Ramaben the creativity par excellence 

You might not have heard about her but she is creator of idols of Lord Ganesha with a difference, she sculpts the deities with blind folded and in full view of public. She has already sculpted more than 212000 idols of Ganesha so far within a period of last twelve years. Ramaben Shah is the only artist in the world who has created this record and her name is in Limca book of records for her achievements. 

Ramaben Shah

Awards- She has won Star Talent award 2003, woman of the year 2004, Mahila Shakti award 2005, Kala Praveen award, Star Mahila Ratna award, Nari Ratna award and many other awards so far.

Coverage- Many Indian and foreign electronic and print media including American biographical channel, Aastha, Loksatta, Zee TV, ABC news (USA) etc have covered her so far. She is an honorary member of police peace and women’s cell. She loves to learn languages including English during her free time.

Records

• She sculpted 9999 deities in 99days
• She also sculpted 999 deities in 24 hours
• Her name registered 11 times in Limca book
• She has sculpted more than 212000 Ganpati idols so far 

Ramaben- The lady with Ganpati 

As they say the one who has certain aims and willpower to do, some thing with full devotion would certainly succeed with the grace of god almighty. The one who wants to help others selflessly always succeed. In fact, people like these take birth to do some thing to accomplish certain goals and they never fail in their missions. Ramaben shah was born to help people in pain and that proves every time when some one who took a Ganpati deity from her, found his/her problems disappeared as soon as they started worshipping them. People come to meet her from distant places to spend some time with her although she has a tight schedule, but she never declines and mix with them freely without a problem and all her pleasure. 

The people who visit her place, later explain the experience of meeting her as an unforgettable one because god has given her some thing special. A special touch of healing that shows in her when someone meets her. Ramaben certainly is the answer to the doubts raised by our old-fashioned society who thought that women were no good to do every thing that men can do, apart from their assigned jobs within their families, kitchen and raisin up children with the help of their male family members. Ramaben has proved them wrong; she has sculpted 212000 deities within 12 years and all of them of Lord Ganesha, the Ganpati. 

From hobby to fame

Ramaben was interested in arts and crafts from her childhood and she used to make some thing or other almost every day since she was only six. She still remembers that she would find it hard to sleep the night she would not create a new item. She would even get up in the night to do some creative job to satisfy her own self. 

Born in a joint family of Nadiad city in Gujarat state Ramaben is eldest among twenty siblings. She did her B.Com through Gujrati medium and she was married at the age of 19 in a Mumbai based family, happily settled with a routine and satisfactory way. She was busy in household chores as most married women do in our country. But she always found time to spend with her childhood hobby of making something or other in her leisure time as usual until a dream changed her life one night suddenly. That was almost 12 years before when Ganesha came in her dream and asked her to make HIS idols.

She woke up and recalled the whole dream, gave it a long thought and told about it to other family members the next morning. Every one in the family was amused but this was order of lord himself. Therefore, Ramaben started sculpting idols of Ganesha the Ganpati without thinking much, this in fact was her newly found religion. The creator had started creating creator. She found it easy with her childhood practice of making different items without extra efforts. Her work was excellent so some of the people who came across her work started purchasing some of her idols. 

However, as the time passed and people started feeling a strange relief and progress in their lives by worshipping the idols sculpted by Ramaben that made a big difference. The story spread too fast as people in our country have lot of faith in matters related to religion. People started to come to buy the idols made by Ramaben in big numbers and that was not all, they would spend some time with her before leaving with an idol of Ganpati. Ramaben never asked for money people paid her for her sculpture, but the people who bought them self assed the cost and put the money in a donation box as Ramaben never touched any money paid by devotees.

Ramaben started making idols in public

Ramaben sculpts Ganpati with different materials like clay, plaster of Paris, crystal etc and she became so famous within a short period that public wanted to watch her sculpt idols in front of them. And the most amusing part of the story is that she makes these idols blindfolded while performing live shows. Most of the idols made during live shows sell like hot cakes as the beauty of these is some thing out of the world. She has the divine power behind her that prompts her to do wonderfully well. She even forgets about daily needs while sculpting and that too blindfolded. She only removes it while giving the finishing touch to the idol.  

