A sculptor in the steel city of Bhilai in Chhatt-isgarh’s Durg district has built, what he claims, the tallest chariot in the world and hopes to list his work in the next edition of the Guinness World Records.
Ankush Kumar Dewan-gan (41), who has featured in the Limca Book of World Records in 2004 for carving the smallest Ganesha idol of marble, took almost two-and-half years to create the gigantic 61-foot-high, 80-foot-long and 21-foot-wide chariot using iron scrap. The art depicts a scene of epic Mahabharat.
“The iron car built in Kurukhetra, 30-foot-high, and 42-foot long, of lord Krishna, by the septuagenarian sculptor Ram Sutar currently holds the record of being the largest one of its kind in the world. My work will overshadow his record,” Mr Dewangan, an employee of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)’s flagship unit at Bhillai, nearly 30 km from here, told this newspaper on Thursday.
The chariot has been installed atop Kallibari Hills at Dalli-Rajhara in Chhattisgarh’s Balod district. Nearly 120 tonnes of iron scrap, made available by the Bhillai Steel Plant (BSP), have been used and around 100 trainee technicians have given helping hand to create the magnificent art piece. “I have already sent the video footage and other necessary documents to the Guinness authorities in support of my claim. A team from them is reaching at Dalli-Rajhara next month to verify it. I hope my work will find place in 2013 edition of Guinness World Records,” he says.
His miniature Ganesha idol, which has featured in Limca Book of World Records, measures only 0,25 mm, even thinner than a hair. He took almost a year to complete the image.
Mr Dewangan has created around 4,000 such miniature arts featuring various gods, goddesses, temples and distinguished political leaders of the country.