In which medium is the "Santhal Family" made ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
The correct option is 3: Cement Concrete. The celebrated outdoor sculpture "Santhal Family," created by the visionary artist Ramkinkar Baij in 1938, is made from a highly unconventional combination of cement, laterite mortar, and locally sourced laterite gravel. This choice was a revolutionary step in Indian art, as Baij deliberately abandoned the traditional, expensive media like bronze or fine stone in favour of this inexpensive and readily available building material. His pioneering use of cement concrete for such a large-scale, public sculpture cemented its status as India's first public modernist work. The earthy, raw texture provided by the laterite gravel further connected the sculpture's medium to its subject—a Santhal tribal family—endowing their simple, migrating existence with a profound sense of dignity and monumental, modern realism.

The incorrect option is 1, 2, and 4:
The other options represent traditional media which are inappropriate for this specific work. **Terracotta** (baked clay) is historically significant in Indian art, used primarily for toys, small figures, and folk art, but it would lack the structural integrity and scale required for Baij's monumental outdoor creation. While a few later sculptures by others used this medium, the *Santhal Family* demanded greater permanence. **Sand Stone** was the conventional material for temple carvings and classical monumental figures, such as the famous Kushana-period Buddha images; Baij’s decision to use cement was a modern political and artistic statement, rejecting the expensive legacy of stone carving for an indigenous, cost-effective alternative that brought art closer to the people. Lastly, **Wood**, while used in folk and regional carving traditions, is simply not durable enough for a permanent, large-scale public work exposed to the unpredictable weather of Santiniketan, unlike the robust nature of reinforced concrete. The *Santhal Family* is a testament to Baij's radical use of modern, non-traditional media.