a tragedy that had hit the family. Pramilla, Ram Sutar’s wife had expired. This is a tough time for the family. Ram has faced a lot of struggle all his life but just like a valiant soldier of India, he has fought all obstacles and dedicated his life to art. May Pramilla's soul rest in Peace.

  

Delhi – Sinks deeper into shameful stretches

Northeast youth demands justice for Nido Tania's murder (PTI)

Nido Tania, a 20 year old Arunachalee student was barbarically attacked by shopkeepers who have now been identified as Farhan and Akram on 29^th January in Lajpat Nagar. This horrifying incident occurred when Nido paused at a shop to ask for direction. Instead of guiding him, the shopkeepers mocked Nido’s spiked haircut and his attire. They ridiculed him for not knowing the directions. In an effort to stand up to the rogues, Nido retaliated and shattered a glass – topped table. As heat built up between them, the men beat him up brutally. The very next day Nido succumbed to the injuries and breathed his last.  

Nido’s death has raised an alarm all over India especially in the seven - sister states of India.

Astonishingly this is not the first time that a Northeastern has been subjected to such humiliation and torture. Just few days after this incident two Manipuri girls were stalked and thrashed in an area that is about 3 kms away from Lajpat. Last August, three Northeastern scholars from DU were allegedly clobbered by some locals. In the same year a Manipuri woman was found dead in her blood soaked bed. In February 2013, 10 Northeast students were attacked in DU. There have been innumerable cases of molestation and rape and in most cases the police were reluctant to identify culprits.

Protests were organized by the Northeastern youth. Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal also accompanied them in holding protests against such acts and to deliver justice. Nabam Tuki, CM of Arunachal Pradesh said, “We are peace loving people and believe in bonhomie and peaceful coexistence”. But people of his state are not being subjected to the same kind of treatment here in the North. The Nyishi Elite Society (NES) condemned the incident. They said, “His death is loss of a promising youth of the community.”

A close friend of Nido Tania said that Nido was a gentle person who would not injure a fly. Calling it radically planned racism, he sighed at the ruthlessness of the criminals, the onlookers and the police who is displaying complete disregard. Sonia Gandhi stated that they would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Nido and his family gets justice.

Every cloud has a Silver Lining

"Future is nowhere, but in our own hands. Enough running after petty material things; let's start counting the uncountable. "

Diversity issues have plagued our nation. There was a time when India was known for being hospitable but this image is gradually being tarnished with ongoing disturbing incidents of rape, sexual harassment in workplace,  deliberate physical attack on tourists, and now racial discrimination - as we have seen in the recent case of two Manipuri girls being attacked in Delhi.

 These crimes are always talked about. But crime and social violence does not end here. Girls have to endure a lot more. Discrimination in the name of color is another concern that has never been addressed to. Be it matrimonial or print and TV advertisements shamelessly claiming that fairness is the only path to success and getting the perfect suitor, women with darker complexion are compelled to feel demoralized. Even family members don't attempt to spare them from crude comments on their color.

Over the years we have come across many people from whom we can learn a lot. Anjali Sarkar, aged 21, hailing from Bangladesh is one such example. She is a student of Dhaka University, Dhaka. Her story has every bit of emotional depth that could reflect on the Indian story. I have taken an abstract from her story. Maybe some of the readers will be able to take a leaf out of her life.

"When I was born, my complexion was quite dark and that made my parents worried. In Bangladesh, everyone prefers girls having fair skin color. Relatives and neighbors used to tell that my father would need to pay a large dowry in my marriage. I grew up hearing such comments. I felt sad, worried, and even ashamed. From a very young age I was desperate to make up for my not-so-beautiful look through my works. I studied hard; I tried singing, dancing, painting, and what not. I tried frantically to be the best, so that no one can look down on me because I lack beauty.

Eventually, all those hard works started to pay off. Successes rushed in my life, one after another. When I was 18, I got admitted into the most prestigious business school in my country, which made me even more desperate for achievements. However, things started to change gradually. Earlier my world was very small; school, home, family and a few friends. In university, I met hundreds of people, who were hankering after achievements, jobs, money and social status.

