Story of Tamil Nadu Sculptors: Hands that once created 'Gods' now remain idle

It's been more than three months since the chisel and the hammer clanged together. Unable to take any alternative work, the sculptors are struggling to support their families and hope that the government would provide them with the necessary assistance to tide over the present crisis.

Namakkal: An uneven granite block gets transformed into an elegant deity or a figurine within two days. Such is the artful handiwork of the stone sculptors of Kandapuri in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu.

No wonder, their sculptures are highly popular within the country and abroad.

The tiny village in the hinterland can boast of housing not less than 100 sculptors who breathe life into the hard rocks.

Attesting to their mastery is the statue of Sangam-era saint-poet Thiruvalluvar, who composed the ‘Tirukkural’, installed at Haridwar in Uttarakhand.

With their clientele extending as far as the United States in the west to Singapore and Malaysia in the east besides neighbouring Sri Lanka, their annual turnover exceeds more than Rs 100 crore.

Depending upon the artistic nuance and size, the price of a statue ranges from Rs 500 to a few lakhs.

Currently, the coronavirus pandemic has deprived them of their livelihood. As fresh orders dried up due to the extended lockdown, the sculptors are left with no work.

Even the statues that have been completed could not be dispatched across the country.

The assemblage of figurines, deities along with other leaders, are kept under the roof of the sculpting houses in Kandapuri.

This year, their turnover witnessed a steep fall as well.

There is a stagnation of not less than Rs 3 crore worth sculptures and the situation is not conducive to carry on our work, said the sculptors.

“In January this year, many temple authorities had placed orders for statues and paid the advance amount. We even completed those orders. But, they are lying idle as they could not be transported in view of the restrictions in place due to the corona scare. Only when the government allows the opening of temples, we will be able to dispatch them. Both the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government should consider this since stone sculptors are languishing without any work. The government should provide us financial assistance of Rs 10,000,” said Kumaresan, a sculptor.

The sculptors have no option to take up an alternative work as they invested their whole life in learning the art of sculpting.

“Till now, we have managed somehow by helping one another in this difficult time. But, without work, we cannot survive any longer and the government should extend assistance,” said Jagadeesan, another sculptor.