NE FEATURES BUREAU
CHENNAI, OCT 8
When a magnificent wooden chariot rolls out in a temple procession, a sacred sculpture takes shape from an unyielding block of timber or an intricately carved door becomes part of a landmark shrine, the finished creation often receives the applause—but the hands that made it possible remain largely unseen.
SharonPly’s seventh I AM STRONGEST Awards sought to change that narrative by placing five such master artisans at the centre of recognition.
- Seventh I AM STRONGEST Awards puts the spotlight on the artisans behind temple chariots, sacred sculptures, monumental doors and architectural masterpieces
- ‘CARVED IN STRENGTH’ celebrates generations of traditional knowledge while embracing innovation
- Five master craftsmen honoured for preserving heritage skills through practice, teaching and landmark creations
- From Tamil Nadu’s temple traditions to Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, their work carries craftsmanship across generations and geographies
- SharonPly initiative seeks to make the makers behind India’s magnificent wooden creations visible and valued
Under the theme “CARVED IN STRENGTH: Honouring Generations of Craftsmanship & Innovation,” SharonPly honoured Perunthachar Appar Lakshmanan, Dr. R. Rangachari Sthapathi, S. Maasanam Achari, S. Thirunavukkarasu Sthapathi and Kumarasamy Ramesh Sthapathi for their exceptional craftsmanship, perseverance and contribution to preserving India’s woodcraft traditions.
Their creations range from temple chariots and vahanams to deity sculptures, architectural woodwork and monumental doors. Yet their contribution goes beyond what they create with wood: they are also custodians of knowledge, mentors to younger artisans and carriers of traditions shaped over generations.
Five craftsmen, five remarkable journeys
Perunthachar Appar Lakshmanan was recognised for bringing innovation to traditional carpentry without losing its cultural roots. A master carpenter from the Thiruvallur region, he has created temple chariots at several locations across Tamil Nadu, including the Tamil Ther at Chennai International Airport. His inventive wooden car, bike and household creations reflect his ability to take an age-old craft into unconventional territory.
A recipient of the Poompuhar State Award for 2011–2012, Lakshmanan has also authored ten books on carpentry and trained students in wood sculpture, ensuring that his knowledge travels beyond his own workshop.
Dr. R. Rangachari Sthapathi represents a remarkable 13-generation legacy of temple chariot making and traditional wood sculpture. Through Rangachari Traditional Wood Sculptures, he continues to create hand-carved sculptures, decorative panels and architectural woodwork rooted in Tamil Nadu’s heritage.
His journey is as much about preserving intricate sculptural techniques as it is about transferring them to the next generation, keeping a living tradition relevant in a changing world.
For S. Maasanam Achari, the language of wood is written with traditional hand tools. Based in Madurai, he carries forward a family craft tradition spanning about 55 years, working alongside his brothers on deity figures, Chettinad-style doors and pooja mandapams.
The family workshop has contributed wooden structural components to the Meenakshi Amman Temple’s Velli Ambalam silver mandapam and supplied carved pillars and deity sculptures to Malaysia—taking a distinctly Tamil craft tradition beyond India’s shores.
S. Thirunavukkarasu Sthapathi was honoured for his extensive contribution to temple vahanams and the preservation of sculptural traditions associated with sacred processional works.
A graduate of the Government College of Sculpture and Architecture, Mamallapuram, he continues his traditional practice through MARABU in Andipandal. His landmark creations include a 62-foot chariot for the Sri Pandurangan–Rukmini Temple at Govindapuram and a 32-foot Athi Vinayagar sculpture, carved from athi wood and installed in Nagapattinam.
Kumarasamy Ramesh Sthapathi brings another dimension to traditional craftsmanship—an active commitment to the welfare and advancement of fellow artisans. With more than two decades of experience, he heads Manasa Wood Creations, specialising in traditional woodcraft and large temple timber structures.
Among his notable projects are 90 doors created for Ayodhya’s Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, handed over in November 2025, besides temple projects undertaken across India and overseas.
‘The maker at the centre’
Speaking on the occasion, Vishnu Khemani, Founder and Managing Director, SharonPly, said the awards were intended to shift attention from the finished masterpiece to the person whose skill and dedication brought it into existence.
“A finished creation reflects not just skill, but years of learning, discipline and experience. Through this year’s I AM STRONGEST Awards, we place the maker at the centre, celebrating artisans whose expertise preserves traditional knowledge while evolving with contemporary needs.”
He added: “CARVED IN STRENGTH reflects SharonPly’s long standing association with wood and our respect for the craftsmanship that transforms it into functional, architectural and cultural creations.”
Khemani said the initiative also seeks to encourage greater appreciation for skilled craftsmanship and the transfer of knowledge across generations.
“By honouring these masters of woodcraft, we hope to inspire greater appreciation for skilled craftsmanship and encourage the transfer of knowledge across generations. I AM STRONGEST continues to spotlight individuals whose achievements and contributions inspire others.”
From everyday heroes to masters of heritage
Launched in 2019, the SharonPly I AM STRONGEST Awards has evolved each year to spotlight a different expression of strength, resilience and service.
Its inaugural edition honoured wheelchair basketball player Malathi and social change maker Logammal. In 2020, the platform paid tribute to frontline workers who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 edition recognised everyday heroes who supported communities during the second wave. Both editions were conducted online.
In 2022, the awards turned towards animal welfare, recognising individuals whose work extended to birds, elephants and other animals. The 2024 edition honoured Tamil Nadu’s Olympic hockey legends, while the 2025 edition recognised retired senior Army officers who continue to contribute to public understanding as defence analysts.
The 2026 edition takes that philosophy into the workshops where tradition is painstakingly preserved—often away from the glare of the spotlight.
The message is powerful:
Strength is not always measured in physical force or public prominence. Sometimes it lies in the steady hands that learn a craft, preserve it, innovate within it and pass it forward. And in the hands of these five masters, wood is more than a material. It becomes heritage, devotion, architecture, identity and a living link between generations.