Veteran sculptor Hirachand Anandji Vikamshi passed away in the early hours of Sunday. He was 82. Vikamshi breathed his last at 1.40 am on November 1. He is survived by his sons Tanul and Lalit, daughter-in-law Mili, grand-daughter Riddhi and a host of relatives and friends. His demise marks the end of an illustrious artistic journey spanning more than five decades, during which he used sculpture as a medium to preserve history, celebrate great personalities and express human emotions.

 

The body was donated to Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur. A dedicated artist known for his realistic sculptures, attention to detail and deep understanding of his subjects, Vikamshi believed that sculpting was not merely about recreating a person’s physical appearance but about capturing the individual's personality, thoughts and contribution to society. Born on September 13, 1944, at Achalpur in Amravati district in Maharashtra, Vikamshi developed an early interest in drawing and sculpture. He received training in sculpture and modelling at Tilak Rashtriya Vidyalaya, Khamgaon, and subsequently obtained a Visharad qualification in sculpture from Tilak Maharashtra University, Pune.

 

Vikamshi also studied sculpture and modelling at the prestigious Sir J J School of Art, Mumbai. His artistic outlook was shaped considerably by the guidance of Kalacharya Pandhe Guruji, whose emphasis on discipline, observation and the traditional Gurukul system remained an integral part of Vikamshi's philosophy throughout his life. Vikamshi began working as an independent sculptor in Nagpur in the 1970s. Despite the limited availability of modern equipment and technology during those years, he undertook challenging projects through traditional craftsmanship, painstaking effort and an exceptional understanding of form and proportion. Among his notable creations are the 30-foot sculpture of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj at the Pasaydan premises, 18-foot fibre-glass statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at the Dragon Palace premises in Kamptee, six-foot sculpture of social worker Kamlatai Hospet at the Matru Seva Sangh premises in Sitabuldi, bronze sculptures of Maharana Pratap, Agrasen Maharaj, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Shaheed Bhagat Singh, sculptures of Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, Golwalkar Guruji and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He had also worked on a sculpture of Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar. His passing leaves a significant void in the art fraternity of Nagpur, Vidarbha and Central India. 

 

 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his grief over the demise of Vikamshi. In his tweet he said, “The news of the demise of Nagpur’s senior sculptor, Shri Hirachand Anandji Vikamshi, is deeply saddening. I pay my heartfelt tributes to the departed soul. His contribution to bringing the history, culture and memories of cities alive through his art and sculptures will always be remembered. I pray to the Almighty to grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.”