The artist behind the 51-foot tall statue of Lord Ram in Canada

Arguably the tallest statue of Lord Ram in North America, the fiberglass idol featuring a steel frame stands atop a seven-foot pedestal and is designed to withstand strong winds. “This was a unique experience for me. When I started working on the statue around a year and a half ago, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was about to be inaugurated. There was a lot of excitement,” said Kumawat, a day after attending the inaugural ceremony in Canada that saw the presence of several dignitaries and reportedly included a 1.9 km shobha yatra (parade), traditional Vedic rituals and cultural programmes.

Lord Ram in Canada

Kumawat, 50, added, “This sculpture is not merely an artwork, it’s a spiritual bridge connecting continents and generations. I have worked carefully on every detail and each feature and element has been attentively crafted.”

According to a release issued, the statue is inspired by ideals of righteousness, compassion and dharma and Ram’s “timeless role in shaping Indian cultural and spiritual ethos”. “My greatest hope is that this murti (idol) becomes a timeless symbol of devotion, cultural pride and unity, inspiring future generations of Indians and admirers of Indian heritage across the world,” said the sculptor, who learnt the craft from his father Matu Ram Verma.

Some of Kumawat’s other public sculptures include a 369-foot statue of Lord Shiva in Nathdwara (Rajasthan), the Samudra Manthan Relief at the New Parliament Building in Delhi, the Namo Ghat ‘folded hands’ sculptures in Varanasi and the statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay in Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh). “At every place, I also try to involve the local community, which poses its own challenges but their engagement increases manifold… In Canada, too, during the installation process several volunteers belonging to business families would arrive each morning to assist me, which was extremely heartening,” says Kumawat.