Honorary Doctorate from Sri Lankan University to Udupi Sculptor

TNN

Udupi, 17 November 2013: Balkur Gopal Acharya’s humility is overwhelming. "Can they mail me the honorary doctorate, instead of me going to Colombo to collect it?’’ asked the Udupi sculptor when he was told that a Sri Lankan university plans to award him with an honorary doctorate next week. 

 

His head firmly on his shoulders, Acharya, responsible for heritage-style designs in more than 600 houses in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi as well as the sanctum sanctorum and the Brahmaratha of Sri Krishna Mutt, Udupi, calls himself a mere "practitioner" of the craft. 

’’I am happy that a foreign university has recognized the field of craftwork and deemed it fit to bestow a doctorate on its practitioner," says the 45-year-old, who has been sculpting for the past 27 years. 

 

Acharya, who works with a team of 60 — whom he calls his family, says he can work on any heritage structure. "The Brahmaratha (chariot) of Sri Krishna Mutt was carved in 2012 in just two months and 27 days for Rs 1.25 crore." 

 

What’s the big deal? There are 1,132 carvings on the chariot. 

 

Besides, the sculptor hasn’t used any machinery in his entire career. ’’All that a good sculptor needs is patience," says the class IV dropout, giving away a nugget of wisdom. 

 

He set off on the path of heritage structure restoration by collecting dismantled heritage pillars at the age of 15. ’’Now, people too realize the importance and beauty of heritage-styled houses as there is a growing demand for them,’’ he says. 

 

Acharya’s work speaks for itself. He has restored the palace of Vijayanagara vassal from Koppal, Guthu Mane in Pilikula (600 years old), Sringeri Mane of Sringeri Car Street, Darbar hall of Rajangana, Udupi, Sanskrit Patashale at Sringeri and several heritage houses, in association with Vijayanath Shenoy of Heritage Village in Manipal. 

 

He has also recreated Kuchumugur Jain Basadi, Christian House of Jeppu, Kunjoor house from the 19th century, Harkur Mane in Kundapur (400 years old), and Navayith house of Bhatkal. 

 

The recipient of the district-level Rajyotsava Award in 2006, Acharya has also won a national award for his work on Sanskrit Patashale in Sringeri. 

 

Acharya will fly to Colombo on November 23 to receive the honorary doctorate by Medicina Alternativa, affiliated to The Open International University for Complementary Medicines, Colombo, Sri Lanka, during the proceedings of the World Congress of Integrated Medicines from November 22-24.