Meet Vijetha, Ram Lalla Sculptor's Wife Who Aided Through Hard Days

Artist Arun Yogiraj from Karnataka has been the talk of the town for the past few months since his hand-carved sculpture of Lord Ram was selected to be placed in the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He has carved his name into history as his 51-inch creation stands tall and glorious in the temple's sanctum sanctorum. The 38-year-old's mother told Asian News International that he spent close to six months without interacting with friends and family, perfecting the intricate details of the idol. As his efforts finally proved fruitful this week, his wife Vijetha expressed the relief of reuniting with him.

Yogiraj's celebrated appeal was evident at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on Wednesday as police escorted him through a mob of admirers and media persons tussling to greet him at the arrivals gate. According to the Press Trust of India, soon after the father-of-two exited the terminal, he was greeted by Vijetha and the children and they set off for their home in Mysuru.

VIDEO | “He (Arun Yogiraj) had to face lot of challenges (during the last six months) but he overcame incredibly well. For me (too) it was difficult (staying away from him for six months) to take care of kids alone. We don’t have any future plan, whatever comes next, we are going… pic.twitter.com/50Vpaqwbnv

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 24, 2024

Working On Ram Lalla Idol

Arun Yogiraj's sculpture was selected by voting on January 15 by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and was finally revealed to the public on Monday. It is carved out of Krishnashila, a black stone or granite, abundantly found in HD Kote, Mysuru, from where Yogiraj belongs.

For the Ram Lalla idol, Yogiraj worked tirelessly carving the intricate features of Lord Ram on the Krishnashila. According to Asian News International, he went days without interacting with his family or friends to dedicate his focus to perfecting his craft. Yogiraj's wife expressed that he faced tremendous challenges along the way, but overcame them incredibly well.

She also expressed how she managed to stay away from him for those months. "It (staying away from him for six months) was difficult for me too, as I had to take care of our two kids alone," she said. She further talked about their plans for the future saying, "Whatever comes next, we are going to take it wholeheartedly and do it with dedication.”

As Arun Yogiraj stepped into the festive spirit of Ayodhya on Monday, he expressed, "I feel I am the luckiest person on the earth now." Speaking to Asian News International, he said, "The blessing of my ancestors, family members and Lord Ram Lalla has always been with me. Sometimes I feel like I am in a dream world." 

Earlier Life And Career

Before becoming a sculptor, Arun Yogiraj, an MBA graduate, worked with a corporate firm for some time. According to his portfolio, he shifted his career in 2008 to continue the tradition of five generations of renowned sculptors in his family. The artist's grandfather Basavanna Shilpi was patronized by the King of Mysore, Yogiraj's portfolio states.

Yogiraj's efforts have now become immemorial as his creation is being admired by devotees and artists all across the world. Apart from the Lord Ram idol, he has also been commended for creating several other celebrated sculptures. These include a 30-foot statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, which was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi at India Gate on the freedom fighter's 125th birth anniversary.

More of his renowned renditions of a 12-foot-tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath; a 15-foot-tall statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in Mysuru; a bronze statue of space scientist U.R. Rao installed at the Indian Space Research Organisation in Bengaluru, and more. Yogiraj has also received several awards from the government and others for his work.