MUMBAI.- Stone Oasis has designed and installed four 12m (41ft) high monumental pillars for a project commissioned by IIT Ropar. The project, supported by the Archeological Survey of India, serves as homage to the intellectual progress and excellence achieved in the land of Rupnagar, which houses the new IIT campus and stands over the roots of the great Indus Valley Civilization.    

The pillars, which took over a year to complete, mark a list of firsts that includes being the tallest stone-carved panel in India, and one of the largest works employing bas relief carving outside the sphere of temple carvings.   

The visually commanding installation spreads over 1,600​m​2 of area and consists of four 12m (41 ft) high pillars with 16 facades in total. Each facade carries bas relief carvings depicting a unique story built around central figures unearthed from the ancient Indus civilisation; such as the iconic​Dancing Girl (pictured left in The National Museum, New Delhi and above right on the pillar) or the figure often referred to as ​Pashupati, likely the earliest depiction of Hindu god Shiva.     

The labour-intensive carving on the pillars is inspired by the narratives and techniques used by this ancient civilisation. These seemingly ancient pillars, however, fashion a metallic molecular structure on top of each of them, highlighting the fusion of contemporary knowledge with the ancient site. 

The installation was supported by efforts from the Archeological Survey of India, Director of IIT Ropar Professor S.K Das and the CPWD team. It was executed completely in-house by the Stone Oasis team (pictured below) with the assistance of several Jaipur-based master craftsmen and artisans as well as architects and art historians. 

“Our initial plan for the pillars was mosaic work with motifs from the Indus Valley Civilisation. However, there was a proposal to also explore the alternative of stone. We looked at the option suggested by Amit Sharma from Stone Oasis, we decided that stone carving was more apt for the location as it reflected the timelessness of the wisdom of the land that it sits in and also the craft performed by the people of the earliest civilisation known to man. Amit and his team did a very thorough job in their research and execution of the project. I think that the juxtaposition of the carved pillar with the molecular forms on top gives an impression that ‘On the base of a great civilisation we’re building modern science’ which is a unique statement for an IIT. This could possibly be the largest work of art undertaken in a university campus!” --Professor S.K Das, Director of IIT Ropar