Important Notice

Dr. Jaidev Baghel was a master craftsman in Gadwakam, the ancient Indian art of bronze metal casting. Born in the aboriginal community of Gadhwa artisans in Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh, Baghel learned the techniques of this craft at the age of eight from his father, Srimanram, who was a talented artist himself. As his art flourished, Baghel was awarded the Shilp Guru Samman in 2002, which earned him the term of endearment “Shilp Guru” among his... Dr. Jaidev Baghel was a master craftsman in Gadwakam, the ancient Indian art of bronze metal casting. Born in the aboriginal community of Gadhwa artisans in Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh, Baghel learned the techniques of this craft at the age of eight from his father, Srimanram, who was a talented artist himself. As his art flourished, Baghel was awarded the Shilp Guru Samman in 2002, which earned him the term of endearment “Shilp Guru” among his admirers. A National Award winner, Baghel was best known for his elaborately detailed, sylph-like sculptures of tribal gods and goddesses, human figures and animals. His repertoire ranges from small hand-held sculptures, to large scale works that adorn public places across India. One of his significant sculptures, a six-foot bronze tree, was made into a memorial piece at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai after it weathered a terror attack in 2006. “The Tree of Life”, as it was known, was created in protest against the needless felling of trees in the forests of Chhattisgarh, and is a exquisite specimen illustrating the Gadwakam craft.

One of the unique characteristics of Gadwakam is that it is derived from the traditional lost wax casting originating during the Indus Valley Civilization. Traditionally used for crafting metal bells, the technique used in the present craft renders the sculptures hollow as opposed to cast solid, and results in a coiled texture. This art is also native to metalsmith tribes in West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand, where it can be referred to as “Dhokra”. Besides crafting figurines representing rural deities, the bell metal artisans also make jewellery, ornaments, oil lamps, incense stick holders and other products that daily utility value. A commonly cast figurine is that of the lovers “Jhitku Mitki”, who were part of a local legend. Gadwa sculptures are fairly recognizable because of their elongated torsos and limbs and intricately stylised characteristics. While bell metal artisans were known to exclusively craft figurines of their local deities in the past, in recent times their repertoire has grown to include Hindu gods like Ganesh, Shiva, Nandi and Krishna, and Christian icons like Jesus and Mary. This growth of the craft and its reach outside their villages, is largely thanks to the considerable work of Baghel and his artistic vision.

Baghel was instrumental in putting the Gadhwa craft on the national, as well as international, map. In his community, he had succeeded in creating an art facility for Gadhwa artists and oversaw several apprentices himself. Baghel has exhibited and promoted in a number of public exhibitions and workshops in India, U.S.A., U.K., Germany, Russia, Australia, U.S.A, Japan, Switzerland, Italy, France, and many more countries. He won the National Award in 1977, the Shikhar Sanman from former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982, and received a Doctorate from the Ravi Shankar Shukhla University in Raipur in 2003.

Dr. Jaidev Baghel passed away in 2014.

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