Rao Bahadur
M. S. Nagappa
Bornc. 1890
Madras, British India
Died12 January 1942 (age 51)
Madras, India
OccupationSculptor
Known forsculpting a statue of George V on the silver jubilee of his reign
Children5, including Mani Nagappa

Rao Bahadur M. S. Nagappa (c. 1890 – 12 January 1942[1]) was an Indian sculptor who designed statues and monuments in British India. In 1935, Nagappa was appointed official sculptor to the British Crown by George V.[2]

Early life

Nagappa was born in a family of traditional sthapathis or sculptors.[3] Sculpting was the main occupation of his ancestors for five generations before him.[2] Nagappa wanted to join the Madras School of Arts but could not.[3] However, impressed with his abilities, Hadaway, the Principal employed Nagappa as his assistant.[3]

Career

When there was a plague epidemic in the Madras Presidency, the government requested Hadaway to prepare a painting of a victim so as to study the plague in detail. Nagappa prepared the painting with the help of a mould of the victim and was acknowledged and awarded for his work.[3] Following this success, Nagappa set up a studio at Narasingapuram (now part of Ritchie Street), Madras.[3]

In 1935, Nagappa prepared a bronze statue of George V and presented it to the monarch during his silver jubilee celebrations on behalf of Lodd Govindoss Chathurbhujadoss, a popular businessman and philanthropist of Madras.[2][3] Nagappa was awarded a "Rao Bahadur" medal for his work.[2][3] George V also appointed him official sculptor to the British Crown and presented him with a coat of arms.[2]

In 1936, Nagappa sculpted a statue of the Maharaja of Travancore.[4]

Death

Nagappa died at Narasingapuram on 12 January 1942 at the age of 51.[1]

Family

Nagappa had five sons,three daughters two of whom Rajaram Nagappa - Mani Nagappa and Jayaram Nagappa were also acclaimed sculptors. Among Mani Nagappa's creations are the Jawaharlal Nehru statue at Kathipara Junction[5] and the Thiruvalluvar statue near Ulsoor Lake, Bangalore.[2][6]

Notes

  1. 1 2 The Indian review, Volume 43. G. A. Natesan. 1942. p. 108.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sunday Celebrity:Mani Nagappa: sculpturing and vintage cars his love". Asian Tribune. 11 (133). 14 November 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Frederick, Prince (6 May 2009). "Memories of Madras: Giving shape to the past". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009.
  4. ↑ Raj, R. Joseph Pradeep. "Interview with Mani Nagappa".
  5. ↑ Sridhar, Lalitha (5 February 2001). "Chiselling history". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Lalitha, S. "'I never thought I would live to see unveiling of statue'". Deccan Herald.
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