Reported By Amar Dev Paswan
Asansol: West Bengal Sculptor Susanta Ray, a resident of Mohishila Colony area of Asansol, has gained widespread attention for his latest creation. The talented sculptor has gained widespread attention after he crafted a wax statue of NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams, who spent more than 9 months in space. From the Law Minister to the District Magistrate of the state, many reached out to get a glimpse of the statue.
According to Roy, the inspiration that goes behind the making of the statue is Sunita Williams’ long-duration spaceflight. Ray believes staying in space as a woman for 9 months is incredible. One can imagine if a person is kept in a locked room for even a day, we know how difficult things can get. Williams’s patience, marked by her safe return to the earth, is simply a reflection of what women’s empowerment looks like. Her journey inspires every woman, particularly students, who have a keen interest in science and space exploration.
Additionally, Sunita Williams’s dedication to her work has already inspired many youths. Ray said that he spent about two and a half lakh rupees to craft her statue. You must be wondering how much time it took the veteran sculptor to complete the process. Well, it took him about 2 months. He revealed that he wanted the statue to be adorned in the same outfit that Williams wore during her space journey and even while returning from there.
But here’s a catch! Sushant tried several times but failed to get the outfit made, following which he contacted one of his friends, who has a Museum in Jaipur but mostly lives in America. It was learnt that his friend was in the United States at that time and bought another dress that looked similar for Rs. 10,000. An additional ten thousand rupees was also spent on delivering that dress.
Ray is known for crafting the statues of many famous figures, including popular actors. However, he believes that making Sunita Williams’s statue was a different experience for him, and he is proud of her. Williams was born on 19 September 1965 in Ohio, USA, to an Indian father and a Slovenian mother. She obtained a degree in Physics from the US Naval University and then also obtained a master’s degree in Engineering Management. She holds the record for staying the longest in space. Sunita Williams was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2008.
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