The Hindu : Kerala / Kollam News : Row over `mermaid sculpture' on Kollam beach

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Saturday, Mar 19, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kollam

Row over `mermaid sculpture' on Kollam beach

By Our Staff Reporter

The incomplete sculpture of a mermaid on the Kollam beach.

KOLLAM, MARCH 18. A row has erupted over the sculpting of a 35-foot mermaid at the Mahatma Gandhi Park on Kollam beach.

The project was taken up by the erstwhile Kollam Municipal Council in 2000 as part of a scheme to beautify Kollam beach. An allocation of Rs. 4 lakhs was made for the purpose and the task was entrusted to the sculptor Shanthanu.

However, the work was stopped midway and the structure has remained in a scaffold for the past several months. According to Mr. Shanthanu, lack of funds had forced him to suspend work on the project. A sum of Rs. 30,000 is needed to complete the sculpture, he said. However, funds were not allotted for the project during the last two years.

Meanwhile, those in charge of supervising the project have now decided to entrust the work to another sculptor for completion.

At a press conference here today, Mr. Shanthanu said such a step was tantamount to plagiarism. He warned that he would go on a fast unto death in front of the structure. However, the new sculptor has already begun work. He has also reportedly detected "anatomical defects" in the original structure.

Mr. Santhanu counters this stating that a mermaid was an imaginary creature and the anatomy of the beach mermaid was a distinctive creation of his imagination. Hence it was unique, he said and warned against "impairing" his creation. Mr. Santhanu will meet the Kollam Mayor, Sabida Beegum, tomorrow in this connection.

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Row over `mermaid sculpture' on Kollam beach