Blind sculptor from UP's Basti crafts lifelike Ganesha, Durga idols by touch
Rampal, a 50-year-old visually impaired sculptor from Uttar Pradesh, creates intricate, lifelike idols of Hindu deities using only his sense of touch. Despite his disability, he has crafted over 700 sculptures, continuing a craft taught to him by his father during his childhood.
Why it matters
This story highlights the resilience and specialized skill of artisans with disabilities, showcasing how traditional crafts can be adapted through sensory mastery.
His eyes can’t see but his hands can. And with his hands and sense of touch, he has created over 700 sculptures till now. Meet Rampal, a 50-year-old man who didn’t let blindness determine his fate. He lives at a busy stretch in Basti, Uttar Pradesh. And this man is literally god-gifted who creates magic every year ahead of the festive season. While artisans around him work with their eyes fixed on clay, bamboo frames and colours, Rampal works differently.He uses his touch and sense to create life-size sculptures of Maa Durga and Lord Ganesha during festive seasons.
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