It is said that there was such magic in his hands that even the idols made of lifeless stones rise up. If anyone has the art of bringing alive the mythology, it is in the famous sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo of Odisha. Yes, that Sudarshan Sahoo, who is counted among the sculptors called Vishwakarma of Odisha. Let us inform you that Sudarshan Sahoo, who has mastered the carving of stones, has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India.
Sudarshan Sahoo, a well-known sculptor of Odisha, was born on 11 March 1939 in Puri. It is said that from the very beginning he used to practice the art of traditional sculptures made of stone and wood in his ancestral home. When his art started being discussed in the world, he thought of opening a new institution related to his art. They wanted a proper workshop to be opened to facilitate the skilled artists so that tourists can come here and feel the sculptures and the traditional heritage and the continuous development in Indian art. However, realizing his dream, Sahoo established the Craft Museum in Puri in 1977.
Sudarshan received the National Award for stone carving in 1981. Also, he received the Shilp Guru Award in 2003. He received Dharmapada Award by Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi in the year 2012.
When Sudarshan Sahoo founded the Sudarshan Arts and Crafts Village in 1991 in Bhubaneswar with the help of the Odisha government, he encouraged all the sculptors who wanted to create the best sculptors like him. Let us tell you that this institution of Sahoo is also a training and creative centre of the state. Where artists use their art to sculpt traditional sculptures made of stone, wood and fibreglass.