The Gorkha Michelangelo

Where there is a wish,there is a way.This proverb fits Amir Sundas well.Amir who hails from Bagrakote a small hamlet of Western Duars is rich not in wealth,but in talent.This versatile man is known as the Gorkha Michelangelo in the region.He is the only Gorkha sculptor cum artist among Indian Gorkhas who have sculpted more than a dozen of statues of Gorkha personalities.But this Gorkha Michelangelo does not have any formal degree in sculpture and fine arts,though his work is no different from that of any famous artist in India.His only qualifications are his wish and his willpower.In 2010 when Mr.Badri Nayaran(BN Sir),a famous Nepali figure and progressive writer of Dooars,passed away,the Nepali community felt the need to honour this great soul by making his statue and accordingly a committee was formed.The committee set off in search of a capable sculptor who can give both-proper shape to the statue and a Nepali touch.But the committee did not find such a sculptor.Tired by the search,the committee shouldered Amir with this assignment.At first Amir hesitated but it was a great opportunity for him to pay tribute to BN Sir who was also from Bagrakote.Besides,BN Sir was a philosopher guide for Amir once.

So,he took up the challenge and ultimately he made it.Indra Bahadur Rai,the famous Nepali litterateur,when came to unveil the statue of BN Sir,was surprised to see the work done on the statue of BN Sir Statue by a village Nepali boy.He appreciated Amir’s art very much especially the finishing touch given to the sculpture.After this statue Amir did not look back.Within a short span of three years Amir got a dozen orders for sculpting statues.He has also got the order of Bishnulal Upadhaya,a freedom fighter and founder member of the Indian National Congress in Assam for a handsome amount.Former MP Mani Kumar Subba and former Assam Assembly speaker Tanka Bd.Rai have given the order of Bishnulal Upadhyaya in a felicitation programme to Amir.The other sculptures that Amir has sculpted are of Durga Malla at Durgagarhi in Siliguri,Nirmal Rai,a famous journalist murdered during the Gorkhaland agitation in the 80s by GNLF rebels,Nepali poet Bhanu Bhatkas in Mizoram,Assam and Pedong and Aruna Lama at Mangpo.
A dozen other undertakings are also pending with him among them statues of Durga malla,progressive poet Agam Singh Giri,freedom fighter Chabilal Upadhyaya,Bishnulal Upadhyaya and Pratap Singh Subba are the main ones.As to the popularity of Amir’s works,Rupesh Sharma,a prominent Nepali writer,who hails from the same place says that this is due to Amir’s dual talent–sculpting and painting,his work has gained such popularity and word of his talent has spread like wildfire.“Basically he is a portrait artist and has the knowledge of figure study.Because of this background Amir could bring perfection to sculptures too;they are as alive as life,”Sharma observes.

For all these achievements,Amir gives credit to his guru Ajay Thapa who teaches Fine Arts in a prominent school Ceaser English School,Malbazar.“Ajay sir is my real guru.Because of him,I could learn the theory of fine arts and I am here today,”Amir says.

Source: easternpanorama.in