The lady who had posed in entrance of celebrated sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman for the making of world well-known Yakshi sculpture on the Malampuzha park, close to right here, died on Wednesday.
Nafeesa aka Nabeesumma handed away with out being acknowledged for her function within the making of the Yakshi.
She was within the information when Kanayi visited her at hospital final yr through the golden jubilee celebrations of the Yakshi. Although the federal government and the Lalithakala Akademi had ignored Nafeesa and the 4 others who had helped the sculptor through the two years he spent sculpting it from 1967, Kanayi acknowledged her service by paying a go to to her.
The mannequin
The 30-ft-tall sculpture of a nude lady in sitting place has gained widespread consideration and appreciation not solely due to its posture, but additionally due to its dimension and determine. When Kanayi modelled the Yakshi’s higher portion, particularly the bust, on the nude picture of a western lady, it was Nafeesa who posed for the statue’s legs.
Nafeesa’s co-workers Velayudhan and Pazhaniswami recounted how she sat along with her skirt raised as much as her knees. They mentioned she by no means needed to reveal her physique. She had sat in entrance of the sculptor along with her legs stretched out, displaying her strong shanks.
Nafeesa was one of many 5 staff assigned by the Irrigation Department to assist Kanayi. Two others had died earlier.
The authorities had celebrated the statue’s golden jubilee by organising a 12-day Yakshi Yanam programme in February-March final yr, by bringing in artists from throughout the nation. But the neglect of these concerned within the making of the enduring sculpture had evoked sturdy criticism.
Felicitation
The Samskara Sahiti, a cultural wing of the Congress, had felicitated the employees when the federal government insisted that their service wouldn’t be acknowledged.
“We do not have to invoke any politics or affiliation when acknowledging the services of those involved in this world class sculpture. It’s a matter of acknowledging a simple human act. Humanity has to find priority here,” mentioned Sahiti district chairman Boban Mattumantha.
Mr. Mattumantha and District Congress Committee vice chairman Sumesh Achuthan paid homage to Nafeesa at her home at Malampuzha.