Bhubaneswar, January 26: Celebrated sculpture artist Adwaita Charan Gadanayak has on Sunday expressed his joy and gratitude after the declaration of the prestigious Padma Shri award for Art, calling it a reflection of the blessings of every citizen of our country.
Known for his iconic sculptures, including the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the National War Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Dandi March statue at Rajghat, Gadanayak shared his heartfelt emotions upon being honored with the award.
Reflecting on his journey, Gadanayak recalled his humble beginnings in a village in Dhenkanal and the challenges he faced while creating the Dandi March sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. “When I had the opportunity to sculpt Mahatma Gandhiji's Dandi March statue at Rajghat, I worked with a huge stone for the first time, dedicating three years to the project,” he shared. “Thousands of people had followed Gandhi during that time, and I conceptualized the sculpture based on that vision.”
He also recounted his collaboration with the Piramal group in Mumbai, where he worked alongside legendary vocalist Pandit Jasraj.
Highlighting his contributions, Gadanayak mentioned that many of his works are located in Delhi, including a major structure at the National Police Memorial, for which he used 300 to 400 tonnes of stone.
Yesterday, the Union Government announced the recipients of the prestigious Padma Awards on Saturday, with President Droupadi Murmu’s approval for 139 honorees. The list includes 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards.
