Prof. Dinkar
Shankarrao Thopate

I was born in the village of Thopatewadi, Jejuri. My artistic journey began in childhood, shaping small figures out of village clay and mud. That early fascination with form grew into a lifelong devotion to sculpture and visual art. Over the decades, my work has spanned iconic projects, from Shri Ganesh idols to large-scale creations like Shivsrushti and the Gita Mandir. Deeply influenced by Kalidasa’s literary works, I began a series of paintings inspired by them, drawing from the sacred, story-rich landscape around Jejuri.

My journey from Jejuri-Thopatewadi to Pune reflects a life shaped by both struggle and achievement. Despite numerous awards and recognitions, I remain driven by an artist’s restlessness, a constant pursuit of new creation. For me, true wealth lies not in accolades, but in the body of work I have built over a lifetime.

As I always say: “Languages may change over a thousand years, but painting and sculpture endure forever.”