She can see Ganpati while sculpting

According to Ramaben, she always keeps Ganpati in her mind when she starts working and as soon as she takes raw material in her hand, she starts chanting mantras and prayers until the time an idol is completed. That helps her give the idol the same shape of lord as that in her mind at the time of making a particular piece. Her faith increased as much as people bought the idols during her live shows and every idol took a better shape than the previous one. She never handed over an idol unless she chanted Ganpati mantra with the person who was going to have her creation. She always felt happy when people accepted that her idols helped them having their problems solved. That always happened during her live shows, she has performed 600+ so far. 

Family values have top priorities for her

Despite being so busy in her profession, she has never neglected her family and other elders around in her circle. She comes forward to serve them without any hesitation or delay. She thinks that family and people who need come first before any other thing. Life for Ramaben is all about service of the family and needy ones, that’s what she thinks the secret of her success. She owes every success in her life to parents from both sides, without whom she thinks her carrier couldn’t take off. 

In the last

Ramaben is a world-renowned artist but she always makes it a point to come forward to serve to any one in need. She finds it equally good toserve God as well as society in her own way. Ramaben the mother of two daughters and one son who has won number of awards and rewards for her creativity thinks that everyone has an artist in him that surfaces one day to surprise every one. Just keep doing your good work and leave every thing to Ganpati. 

(Ganpati Photos from wikipedia) 

Years back, Raja of Travancore decided to sell a mad elephant that has already lost his control. We assume that no one will be willing to buy such an elephant. But an elephant lover who was mad in elephant love bought that elephant with excitement. Not only did he buy that elephant but also brought that elephant to Kilimanoor Palace, the mansion where he stays. He treated it well. Do you know who this elephant lover was? He was none other than the great painter Raja Ravi Varma. Not only painting, elephants are also his weakness. Another elephant incident - King of Mysore, Chamarajendra, pleased by the pictures presented by Ravi Varma, gifted him with elephants. He asked Ravi Varma to choose two elephants from his collection as gift.

Though he was born as a prince and spend his life in royal family, Travancore, he didn’t bind himself with that royal life. Instead he visualized the beauty of nature through his paintings, adding his own flavours of life experiences and knowledge through books. Thus he was known as ‘Painter among Rajas’ and ‘Raja among painters’. Till then, it was believed that painting was the monopoly of Europeans. But through his distinct style, he customized painting to Indian culture as well. Many Hindu Mythological idols and beauties were reborn through his talent and dedication. He created a new way of presenting Indian Puranas and epics giving a new appealing experience of an already existing culture. It’s his great achievement and significance.

He conducted many experiments with oil paintings that were almost new among Indian artists. He found the possibilities of three-dimensional art in paintings. By giving colours to Hindu mythological idols, he earned a lot of admirers, not only in India but all over the world. Each creation brought him more popularity every time. He conducted exhibitions all over the world and made every Keralite proud.

Most recently his 106th death anniversary ceremony was conducted. Through this article, I am giving a brief note on world’s famous artists related to painting and a few interesting facts about Raja Ravi Varma as well.

Raja Ravi Varma was an artist from his childhood

He was born in Kilimanoor palace of ancient Travancore (Known as Thiruvithankoor in Malayalam) as the son of Ezhumavil Neelakandan Bhattathiripad and Uma Ambabhai in the year 1848, April 29. He started drawing pictures on palace walls before 2 years old. But his talent was noticed by his uncle Raja raja varma who was the painter of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal. So, Raja Ravi Varma learned primary knowledge of drawings through his uncle. Later he studied abroad.

He learnt oil painting from artists of Thanchavoor and Madhura and later, more technical knowledge from Dutch painter Theodor Jenson when he returned back to Thiruvananthapuram. It paved a new path of his career towards oil painting. He won an art exhibition of Madras in the year 1873 and an international exhibition of Vienna in the same year. He was just 28 and within this short period he became very famous.

His drawings portraying Hindu mythological figures drew more attention. Most notable works include Hamsavum Damayanthiyum (Swan and Damayanthi), Draupathi Veerada sadassil (Draupathi in Veerada) and Darbhamuna konda Shakunthala. He even portrayed his daughter in one of his drawings with his grand daughter Sethu Lekshmi Bhai, who reined Travancore later. She was the mother of last king of Travancore, Shri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.  He was not only a painter, but also a poet and ‘Manasa Yatra’ is a literature piece describing river Narmada.

