D Rajkumar Wadiyar

The Indian sculptor "Devagupthapu Rajkumar Wadiyar" also known as D.RAJKUMAR Wadiyar was born on March 23, 1972 and is renowned for his realistic bronze and fibreglass sculptures.He is a member of the fourth generation of Andhra Pradesh-based Wadiyar sculptors who follow the Dakshinapatha (South Indian) style of sculpture. His creations are displayed both domestically and internationally and include statues of religious icons, political leaders, freedom fighters and cultural figures.On March 23, 1972, in Nattarameswaram village, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh,

 Early life and background 
D. Rajkumar Wadiyar was born. He was born on Sri Rama Navami's day. He comes from a long-standing sculpture family.His father Acharya Shrinatha Ratna Shilpi Wadiyar worked as a famous sculptor while his mother Smt. Lakshmikantham raised him. The family lineage traces back to Sri Basava Lingam Wadiyar who established Wadiyar Fine Arts in 1908. The Wadiyar family has historical ties to Kothapeta East Godavari district which they use to maintain the Dakshinapatha Shilpa tradition.

 Education and training 

Acharya Devagupthapu Rajkumar Wadiyar obtained a Diploma in Fine Arts from a private university. His father provided him with initial instruction through the traditional guru–shishya system of training. His education included the study of Shilpa Shastra, Sthapathi, Vastu Shastra, and Jyotisha, which continue to influence his sculptural practice.

 Career 
Wadiyar works with materials such as bronze, fibreglass-reinforced polymer, concrete, plaster of Paris, and wax. He approaches his sculpting work through anatomical accuracy and proportion and expression, which he describes as "Jeeva Shilpa" (living sculpture) his artistic method.

He studies the subject's life and personality and historical context before he begins sculpting. His artistic works show deities and political leaders and freedom fighters and social reformers and cultural figures. His sculptures are installed in public spaces, universities, temples, and government institutions in India and overseas.

The media reports state that he has made more than 500 bronze sculptures and created over 2000 fibreglass sculptures. Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu unveiled the statue of N. T. Rama Rao which he sculpted.

 Political leaders 

Mahatma Gandhi – Nellore, Warangal
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – Nellore, Warangal

P. V. Narasimha Rao – Hyderabad
Atal Bihari Vajpayee – Amaravati, Visakhapatnam

Rajiv Gandhi – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad
 Freedom fighters 

Alluri Sita Rama Raju – Vijayawada, Bhimavaram

Komaram Bheem – Hyderabad

Chakali Ilamma – Palakurthi
 Social reformers 

B. R. Ambedkar – Andhra University, Venkateswara University, Kakatiya University

JNTU Kakinada, ONGC Assam
Jyotirao Phule – Nellore, Warangal

Savitribai Phule – Nellore, Warangal
 Cultural figures 

M. S. Subbulakshmi – Chennai, Mumbai

Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao – Tirupati, Kakinada

S. P. Balasubrahmanyam – Hyderabad
 Historical figures 

Rani Rudrama Devi – Warangal, Hyderabad

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – Various locations
 Social and cultural initiatives 

In 2011, Wadiyar founded the Shrinadha Ratna Shilpakala Seva Samstha, based in Kothapeta, East Godavari district. The organisation works to preserve traditional sculpture, promote sculptural education, and support artisans through exhibitions and awards, including the Wadiyar Puraskar.

He has also advocated for the establishment of a museum dedicated to Indian sculpture in Andhra Pradesh.

 Awards and recognition 

Wadiyar has received several honours for his contribution to sculpture, including:

Kala Ratna (Hamsa) Puraskar – Government of Andhra Pradesh

Swarna Bharathi – Presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu
Ugadi Puraskar – Government of Andhra Pradesh

 Personal life 
Wadiyar maintains his family's sculptural art custom because he works as the fourth generation of their family artistic practice. D. Vamsi Krishna Wadiyar, who graduated from the University of Hyderabad, follows his father Wadiyar's mentorship to become a sculptor.

 References 

Category:1972 births
Category:Living people
Category:Sculptors by nationality
Category:Sculptures
Category:Andhra Pradesh