Patna: In the quiet district of Kaimur, Bihar, lives a man whose hands create magic from marble. Firangi Lal Gupta, a master of the undercut technique in stone carving, is celebrated for sculpting intricate animal figures—often one hidden inside the other—earning him accolades in India and abroad.
Firangi’s craft involves carving soft marble stones into figures of elephants, tortoises, ducks, and frogs. His signature work, an elephant carved within another elephant, has become symbolic of the skill and tradition he keeps alive. A three-foot version of this sculpture, made from a marble block weighing nearly 1,000 kilograms, is displayed at the Kaimur Collectorate.
The undercut technique—wherein artists carve inside the sculpture without breaking the outer layer—is rarely practiced today. Firangi, however, has not only mastered it but also passed it on to younger generations. Currently, he teaches part-time at the Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan in Patna’s Patliputra area, a government-run institute under the Department of Industries.
He begins his work by cutting soft stone with a saw, then uses precision tools to bring animals to life. “This art demands both patience and vision,” says Firangi, who attributes much of his growth to support from the Bihar government. “Because of this support, I had the chance to take my work to China and Mauritius.”
In 2008, Firangi showcased his art in China through a government-supported initiative. A year later, he was awarded the State Award for 2009–10. In 2012, his exhibition at the Upendra Maharathi Institute attracted attention from across the art world. He was later invited to represent Bihar in Mauritius in 2017.
“It is important that this art survives,” he says. “I want the next generation to shape it with their own hands.”
