Who made the sculpture 'Sujata'?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:
Ramkinkar Baij (1906-1980) is correctly identified as the creator of the iconic outdoor sculpture 'Sujata'. This monumental, eleven-foot-tall work was executed in 1935 at Santiniketan, where Baij pioneered modern Indian sculpture. The piece is famous for its groundbreaking use of cheap, readily available materials like cement and laterite gravel, which allowed him to create large public art without the constraints of traditional bronze or stone. 'Sujata' was modelled on a student but represents the Buddhist figure Sujata, who offered the fasting Siddhartha a bowl of *kheer*, and is characterized by its elongated, poised figure that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding environment, demonstrating Baij's unique blend of Indian and Western expressionist sensibilities.

The incorrect option is 2:
Sankho Chaudhuri was a highly respected Indian sculptor and a key figure in the modernist movement, but he did not create 'Sujata'. He was, notably, a direct student of Ramkinkar Baij at Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan, absorbing the principles of working spontaneously and with volume. However, Chaudhuri developed a distinct, formalist approach, often focusing on simplified, semi-abstract figures in stone, marble, and metal, a contrast to Baij’s raw, textured cement-laterite works. His influence is primarily seen in the post-independence generation of Indian sculptors, developing themes separate from Baij’s early, site-specific narratives.

The incorrect option is 3:
Dhanraj Bhagat is recognized as another important pioneer of modern Indian sculpture, known for his abstract and expressionistic works. Bhagat's artistic practice was largely concentrated in the Delhi art community, and his works are distinct from the Santiniketan school where 'Sujata' was created. He frequently experimented with a variety of materials, including wood and metal, in his series based on themes like music and the cosmic world. While a contemporary modernist, his thematic and material choices differentiate his oeuvre from the unique historical context and materials of Ramkinkar Baij's 'Sujata'.

The incorrect option is 4:
Usha Rani Hooja is a well-regarded contemporary Indian sculptor, known for her large, public sculptures, primarily in bronze and metal. Her career belongs to a later phase of Indian modernism compared to Ramkinkar Baij, whose work was foundational in the 1930s. Hooja's sculptures often explore themes related to the female form, movement, and public utility, exhibiting a polished, figurative style. The distinct material and later period of her most famous public commissions make it historically inaccurate to attribute the 1935 cement sculpture 'Sujata' to her.