The Bronze Woman of India passes away

Renowned sculptor Jasu Shilpi, also known as "The Bronze Woman of India", died of severe cardiac attack in the early hours of Tuesday at her residence. She was 64 and survived by two children, Dhruv and Dhara, who are also sculptors.

Busy in setting up a bronze museum in her last days, one of her last works that was left unfinished is the bust of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, said sources close to her.

The museum would contain Bill Gates, Slaman Khan, Nelson Mandela, Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Gautam Buddha and Rabindranath Tagore among others.

Jasuben had made 225 life-size statues and 525 busts in bronze in her career spanning nearly four decades.

Her works done for Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation are spread over the city. For example, statue of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi on Satellite Road, the statue of Swami Vivekananda near Town Hall, the bust of Veer Savarkar at the entrance of Paldi Museum among several such works.

City-based sculptor Dhananjay Mudholkar said Jasuben had earned a name for herself even in other countries and got accolades. "She was one of a few women sculptors in the country whose work got wide spread acknowledgement and fame," he said.

"She will always remain in our hearts," said Snehal Jadvani, one of the admirers of her works.

"Her vision for immortalising personalities of famous people will remain a landmark at several major parts of the world that are well acclaimed and recognised by artists and political leaders across the globe," said her family sources.

Some of the awards she had won include Limca Book of Records, Miracles World Record Certificate, Abraham Lincoln Artist Award-USA, by Lincoln Centre, Los Angeles and the Best Citizen of India Award by International Publishing House to name a few, they say.

ALSO READ

Astronomy buffs geared up for meteor shower

Narendra Modi dials Lalu, enquires about health after car accident

From Ramdev stage in Haridwar, Modi swears by gurus of all hues

PIL puts Tata Motors, state govt in the dock over Nano deal