In early 2014, “10 Personalities of the Year” was announced by Kantipur Publication and I noticed Artist Rajkumar Shakya for the first time. I had known him since childhood through family and friends but never got drawn before.
With the successful construction of 115 feet Guru Padmasambhav in Takela, Bhutan his popularity soared across countries. We connected through Facebook and the interesting combination began. Same year 2014, October as he returned back to Nepal I finally met him. Immediately after his return, he got busy meeting senior artists and social leaders especially for planning and organizing handicraft related events through Sumeru Kalagram. In the meantime, we were also constantly interacting on business restructuring. He was not just a skilled artist but a person at time and finance management. Beginning the career with hardship, achieved his prominence with height of name and fame in three decades. Everyone known to him expected for a new beginning after his return from Bhutan – bigger, better and ambitious. With the same aim he asked me for 10 years of my commitment.
Marrying my background of information technology with art and craft was initially a strange idea to myself. We collaborated few minor projects to understand the hypothesis. As if we were into each other’s head, project architecture, process management, profit projection and timeline scheduling were few topics among many we were discussing fondly during breakfast, brunch and drinks after dinner. He was opening up to broader horizons whereas I was making it look possible in paper.
I have met few people who are ready to adapt the change in real time. Even more difficult when you are a role model to hundreds. Artist Rajkumar Shakya was always open to adaption to technology for work management and execution. He loved the process simplification through flowchart and documentation. Better than anyone in his circle he used to explain the value of management of small components and events that would lead to massive projects successfully. I got opportunity to explore my true capacity in information technology management with our collaboration.
Individual’s growth is equally important along with organization. The belief was deeply rooted in Rajkumar Shakya’s thought process. We organized different activities this common growth practice among team members. From minor calendar management to world tour for Nepali traditional art promotion, we worked in various headings. He had great vision to establish On Metal Arts & Craft as a world class organization specializing in metal mega structures standing on the strong foundation of knowledge, skill, leadership, training, research and market presence.
Basic facilities in workshop like sound proof technology, water and electricity management were invested generously for better working environment. He believed, working environment should not just have basic minimum facilities but a place that we should be able to be proud of. He welcomed families of workers, friends, guests, authorities and clients warm heartedly and loved to show around the works through live demonstration. Comments like “museum on progress”, “most lively work station” and “larger than life” were common to us. The ambiance is pretty much same nowadays but with an uncomfortable vacuum like feeling.
Nothing should be above the law was his philosophy while taking care of legal and financial parts of business. As the work as greatly related with dharma, his understanding of law conceded with verbal promises of religious gurus many times. Amazingly, these exchanged words were deeper than legal documents most of the times. Though he was the man with patience, he used to express how difficult is to balance with people but easier to understand the law of law, finance, management and marketing. His plan was to focus on creative works and capacity development after the proper establishment of the company with handover the leadership to the capable hands.
Swraup and Saurav, his songs were climbing high in artistic ladder through their own effort and of course with father’s guidance. Swarup had already impressed Rajkumar Shakya during the making of 50 feet statue of Buddha at Lumbini with his ratio calculation skill and eye for detailing. The belief that knowledge will grow when shared truly reflected in his sons’ skill and comradery. Not just own blood but same vibe was shared among his team members drill down to interns and junior workers. The dynamism of Rajkumar Shakya was often compared to Bajrapani/Bhairav by his students.
Once I had expressed unless a guru somewhere in some corner of earth would dream of a statue, he would look around and discover us to accomplish his wish. This is a whole long process which shall happen once in decades. Can’t we do something on our own since we have capacity, idea and team? Only face we lack is funding that we shall look around with right pitching across the globe. He laughed out his heart for what I spoke. He agreed and didn’t miss explaining the important of religious gurus in the society.
World’s largest Bhairav mask at Chhampi, Lalitpur was perhaps beginning of this idea. This is the project to be inscribed in Guiness Book of World Records, empowered by common people and not driven by any specific religion. Real reason to be happy, we did celebrate this exciting moment. Nepal has rich cultural heritage of centuries and we were stepping into next level of Nepali art of 21st century. His excitement exemplified the massive dream of hundreds of artists from Nepal when Nepal Art Village was established in the year 2017. The rapport of craftsmen, businessmen, social leaders and entrepreneurs energized Rajkumar Shakya to bring out his deepest and unattempted dreams out from his head.
On the invitation of Mayor Ghanashyam Pandey from Tulsipur, Dang, we visited Western Nepal to explore possibility of new settlements inspired from traditional Newar community living. Conceptually vague idea of bridging age old concept of lifestyle with modern amenities was lucrative but equally challenging. Though the presentation and interaction generated exciting discussion, its execution is yet to see the daylight. However, this event opened up various possibilities and played catalyst to accelerate Rajkumar Shakya’s though process. Not to be missed, hospitality treat by Tharu homestay at Dang during this visit has etched memory for its food, cultural setup and musical performance.
Our exploration to out of box possibilities progressed across the country till Covid 19 pandemic began. 150 feet Buddha at Dharan, Huge crane bird at Lumbini, gigantic Shiva at Badi Malika, Dang, mega structures in Pokhara, Palpa, Butwal along with many other monuments planning in different countries were discussion on progress. Proposals and detail project reports had been presented to religious gurus, architects and authorities in Taiwan, China, India, Bhutan and USA for some of the most astounding metal structures that would have been a challenge to mankind. Another idea in parallel was flourishing in the meantime – world class hotel in Nepal that would not just be visual reflection of Nepali architecture but a practicing destitution for tradition, rituals, festivals, celebrations and performances. We were constantly exploring hotels in and out of Nepal during our tours.
My 10 years with him is incomplete yet. There are various unfinished tasks which are not just mere responsibilities of his bloodline family. Whole artist community and society was his extended family who can not just mourn his untimely death. He was a self-made man who lived with higher level of consciousness. His dreams were huge yet practical. I wish to take his death as an awakening event and the only condolence would be adapting his dream to viable pieces and execute with no delay.
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Bishwas Bajracharya is the project coordinator at On Metal Arts & Craft and worked together with Late Rajkumar Shakya in documentation, presentation and coordination for mega structure projects.
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