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| ashu | Posted
on 20-Jul-03 03:49 AM
A plug for a good friend -- Rabindra Puri of Bhaktapur and his work. This is taken from today's The Kathmandu Post. For more, please visit: http://www.rabindra.com.np/ oohi ashu ktm,nepal ************ Rabis Abode Nimesh Basnet Inger Lissanevitch, spouse of late Boris Lissanevitch, pioneer hotel entrepreneur and tourism promoter in Nepal forecasts that Rabindra Puri will one day become world famous for his work in preserving cultural heritage of Nepal and making old and beautiful era of Nepal known to people around the globe. What shes foreseen might actually come true because Rabindras art work has been nominated and passed the first screening for the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Award. Rabindra was fascinated by art and culture from very small. Reminiscing his past, he recalls playing with mud and trying to carve some figures out of it. After passing out from school he joined Lalit Kala Campus to pursue his dream of becoming a maestro of sculpture alongside law. This multifaceted talent holds bachelor degree in four subjects, law, fine-art, commerce, and Social Science, and by profession he likes to call himself a sculptor. He has sculpted many monumental figures and structures. He also has a M.A. degree in Development Policy from Bremen University in German. Rabindras Model house and other artistic creations have been extensively covered by both print and visual media and his model house in Bhaktapur has captured the fancy of people both at home and abroad. This creative artist gave new life to an old poultry shed in Bhaktapur turning it into a haven of style and comfort. As one enters the grassy compound of the house and gazes the outward structure, one gets the impression that it is hundred percent traditional only to find modern amenities blended in perfect harmony with the old architectural structures. According to this rule, his house starts with the ground floor called Chidi (the cellar), followed by Mattan, the first floor used for sleeping purpose, but gives the impression more of a lounge room for the jaded mind. Just above the Mattan lies the second floor called the Chotta used as relaxation cum drawing room. Both the first and the second floor are bedecked with decorative pieces mostly metal and mud. When asked about the specialty of the house, Rabindra the creator of this house explains that the house and the rooms are built in such geometry that there exists good flow of energy, which puts peoples body and mind at ease. There is long horizontal wooden Balcony, which is the terrace with a roof overlooking the chotta. Another noteworthy feature of the house is the extensive use of kitchen brass wares converted into sinks for kitchen, basins in toilets and bathing tubs for bathrooms. Another striking feature of this house is the traditional kitchen comfortably accommodating modern amenities like, oven, fridge, and a lounge room beside it where one can dine, take siesta, or read in quietude. Two sides of the kitchen also hold special type of wooden racks with circular holes of different sizes to house the utensils, which impart an elegant and artistic outlook. No factory made paints have been used for the walls of the entire house. This attic kitchen called Buingel opens into a terrace. Its unique because the terrace cannot be seen from outside and one can enjoy the view of the blue sky from this place without being watched by the prying eyes. His dream-boat Model House has been visited and revisited by many domestic visitors, and eminent foreign visitors like, late Tony Hagen, late Lainsingh Bangdel, Mayor of Bali to name a few. At present he is busy with restoration projects concerning monuments and places of traditional and cultural value so that he can contribute to preserve the sublime wreck of cultural heritage of Nepal. "Nepal is mother to me, an ailed and fragile mother, and I will endeavor to cure her and restore her past glory, and not abandon her," says Rabindra. As to the query if he had message to others, he said, "Lets start with whatever small things we can do and not blame others for wrongs, and not wait for others to take the initiative." Indeed, it would not be inappropriate to call Rabindra, "The Saviour of Cultural Heritage". |
| Gokul | Posted
on 20-Jul-03 01:34 PM
Ashu, Thanks for the information. |