Even as nationwide Saheed laxman Naik’s statue was garlanded and rich floral tributes were paid on the Martyr’s Day on March 29, few know the artist who made the replica of Naik without any photo for reference.

At the age 80 years, sculptor Rajendra Hota of Kumuli village of Borigumma block in Koraput district feels thrilled to remember the way he sculpted the statue of the tribal leader and freedom fighter.

Martyr lakshman Naik of Tentuligumma village in Koraput district was arrested by the British and was awarded death sentence during the British reign. He was hanged at the Berhampur Central Jail in Ganjam district.

It was in the year 1972 that the search for a photograph of martyr lakshman Naik began when the I & PR Ministry and the Culture Department resolved to make a statue of this great freedom fighter.

The then Chairman of NAC Koraput was directed to make arrangements for the same at Koraput. letters and messengers were sent to Koraput Jail, Berhampur Jail, Victoria Museum, Kolkata and even to london but a picture of Naik was not available. It is because Naik was declared a condemned prisoner when he was sentenced to death. Artists were invited from different places.

At this critical juncture, sculptor Hota was invited to make a structural frame of the martyr.  In the absence of a photo, the artist started making and changing shapes of a clay idol till all the known members, co freedom fighters of the martyr and his family members recognized it as Naik’s replica. Hota made the final frame after making Naik’s son sit beside the sculpture work for hours. He gave a final shape to the statue looking at his son after discussions with the persons who were close associate of Naik. Finally, when the statue was completed ,the then Chief Minister Dr Sadasiva Tripathy, Nabarangapur and Naik’s co prisoner freedom fighter Radhakrushna Biswasray certified that the statue made by Hota looked like Naik. The frame became the model for many other sculptures of Naik.

When this researcher met Hota at his residence, he was induced to explain his experiences. Born to Jagannath Hota and Pratima Hota of a senior priest family, Hota after passing from Government College of Arts and Crafts, Khallikote, with specialisation in sculptures and oil painting worked as an art teacher from 1954 to 1995 in various places of Odisha and after retirement settled at his native village in Kumuli. He then joined his father’s line of work as a priest in the laxman Balaji temple for a few years. His wife expired a few years ago and now he is living with his two sons and grand children.

His memories are still fresh and he is proud of making a sculpture of a great tribal freedom fighter who is a martyr of the Indian freedom struggle.

(The writer, a tribal researcher and PhD scholar under Berhampur University, is based at Koraput)