A new post office opened for Ravi Varma that time

Raja Ravi Varma was very popular and he used to get a lot of appreciations from his admirers all over the world through postal letters. Seeing this, a new postal office was established in Kilimanoor and that time, communication was only through postal letters.

When he became a diabetic patient in 1906, his admirers all over the world were eager to know about his health condition and they communicated through letters. His condition was reported even in international newspapers and Reuters – an international press reporting agency camped in small village to know about his condition so that he can timely report his condition in their newspapers.

When his younger brother C.Raja raja varma died it was a great shock to him. His younger brother was his right hand till then. Yet he involved himself in his art to forget everything. But in the year 1906, October 2 he left the world to a colourless canvass for ever.

da Vinci and Mona Lisa

If some one asks, who holds the most beautiful and mysterious smile, no one will find difficulty in answering this question – Mona Lisa and that mysterious smile was created by none other than Leonardo da Vinci. He was an Italian known as ‘Renaissance man’. He is considered as the most intelligent person born till now and there is no subject in the world in which he was not interested. Engineer, botanist, mathematician, architecture, painting, vasthu, music composer, body science – he was an embodiment of all these talents. He was born in Italy in the year 1952 and his first best picture was ‘Annunciation’ of 1472. ‘Last Supper’ portrayed on the wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie of Milan is still considered a world class. He died on 18 February 1564 at the age of 88.

Michelangelo – the unforgettable artist

He is still considered almost equal to Leonardo da Vinci. His life history was written twice while he was alive. His famous works are Pietta and David. He was not even 30 when both these works were completed. Most famous wall pictures belong to Michelangelo. History of Bible drawn at Sistine Chapel of Rome and different scenes of Christian principles drawn on walls made him immortal. He was born in Italy. He was a good poet and did many architectural projects as well. He died in February 18, 1564.

Goya – the artist of dark pictures

Francisco Goya – he found true colours of life in dark shades and pictured them on the canvass using his imagination and creativity. He was born in Spain in 1976, March 30. His works are considered as a combination of last stages of ancient art and beginning of modern art. Such blends can be easily noticed in his works. He was the official painter of the Royal family of Spain and when a serious fever left him dumb, he became depressed and it deeply influenced his works as well. All his works later belonged to a dark category touching everyone’s soul – showing true colours of life. He painted 11 pictures, collectively known as ‘Fantasy and Inventions’ which marked a significant change in his style of drawing and are considered as darker subjects. It became the stepping stone for a new creation of art on canvass – Expressionist. ‘Saturn Devouring His Sons’, drawn in the year 1819 is considered as a picturisation of Modern man.

van Gogh – the man who lived in poverty

He is considered as the master of Post Impressionism. But this great artist lived his life in poverty. Though his works are considered most rare and priceless gifts towards the field of paintings, he didn’t get much recognition when he was alive. When a self portrait was sold in the year 1998 for 71.5 crore dollars, it was a record for the most expensive painting till then. Use of colour shades, expansion of colours and new dimensions given to objects give Vincent van Gogh’s pictures new meanings. ‘The starry night’, ‘Sunflowers’, ‘Potato eaters’ and ‘Cross over wheat fields’ are his most famous works.

Pablo Picasso

‘Guernica’ – the work that pictured true shades of war and its after affects, is still considered as a classic. Picasso captured the misery of poor victims of wars in this famous work. Still it’s shown as a symbol of peace against war. He was the most influential painter of 20th century. He was born in Spain and he used German’s bomb explosion in the place Guernica to draw that wonderful painting. He was born in Malaga of Spain in the year 1881. In 1907, his work ‘Women of Avigonanin’ marked the beginning of Cubism. It’s a rare work of splitting the real shapes and later joining them in a special way to create magic on canvas.

Salrvador Dali

His paintings, appearance and life – all were just mysterious. He was born in Catalonia of Spain in the year 1904 and he introduced ‘Sirrealism’ to modern art. He was a genius of great imaginary powder and creativity. He pondered much visualization similar to dreams and wonderlands in his works.

