Inside India’s Sacred Moment | Sculptor Arun Yogiraj on Bringing Ram Lalla to Life

India’s civilizational moment found its eternal form in #Ayodhya and the hands behind that form belong to master sculptor Arun Yogiraj.
In this special episode of the #GDPPodcast, he takes us through the journey of shaping the Ram Lalla idol for the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a creation that has become part of India’s cultural and spiritual identity.
From the first cut of the stone to the final expression of divinity, he speaks about the devotion, discipline, pressure, and emotion that guided him through the process and what it meant to contribute to a moment generations waited for.
Arun also reflects on his other historic works including the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose statue at India Gate, the Adi Shankaracharya idol in Kedarnath, and several national projects that shaped his path. He shares how each of these experiences prepared him for Ayodhya, and how the support of the Government and various institutions helped him bring these milestones to life.
This conversation offers a rare, honest look into the artist behind some of India’s most iconic creations and the journey that brought him here.

Watch the full conversation now, and dont forget to like, share and subscribe to MyGov India for more such engaging conversations.

00:00:00 - The struggle behind the divine smile
00:02:12 - Unlocking the DNA of greatness
00:03:50 - The first reaction to Ram Lalla
00:06:30 - 250 Years of Legacy
00:12:35 - When art became spiritual
00:16:15 - Quitting MBA & Corporate life to become a Sculptor
00:18:40 - PM Vishwakarma Yojana: A new era for artisans
00:20:50 - The Challenge of Kedarnath
00:27:00 - The call from the Prime Minister’s Office
00:30:30 - Sculpting Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose for India Gate
00:35:45 - How Arun was selected for Ram Lalla
00:39:45 - The bold decision
00:45:15 - The Crisis: Rejection, Injury, and running out of time
00:53:00 - The Secret Test: Getting feedback from children
00:58:15 - The 20 minutes that created Ram Lalla’s eyes
01:04:30 - Does the idol belong to the sculptor or the devotee?
01:08:30 - Bringing India's stolen antiquities home
01:16:00 - Advice for artists feeling stuck or lost
01:22:45 - Rapid Fire with Arun Yogiraj
01:26:00 - Message to the Youth of India

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