Cuttack: Gopal Chandra Nath of Ramakrushnapur was a salesman at a cloth store in Nischintkoili, once upon a time. He led a happy and contented life with his family with whatever Nath made.
One fine day, Lord Jagannath came into his dream and he visualised himself making idols of the Lord. A chill ran through Nath’s spine as the image of the Lord was surreal.
He woke up immediately and realised that it was the God’s call for him to abide and obey. That day induced a sea change in his life and Nath transformed into an idol-maker.
Ever since, this man from a remote hamlet in Cuttack’s Nischintkoili block, has been making Lord Jagannath in different forms, using cloth, coloured materials and thermocol etc.
Over time, Nath, who was once a salesman, mastered the art of making idols of Lord Jagannath. People in the region hail his talent and say that it is a gift of the Lord.
Apart from making the idols, he colours them beautifully and artistically to bring out exact and original form of the Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
Locals and people from different parts of the district and beyond come to his home to purchase the idols which he gives at a nominal sum.
It is not a business for him but a sense of completeness and divine satisfaction to present the idols to people who admire his work, locals of Ramakrushnapur said.