Persistence of Memory’ – completed in the year 1931 is still considered as a classic. ‘Crucifixion’ showing crucifixion of Jesus and ‘Swans reflecting Elephants’ are also famous among his works.

M.F.Husain

Last, but not the least, let me say a few words about this great painter of modern times. Through out his life he has seen a lot of appreciations as well as controversies from Indian people.

Through this article, I have given a brief summary of great persons related to paintings. Yes, paintings are most appreciated if they are related to life. That’s the reason why most of the works of these artists are still considered world class.

Those grey hairs and white beard symbolize something. It says age is not a barrier to do something worth and no need to colour it black to show young. It’s true this great actor of Indian film industry has only polished his acting experiences as years passed by. Also, never did he hide behind an artificial face. Instead, he showed what actually he was, developed a distinct style of his own and still remains a style icon for millions of his followers all over the world. It’s none other than star of the millennium, Amitabh Bachchan whom we fondly call, ‘Angry young man’ of Indian film industry. It’s told, where Big B stands, line starts from there. Yes, he has made a distinct finger print in Indian film industry and broke the silent image of Indian heroes on screen. While he is stepping towards his 70’s he has contributed a lot to Indian film industry and still says, ‘Miles to go before I sleep’. Yes, every fan of Big B knows, many surprises are still in his gift box!

His amazing journey started as a voice narrator

He rented his voice for the first time for Mrinal Sen’s award winning film Bhuvan Shome in the year 1969. His long journey in Bollywood after that belongs to him only. Now it has reached 43 years. He started his film career as an actor in the year 1970 in the film ‘Saat Hindusthani’ directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas – the story which tells about 7 young men. It was the debut of Malayalam actor Madhu as hero (to Bollywood) and Amitabh did a supporting role. When he appeared in that film he was a dark, tall and slim man with deep voice and deep eyes. He was not at all stylish and resembled an art hero a lot. The film flopped at box office without making any impact on audience, but he was awarded as the best new comer in the National awards. But no one even imagine that the son of the great poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan is going to rein the whole Indian film industry as true Emperor. Also, his powerful voice for which he is known most was rejected by the All India Radio and many people asked him to change his name too! He was asked several times to soften his hard voice. Yet, he remained what he was! Now also, he is rendering his deep, baritone voice to many films as a narrator.

Early career was a stone path

Through his second film Anand, though he played a memorable role of Dr.Bhaskar Banerjee whom Rajesh Khanna’s character calls ‘Babu Moshaye’, he had to struggle a lot to stay in Bollywood. He even played a negative role in Parwana followed by a series of flops. That time Rajesh Khanna was the reigning star of Bollywood and ‘Zanjeer’ directed by Prakash Mehra gave him a powerful comeback to Bollywood. In between, he did some small roles in Guddi, Reshma aur Shera, Bombay to Goa and narrated ‘Bawarchi’. But with the release of Zanjeer, he gave a new image to heroes in Indian screen and after that, he never turned back. Inspector Vijay Khanna – the role played by him in that movie is still considered as a trendsetter to Bollywood movies. He conquered each and every milestones of success winning him the title, ‘The second superstar of Bollywood’.

He overpowered Rajesh Khanna

When he joint the industry, Rajesh Khanna had already become the first superstar of India with his platinum jubilee hit, ‘Aradhana’. Also sweet smiling romantic heroes were reigning Bollywood that time. Rajesh khanna was enjoying great stardom when Amitabh Bachchan created an image and style of his own and changed the flow and trend of Bollywood films. Romantic era transformed itself to action era with a string of action hits, most of them stared Amitabh Bachchan as hero or second hero. Rajesh Khanna who couldn’t change according the demanding audience or situation fell somewhere giving his throne to next superstar of Bollywood. Rise and fall of that great superstar was so spontaneous and unpredicted and most blames, obviously fell on Amitabh. Yet, he stood still as a big mountain, creating versatility and variations in each role he played to get out of the tag that ‘Amitabh is only an action hero’. He did serious roles in films like Abhiman and Mili, where he was paired opposite his wife, Jayabadhuri and later a string of comedy movies like Chupke chuke and Amar Akbar Antony. Through these movies, he proved himself to be a good comedian too. His commanding power over dialogues, comedies and spontaneous acting made him a versatile hero in Bollywood. Both these superheroes worked again for the second and last time in the movie ‘Namak Haram’. Again, this film was a story of friendship similar to the movie, Anand. But again they drifted away slowly towards extreme poles. That may be the reason why, when Rajesh Khanna passed away, most discussed topic was Amitabh Bachchan’s visit to Asirwaad and the change of baton from the first superstar to the second. 

