From Pilani to Parliament, crafting national pride through art

Hailing from Pilani in Rajasthan and now residing in Gurugram, Naresh Kumawat has created around 600 sculptures of various scales, from intimate portrait busts to large monumental installations across the country and abroad. Notable works include a mural of ‘Samudra Manthan’ and sculptures of Sardar Patel and Dr BR Ambedkar inside the new Parliament Complex.

Like many children aspiring to enter technical professions, Kumawat initially wanted to pursue medicine after his graduation. However, sculpting has been part of his family heritage. He mastered the art of sculpting from his father, Matu Ram Verma, who designed the first monumental statue of Lord Shiva near Terminal 3 in Delhi.

Sharing his decisive moment, Kumawat said, “After completing my undergraduate studies, I initially wanted to become a doctor, as many children of the 1990s did. But when that path didn’t work out, I chose to follow in my family’s footsteps and dedicate myself to sculpture. Looking back, it was one of the most meaningful decisions of my life.”

“I learned sculpting from my father, and in many ways, it has been part of my family’s heritage. My grandfather, Hanuman Prasad, was a respected sculptor who worked for the Sikar Rajgharana and created numerous temple sculptures commissioned by the Birla family. My father, Matu Ram Verma, who was also an accomplished art teacher, designed the first monumental statue of Lord Shiva near Terminal 3 in Delhi, known today as the Shiv Murti.” he added.

The sculptures of Dr B R Ambedkar and Sardar Patel inside the Parliament, as well as the Samudra Manthan design inside the building are magnificent.

“It was an extraordinary opportunity for any artist to contribute to one of the country’s most important institutions, where India’s leaders shape the destiny of our democracy. A group of artists, including myself, were shortlisted and interviewed for the project. Eventually, I was entrusted with designing the Samudra Manthan mural, which has become the world’s largest bronze mural and a unique example of relief work. Alongside it, sculptures of Sardar Patel and Dr BR Ambedkar were installed in the new Parliament building. It was a proud moment that felt truly historic,” Kumawat said.

The tallest statue of Swami Vivekananda that will come up in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore is also designed by Kumawat.

Sharing the details he said, “I am currently working on one of the tallest statues of Swami Vivekananda in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The design aims to capture not only his likeness but also the strength and clarity of his ideas. The statue depicts Swami Vivekananda in a dignified standing posture, reflecting his inspiring presence and his role in awakening national pride.”

He credits the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar installed at the Supreme Court of India as closest to his heart. “I feel deeply honoured to be the first Indian artist to install a statue inside the Supreme Court. It’s a moment in my career that I will always cherish,” he said.

Kumawat is currently creating a 151-foot tall statue of Lord Hanumanji at Koradi, Nagpur, which will be a landmark for the region.

“Internationally, we have upcoming projects in Toronto at the Bhawani Shankar Temple, tallest statue of Lord Ram Statue at Mississauga Temple and other locations where we will be installing sculptures that celebrate India’s rich cultural heritage,” he said.

Delhi