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Saturday, August 29, 2009

A RARE LORD GANESHA’S DEVOTEE: WILL HE MAKE IT TO THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORD NEXT YEAR???

A RARE LORD GANESHA’S DEVOTEE: WILL HE MAKE IT TO THE GUINNESS BOOK NEXT YEAR???

A boy of 16, influenced by his chawl friend Kanu Bhai Joshi (now late), got enamoured so much by seeing Ganesha made of grains in 1960, that the following year, he made Ganesha with 10 to 12 coloured grains (dals, rice, wheat, jeera and others) for the very first time. He has since then never looked back and each year, since 1961, with true dedication and devotion towards Lord Ganesha. Mohan Kumar Dodecha (now 66 years old) has been weaving magic year after year with his saboodana Ganesha and this year happens to be the 49th year of his creation. “We have taken the theme from Dushyant-Shakuntala tale this year,” says the devoted artist.

His friends, Dayaram Hindisotta (since last 49 years), Bhupesh Joshi, a photographer (since last 38 years), Vasant Tiwari (since last 29 years) and his elder brother Meghji Bindu, a renown Gujarati poet, and a his family consisting of daughters Jasmine, Avni and his own daughters Diya and Dipti have dedicated the 15 days creation year after year. People from as far as Kolkata, Gujarat, Delhi, Pune and all over Mumbai, wait anxiously when Mohan Kumar opens his creation for a 14 days for public to pay their respect, devotion and appreciation. If one wish to have a look at his magnificent creation, then from tomorrow (August 30th to September 13th) onwards one can be in Mulund… ask anyone about Saboodana Ganesha and people will guide to his creation, such is Mohan Kumar’s popularity. (One can get all the information and see his earlier creations on his website: www.sagorangoli.com)

A boy of 17 will dedicate all his youth to weave his magic year after year after his father’s undying faith in Lord Ganesha was also inspired by Magsyay Award winner Shastriji Pandurang Vaidyanath Athavale, who visited and encouraged the young lad. Mohan Kumar reminisces, “His kind words enlightened me and each year I have created a new form. It gives me immense pleasure and every year for 15 days, I am on creative annual leave 24x7.” The size of his creation usually ranges from 7-10 by 5-7 feet and he uses 40 plus kilos of more than 300 hues of colour. Even though, the saboodana rangoli is weaved on the floor, one is amazed for its 3-D effect and one can feel as if the picture is real!

Mohan Kumar has also been inspired by famous legendary artist SM Pandit’s (now late) paintings, having shared a lovely friendship after the initial response from the great artist. He recalls, “SM Pandit’s paintings have a magnitude that depicts full mythological story, and his detailing, colour sense and intricacies are the trademark of his masterstroke! I had approached the great artist to see his work transformed in saboodana. Very surprisingly, he gave me some lame excuses. I was adamant and told him, I will open my yearly exhibition only and only when he arrives to be the first person… He was touched by my dedication and devotion towards his paintings, so finally he relented.” Needless to say Mohan Kumar’s creation made the artist utter just two words – “GREAT WORK!” Since then, they remained friends till the artist left for heavenly abode. The artist rewarded Mohan Kumar’s devotion and creation by allowing him to shoot all his personal collection of paintings at his place in Gulburga, Andhra Pradesh. Today, he is the only person to have the legendary artist’s exclusive art collection.

Will the Guinness Book of World Record recognize this man’s creation and dedication to create unique form of Lord Ganesha since the last 49 years??? The record is indeed a rare unmatched one! I do hope so on its 50th year, next year… However, the magical weaver (I call him a weaver because he weaves his magic with saboodana) confesses, “The greatest satisfaction for any artist in the world is to be appreciated by one and all with true emotions. Year after year, people who see it once, make sure to visit me annually. This is my real reward… because my dedication and devotion towards Lord Ganesha, ever since I came in contact with HIM, is not for any monetary gains or record… Bappa has been very kind to me and my family. HIS blessing has been guiding me and I am thankful for that.”

Mohan Kumar has been creating various forms of Ganesha and has dabbled in various materials like wood, paper, granite, rope, pearls, brass, plywood, wire & mesh, marble, pebbles, stain glass, wooden blocks, panch datu (five metals), copper, cotton, steel, limestone, plastic, jalebi mixture, cloth, mino work, wools, beads and net… The amazing finesse and creativity of this creator is that no two Ganeshas are similar in any which way. My association with this humble down-to-earth man has been since the year 2000, when I met him for the very first time. The bonding, year after year have been strengthening in ways only Lord Ganesha can reveal… Hope you enjoy Mohan Kumar’s creation… visit him… and you will be spellbound!

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