Chandrashekhar Shilpi, guardian of Kalyana Karnataka's sculptural legacy, dies at 76
Veteran sculptor and master craftsperson Chandrashekhar Y. Shilpi, whose intricate wood and stone carvings preserved the rich sculptural heritage of Kalyana Karnataka, died at a private hospital in Kalaburagi in the early hours of Saturday, August 15, 2026. He was admitted on Thursday after developing pneumonia and suffered a severe heart attack while undergoing treatment. His last rites were performed at the Rudrabhoomi crematorium in Raghavendra Colony, Kalaburagi, on Saturday evening.
Born into a poor traditional blacksmith family in Kakkera village, Surpur taluk, Yadgir district, Shilpi's journey from economic hardship to national recognition is a testament to his dedication and lifelong commitment to art. He underwent 18 years of rigorous training in traditional wood sculpture under the Gurukul system at Gonal village, under renowned master craftsperson Nadoja Naganna Monappa Badiger. Though formally trained in woodcraft, he later acquired expertise in stone sculpture and Panchaloha art through self-learning and continuous experimentation. He relocated to Kalaburagi, where he lived and worked for more than four decades.
Shilpi's work was deeply inspired by the sculptural traditions of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Chola, Rashtrakuta, and Pallava periods. He developed a distinctive style rooted in the principles of Shilpa Shastra and Vastu Shastra. His creations included intricately carved temple doors, pillars, mantapas, traditional wooden halls, ornamental frames, and idols of Hindu deities. He travelled extensively to historic temple centres such as Belur, Halebidu, Kalagi, and Shirwal to study classical temple art, and his works reached different parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and even countries such as Dubai and Scotland.
In recognition of his mastery, Shilpi received the prestigious National Award for Master Craftspersons for 2024 from the Handicrafts Department under the Union Ministry of Textiles. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to him at a ceremony in New Delhi on December 9, 2025. He also served as a member of the Karnataka Shilpakala Academy from 1998 to 2001 and was a member of the selection committee for the Amarashilpi Jakanachari Award. He was conferred the Karnataka Shilpakala Academy's honorary award in 2012 and the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2014, along with several other honours from cultural organisations and institutions.
Shilpi trained several young artists and disciples, including his daughter Gayathri Shilpi, who has earned recognition in traditional sculpture and woodcraft. He is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter, besides a large number of students and admirers. Even in his later years, he continued to work from his residence and workshop in Kalaburagi, dedicating himself to the preservation and promotion of India's traditional sculptural heritage.
His demise marks the end of an era in the world of traditional Indian sculpture, but his legacy lives on through his numerous works and the students he mentored. His contributions to keeping the ancient art forms alive will be remembered for generations to come.
