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Suresh Pant

"I was born and brought up in a hill station, Uttranchal. I was a wanderer, and always spent my time wandering in the jungle. I just love its beauty – the trees, the rivers, the ponds. Fallen trees that form bridges over the streams, the chirping of birds and the sun rays peeking through the thick mass of trees delight me.

"I studied until the 10th standard but couldn't continue my studies further. After my 10th, I tried to enlist in the army, since I have always admired the bravery and courage of army personnel. But unfortunately, this did not come through. Since I was jobless, my father opened a grocery shop for me but that did not last for a long time. I would either go wandering in the woods or play football with my friends. Sure enough, the business did not last for long. Thereafter, I started a small business of supplying stone and sand to the builders, and at the same time I'd collect unique stones and wood from the jungle. One day, I happen to notice an old sculpture my uncle had made. It was all roughly colored, but there was something interesting about the piece. I removed the paint and modified it using my own creativity and it came out really well. This is how I started my profession of wood sculpting. I started collecting old wood from the jungle and sculpting it into unique pieces of art. My sculptures are created of natural woods.

"Seeing my creativity, people started appreciating my work. Family and friends advised me to come to Delhi. So I moved there in 1988. However, the response was disappointing and I went back to my hometown. I continued to pursue my profession as a sculptor, but at the same time I worked at other jobs.

"I went back to Delhi in 1996 where I met the Commissioner of Handicrafts. He gave me the chance to participate in government sponsored exhibitions. Slowly, my sculptures began to gain popularity and I have been fortunate to participate in exhibitions in Bombay, Goa, Bangalore and Delhi, among others. It has been definitely a good experience so far and I want to enjoy this beautiful journey in art for a very long time."