I talked with more people and tried to discover the exceptional things, events and people around me who are different from the crowd. I looked for people who were living happily, working hard to fulfill their dreams, helping others and contributing to the society. Gradually I realized what kind of future I want.

I was a typical business student, waiting to work in giant multinational corporations, earn a fat paycheck at the end of month and live a luxurious life. But when I realized what really matter in life, I choose not to follow the crowd and design my own destiny. I decided to be a social entrepreneur and established a startup that provides rural poor with safe sanitation.

When I learned to acknowledge the small blessings in life, I understood that to achieve true success, we should cooperate, not compete. So I started motivating my classmates and juniors. I shared my thoughts with my teachers. At first everyone considered my wish to work for the poor a short term fantasy. They advised, forbade and even ridiculed me. But I followed my heart. As I set my priorities right and gave importance to the small things that matter, nothing could discourage me.

Now I am 21 years old. My heart is full of passion, my eyes sparkle with confidence. No more confusion, no more inferiority complexes, no worries for not being a beauty queen. I am ready to do something for my country and the world through what I love- social business. Every social business aligns people, planet and profit simultaneously. I love to work in my social business, but I love even more to help other entrepreneurs to establish their own ones! That's how happiness is created in a community and spreads itself. I inspire young girls to come out of their cocoons and see the world, as I am doing now. I am a free bird and now I am encouraging other birds to break their cages!"

Anjali is the winner of Goipeace Foundation's Essay competition 2013, held annually in Tokyo Japan. 

Epitome of Shining India

“India shaped my mind, anchored my identity, influenced my beliefs, and made me who I am... India matters to me and I would like to matter to India.” 

― Shashi Tharoor.

Some years back when we were asked about ours option of studying abroad, a majority of my batch mates spontaneously responded with a yes. A saying goes 'Indians are best when they are out of India'. Well I would consider this cynical because the roots of a man cannot be forgotten. No matter where we are, we will carry our roots with us. You may call it the 'Indian spirit' or something that comes to us naturally.

Riveting, but true. Indian students have made an indelible mark for themselves in the International scenario and have thus made India swell with pride. We have heard of innovators, artists, scientists, authors - Their contribution cannot be forgotten. Yes, we have heard about Balamurali Ambati, the world's youngest doctor at the age of 17, Subramanyan Chanrasekhar, Nobel Laureate in Physics, Raghuram Rajan, IMF Chief Economist, Amartya Sen, ,  Anita Desai (an author), Mira Nair, Rajiv Gupta, the General Manager of Hewlett Packard, Arun Sarin, CEO of Vodaphone, Kalpana Chawla - and my list could go on and not come to a halt.

Well these luminaries are revered as celebrities and are given the same honor abroad as well. Let me now draw your attention to some less known or even unknown students who need to be appreciated for working so hard in universities in US and UK.

Richa Jain - A budding artist - at Arts University Bournemouth, UK. She pursued her education in Welham's School, Dehradun and now poses as an explicit example of the mounds of talent that Indian students possess.

I will not sit passive anymore, letting you take the reins on my life. I will not stay quiet while you speak for me. You want me to be rooted, cultured. But what is the use of it all if I am unable to spread my wings and fly? I will not be a canary anymore, caged but singing sweet songs. You can try to stop me, but I am valiant and I will break free-

Painting by- Richa Jain

Amarthya Tirtha Bhowmick - a minor, who has expressed herself through art in amazing ways. Her words - I am a human being who belongs to this earth. I have multiple thoughts in my mind and I am engaging myself in multiple works of my society - are quiet resounding as they come from a girl of 15.

Amarthya's creation

Prerna Khullar - made it to the student's spotlight of  University of Illinois at Springfield. Former student of Wynberg Allen School, she is considered to be the most chirpy, warm - hearted and talented student to be around. She is an inspiration for her colleagues.

Alia Sayed, student at the Arts Institutes, Vancouver, Canada. She is a fashion designer and poses as a model, if required.

Alia poses for the cover of her magazine, compiled and designed by her.

There are hundreds of such students who in their own way, are the reason why USA and UK are eager to have our students in their Universities. It is a pity that they are not given the same kind of recognition in their own motherland. From powerless, to power-brokers to powers-in-themselves, Indians have left an imprint all over the world.