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Discovery

Short Fiction

 Sculptor was frustrated. 

He had a theory that every rock contained within it the statue which the artist has only to discover.  Sculpture is the art of dis-covering. 

But the rock on which he was working refused to reveal the statue it contained.  Sculptor looked at his semi-finished statue from left and right, front and back, from all angles possible. 

No, this isn’t what I had seen in the rock. 

Yes, a sudden realisation dawned on him.  I’ve been making a mistake.  I had seen a particular statue in the rock while the rock contained a quite different one.   He took his hammer and chisel again. 

In the place of Sita which he had been trying to carve, now emerged Ravana.  With one face containing all the ten faces. 


Comments

  1. Indeed sometimes changing perspective work wonders..And Sometimes it is necessary to see things with someone else eyes to make things clear

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    Replies
    1. Indeed, Harsha. Sometimes we become slaves of fixed perspectives. I realised it yesterday when there was a problem with a student. This story is the result.

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  2. Just have one word for it Sir - Brilliant.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Abhra. You always make me happier than I deserve.

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  3. An eye opener. Sometimes we have to let go of things and let them work on their own.

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  4. Tom excellent moralistic story. There is a Ravana in everyone

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    Replies
    1. And that Ravana becomes too active at times creating havoc for others...

      Thank you.

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  5. Nice one, Sir! :)
    Great that the rock told its story and the sculptor understood...
    Wish we all are as perceptive as the Sculptor while carving our sculptures in Life! :)

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    1. If your wish came true, the world would be paradise, Anita.

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  6. What a great writing..few words said and conquered all.
    Sonal

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  7. Breaking Stereotypes - Brilliant!

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  8. Trial and error is actually a good approach :)

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    Replies
    1. In this case, it was more than a trial and error, however.

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  9. [ Smiles ] It's good to know that the artist had a change of perspective!

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  10. A brilliant post, I could even conclude two more things out of it - The once who were Ram or perhaps Sita, as time passes may turn Ravan....Or people you thought were like Ram and Sita were actually Ravan in making which you failed to notice..

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    Replies
    1. Both are natural and valid possibilities... This, being a parable of sorts, is amenable to a lot of interpretations. What about the process of artistic creation, for example?

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  11. Absolutely beautiful. I guess every artist feels that way at one point or the other. :)

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