Tussauds in Ludhiana

Ludhiana, Dec.1 : An old man in Ludhiana has set up a wax museum, which is one of its kind in north India and is a major draw for art lovers.

Businessman-turned-amateur wax sculptor Chander Shekhar Prabhakar, 70, says that he felt inspired by the world famous Madame Tussauds museum during his London visit. It instilled in him zeal to carve out the statues of the famous personalities who made India proud.

He went on to create 40 wax statues of eminent Indian personalities including that Mahatma Gandhi, former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler The Great Khali, famous singers and some popular characters of the small screen characters.

Prabhakar denies having received any formal training in sculpture.

"I made this wax museum with a purpose that people remember the famous personalities of India and remember them in future. After returning from London, I worked hard but it was difficult to make wax statues. But this dream of mine converted into my passion and I kept on thinking about the wax statutes even in my dreams," said Chander Shekhar Prabhakar, the wax artiste.

The passion of the artisan leaves visitors spellbound and full of admiration for his work.

The statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh and other freedom fighters are the most attractive among all the wax statues.

"I have never seen all this in India before, though I have heard that there is a wax museum in England. There are statues of Sonia Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Shaktiman and many others I liked these a lot," said Gurvinder, a visitor.

"I saw the wax museum. I have seen this for the first time. It seems as if the statues are real. I liked all especially Mahatma Gandhi's, Bhagat Singh's, Ishmit's , Nehru's, Khali's. We enjoyed it," said Sanjay Singh, a visitor.

Prabhakar uses beeswax and fiber to make the wax statues and each costs himround 50,000 rupees. It takes him almost two to three months to prepare onetatue.

Country's other two wax museums are in Ooty and Goa.. By Karan Kapoor

ANI