Though Villain, given hero image

It’s through his films for the first time where underground dons were given a star image – from 1978 movie Don to 2005 movie Sarkar. Many such films have followed that path. 1991 blockbuster Hum also falls in the same category. People loved to see him onscreen either as hero or anti-hero. In 2002 movie Ankhein, he did a negative role. He did Gabbar Singh’s role when Ram Gopal Varma made Sholey again as ‘Aag’. It can be said that he laid the basement stones of his ‘don’ image in the movie Zanjeer itself. After that we have seen Deewar and Don. So, it can said to be a slow transformation from angry young man to angry don and gradually traveling forward reaching god father image through the movie ‘Sarkar’. This gradual transformation was accepted by audience itself and that’s the reason why they are able to see and visualize him in those roles as if he was developing from one change to the next. That’s why new version of Don or Agnipath couldn’t make that old impact on audience. May be because they were not able to properly co-ordinate actor with the corresponding role played! Even he tried to keep a single name for most films. In 17 films, Vijay was his character name.

Coolie marked a temporary diversion towards politics

No Big B fan can ever forget those events associated with the movie Coolie (1982). During the picturisation of an action sequence, he was deeply wounded and his condition was very critical. He was hospitalized for months and his fans all over the world spend those days in prayers. When he returned back, director Manmohan Desai altered the climax and rewrote it. In the first screenplay, Amitabh was to die in the climax. But as he has gone through that phase during the shooting of the film, director didn’t want to repeat it again. It was a smash hit. It was well marketed also.
After this movie, he got attached to Nehru family in the year 1984 which paved him a new path to political field. He won against H.N.Bahuguna, former Chief Minister of UP and reached the parliament. But his honeymoon with politics was only short and completely detached himself from political field after 3 years.

Return to film field through Shehanshah in 1988

Due to hype given before the release of the movie, it was a super hit and marked a new beginning of Big B’s career. Yet, sweet of his success was not too long. He got his first national award for best performance as an actor for the movie, Agneepath (1990). Though 1991 movie, Hum was a hit, ‘Khuda Gawah’ and a few more movies flopped at box office. He began to notice that it’s not an era of heroes with over makeup and die to hide the age.

The past Jupiter year well polished the super star

He again started his new ‘Avatar’ in Bollywood according to his age. In 1999, he did the double role of father and son in the movie –Sooryavansam, accepting himself the change of time. This movie was a box office hit too. It was through Mohabatein he decided to stay in his real age. Same year, it marked the debut of his son Abhishek Bachchan on the silver screen too. In the new form, we saw him as a good father in many movies like Mohabatein, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam, Sarkar, Kabhi Alvida Na Kahna, Babul, Bhootnath and Malayalam movie Kandahar. Also he showed his versatility and flexibility in handling variety roles in a string of movies like Paa, Black, Nishabd, Ekalavya, Dev, Kaaki and Ankhen.

He shares the record of most number of National awards for best actor along with Kamal Hassan and Mammootty. Though he gained more popularity during 70’s and 80’s, he grew as an actor during 90’s and 2000’s. Till now he got three national awards for best performance and all belong to his late years. He got his first one for his wonderful performance in Agneepath of 1990. The next two awards belong to his 60’s – Black and Paa. This shows that he was learning new lessons of acting and did experimenting with his potential and talents and growing age has made him more mature only. Most surprising is that he is still active and remains as a style icon among his fan followers.

Through Nishabd and Cheeni Kum, he showed that he has not lost his potential to handle romantic movies too. ‘The last Lear’ directed by Rithuparna Ghosh gave him another milestone in his acting career.

How he survived the bad phases of life

During 1996, he started a film company, ABCL to promote new talents. ‘Tere mere sapne’ was the first movie produced under this banner. But Miss.World controversies of 1997 caused a huge loss to his company, as it was the main sponsor of Beauty pageant and he lost millions. Everyone thought he was finished for ever. But he survived and returned back as a phoenix bird from ashes and what we saw after that, was more matured, more efficient and more active Amitjee and he still stands there giving new generations many lessons to follow.

