Renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who carved the idol of Ram Lalla now enshrined at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, was conferred with an Honorary Degree by Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade in recognition of his exceptional contribution to Indian art and culture.
Speaking after receiving the honor, an emotional Yogiraj said, “I am very happy… The other two artists were also sculpting the idol… We were happy that out of three, one of them was going to go in front of the nation… The other two also performed well, but God chose mine.”
Reflecting on the cultural and spiritual significance of the project, he added, “The name ‘Ayodhya’ is a huge inspiration. We had been hearing since childhood that Ayodhya is our Ram’s birthplace. We had been struggling for it for 500 years, and a lot of sacrifices were made. I wanted to justify all of this.”
Yogiraj, who hails from a family of traditional sculptors, emphasized the meticulous effort involved in his work. “I worked very hard and in detail on every centimetre… I took inspiration from my ancestors,” he said.
The ceremony in Bikaner drew praise from cultural leaders and political figures alike, many of whom hailed Yogiraj’s craftsmanship as a historic contribution to India’s spiritual and artistic legacy.
