Imphal, December 08 2010: Even if he built the two Hikok and Himei of the two Hiyang Hiren at Kangla, RK Seitendra is still unknown to the people of the state.

RK Seitendra started making sculptures by mud since his childhood.

He first made a sculpture of Lenin.

But his parents did not support him in his hobby.

He started making wooden sculptures by copying the same sculpture he made first.

He used a saw, a hammer, a chisel and a khujinthang when he began to make wooden sculptures.

He also made animal sculptures from plant roots.

RK Seitendra is a graduate and is still unmarried.

He is the second son of RK Birendra of Keishampat Konjeng Hazari Leikai, Imphal.

He had attended a one year course on wood carving under the Department of Commerce and Industries in 1989-90 .

He also attended a four month training course in Wood Mosaic, Chemical and Etching in Bangalore in 1993-94.He won first position in wood carving category in the Training of Trainers programme held at Regional Design and Technical Development Centre in Guwahati under the Ministry of Textile, government of India.

He was assured by the organizers of the programme that India government will sanction him a project named Skim C.It was a project to train people in the field of carving sculptures.

Unfortunately the assurance came to naught.

He is now running a cable service for his survival.

He was asked to make the Hikok and Himei of the two Hiyang Hiren in Kangla in the yea 2006 by Manipur State Archeology department through his brother-in-law.

With pressures from many persons, he agreed to carve the Hikok and Himei.

He started his work in April 2009.He worked day and night for four months to complete the Hikok.

He completed his work in December 2009 .

He used a big chisel, a small chisel, a curved chisel, a planer and a hammer to complete his works.

With only some orthodox tools he tried his best to complete his work upto expectations.

He said that the state government is not taking up any initiatives to develop the art of sculpture.

He expressed his desire to open an institute to teach the art of sculpture.

It may be mentioned that state government had honoured RK Seitendra with State Award for Master Craftsmen and Outstanding Wooden Sculpture Artwork for the year 1995-96 .

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