Year 2000 was the real turning point of his second innings of his career. Not only he decided to do roles fitting his age, he gained a lot of popularity through the TV show – Kaun Banega Crorepathi. It has past many series and though Shah Rukh Khan tried his best, he couldn’t reach the impact made by Big B over his fans. Now also, it’s considered to the most popular TV program of the past Jupiter year and still now, it’s progressing towards next steps of success. Also, he is busy chatting with his fans through his blog and twitter. He is a brand ambassador for many products in Indian market.

His versatility made him the real star

No doubt, he has established himself as the most versatile actor of Indian silver screen. His flexibility in handling roles, attempt to do new experiments, powerful voice and voice quality, super command on detection, a special signature for every comic roles and super onscreen chemistry with heroines made him the popular star and most paid actor of Indian screen. He is an actor well known for his dialogues. He gained all not just in 1 day or 2, but through gradual transformations he has done over the years. Also, the most important fact is that he never used his father's name anywhere to get a role or any other benefits even when his films flopped one after another in a series. He has always taken criticisms in a positive way, improving himself better. Whether it’s Jaya, Rekha, Parveen Babi, Reena Roy, Rakhi, Seenat Aman, Hema Malini or Neethu Singh, he has made super onscreen pairs on silver screen. Kishore Kumar’s voice and Laxmikanth-Pyarelal and Khayam’s compositions have given some excellent songs to Bollywood. Kabhi Kabhi and Oh Sathi re will remain evergreen as long as this world and Hindi cinema exists. His eyes hold some deep magic and mesmerizing power to bind people towards him. It’s nothing but his versatility and real acting skills which attract we people towards him even at his 70’s. Also, through films like Anand and Sholey he recreated new meanings of true friendship. Age is not a barrier. Through a lengthy career of more than 42 years, he is conveying that message to we, his followers. 

What we expect from him at his 70’s

It’s true he has contributed a lot to Indian film industry, especially with different colours, shades and roles of his acting career. He has done almost every dream role that an actor loves to do on screen. Yet, as I told earlier, we can’t expect what arrow he is going to throw next time. May be another surprise or another role, as an actor, social worker or something else! But it’s sure he will give a distinct colour for each role he plays. May God bless him with good health, good career and a lot of good surprises yet to happen. It’s my humble effort to go through all the phases of his acting career and remarkable achievements. I know well, a few words can’t describe that genies as I know, he is that one person for which every Indian feel proud of! 

The carpenter is a worker in wood. He makes chairs, tables, doors, windows, wooden beds and almirahs for the house, and ploughs and carts for the farmers. Builders have to employ carpenters to make doors, window –frames, floors, and beams for the roof, when they are building houses.

 A carpenter must have a lot of tools. He wants saws for sawing the wood into pieces, sharp chisels and axes to cut it, a plane to make it smooth, a `lathe’ or turning-tale to make it round in shape and hammers and nails to fasten pieces of wood together.

 The work of a carpenter is skilled labor. It makes a long time to learn to do the work properly. A carpenter has a use his tools; he has to have a good eye for correct measurement; and he has to think about his work. Before he can make even a chair he must have the plan of the chair in his mind, and the skill to make it according to his plan. In India, where the caste system holds, the art of doing carpenter’s work is taught to the sons by the fathers; for the son of a carpenter generally becomes a carpenter in his turn.

 It is great thing to take pride in the work one has to do. And an honest, clever and hard –working carpenter can take an honest pride in making good, solid and beautiful things. It is not enough to make a table; the carpenter who takes a pride in his work will want to make a strong, solid, shapely table. That will be useful for many years and that will look good and sound.

 There has been one very famous carpenter in history. This was Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. Before he went out to preach his gospel, he was the carpenter of Nazareth, little town in North Palestine.

 It is said he used to make ploughs and for the farmers. A yoke is the wooden collar that is put over the necks of the bullocks to keep them together and fasten them to the plough. When Jesus taught the people about God and religion, he sometimes used the language of carpenter.

 Once he said: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. By `taking his yoke’ he meant accepting his teaching.’