People
An Auto-Rickshaw Mechanic's Tribute
by KARAN KAPOOR
Visitors are thronging a makeshift museum in Mohali, Punjab, where a number of life-size statues of Sikh heroes and historical figures are on display. These statutes have been sculpted by Parvinder Singh, a self trained artist ... who earns his livelihood as an auto rickshaw mechanic.
Etched in fibre-glass, the art collection and exhibit is located along a dusty road of Lakhanpur village in Mohali and essentially recreates Sikh history through art.
Parvinder says he wanted to recreate Sikh history through his artwork so that the young generation can learn about the rich past of Sikhism and its great heroes.
"The young generation is not aware of their rich heritage. So, I thought of making them aware about their culture, their history and their heritage. Photographs of the prominent personalities were easily available, so I thought of coming up with models, as they have a profound impact on young minds. I have been working on the replicas for five years, but the museum came into being only two years ago," says Parvinder Singh.
A keen artist, Singh says he has received little or no help from the government, but still managed to keep alive his art through donations from Sikh patrons.
The museum displays statutes of Maharaja Ranjit Singh sitting majestically on his throne, and other Sikh heroes who sacrificed their lives for protecting their religion.
Sikh youngsters have described the replicas as awesome.
"The replicas are simply amazing and I think it's the perfect way to make us aware of our past and our religion. After looking at these replicas, I can well think of the sacrifices made by our ancestors," says Gurmeet Kaur, a student.
"It's a commendable effort. Through this museum, we are able to connect with our past and our faith. Our ancestors went through all kinds of tortures but they never forfeited their religion," said Navneet, another visitor.
[Courtesy: DailyIndia]