Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed grief over demise of renowned Bell Metal artist of the State Dr Jaidev Baghel and consoled the bereaved family.
In the condolence message, Singh said that the death of Dr Baghel is a huge loss to the State. However, the traditional Bell Metal Art will always remain illuminated by the light shown by the great artist. He said that Chhattisgarh has lost a great craftsman. It was due to Dr Baghel, the traditional Bell Metal Art of tribal dominated Bastar region was recognized beyond the limits of the State and across the world.
Dr Baghel was an expert in preparing statues and items from mixture of soil and metal which became famous as Bastar Art in India as well as foreign countries. He was popularly known as ‘Shilp Guru’ who gave training to budding craftsmen in his Shilpgram in Kondagaon and groomed a number of fine craftsmen. Dr Jaidev Baghel died at a private hospital in Raipur on Sunday morning.
He was awarded ‘Shikhar Samman’ by the Chhattisgarh government in 1981-82 and Dlitt. by Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University in 2003. Dr Baghel had highlighted the Bell Metal Art in a number of events and workshops organised in Germany, Japan, America, Australia, Switzerland and other countries.