Senior Reporter
otto.carrington@guardian.co.tt
Hindus across the world and right here in Trinidad and Tobago are currently celebrating Ganesh Utsav.
But 11-year-old student Amzard Ali has managed to celebrate this auspicious season in his own way.
With his hands, patience and imagination, Ali has created a murti of Lord Ganesh for a school project, an unexpected piece of art that has now also become a quiet lesson in religious respect, cultural appreciation and the importance of children developing skills away from their screens.
Amzard, who is Muslim, said religion was not a barrier to his interest in creating the Hindu deity. For him, it was about the challenge of making something with his hands.
Asked whether he was fascinated by creating something outside of his own religious tradition, his answer was a simple, “Yes.”
And while Amzard has previously worked with clay, he said no one guided him through this particular project.
He said he developed the figure piece by piece, beginning by shaping the lower portion before assembling the rest of the body. It was the first time he had attempted such a piece but his effort has already earned praise from his Standard Four teachers and others.
“Plenty teachers tell me I did a great job,” Amzard said, adding he was also encouraged to attempt larger pieces.
That is a challenge he intends to accept.
“I want to challenge myself to do bigger,” he said.
Amzard said clay modelling is a hobby. His parents, he said, are supportive.
“They’re proud of me doing this for my school,” he said.
His ambitions, however, stretch beyond art.
Asked what he would like to become when he grows older, Amzard responded without hesitation: “An army man.”
But despite his age, he already has some advice for other children.
In a generation where tablets, phones and other devices consume much of young people’s free time, Amzard believes children should spend more time learning and developing themselves.
“Do better in life,” he said.
“Stop doing the tablet too much. Learn your work so you can be a better person in life.”
Amzard’s work was discovered almost by chance by Felicity Ramleela Cultural Group president Sundar Jookoo, whose organisation is marking 111 years of existence this year.
For Jookoo, who has spent 44 years in culture, what began as trip to have his vehicle serviced became something much more meaningful. Amzard’s father is Jookoo’s mechanic.
Jookoo said he had dropped off his vehicle and was walking to a nearby parlou when he noticed Amzard sitting on the ground.
“I was wondering what he’s doing,” Jookoo recalled, “When I went across and looked, I was amazed to see what he was doing and sculpting a murti of Lord Ganesh. I mean, that blew my mind.”
Jookoo said the discovery was particularly striking because it was during the period when Hindu communities were observing Ganesh Utsav, the festival dedicated to Lord Ganesh.
Lord Ganesh holds an important place in Hindu worship and is traditionally associated with wisdom, new beginnings, prosperity and the removal of obstacles.
During Ganesh Utsav, devotees worship murtis of the deity with prayer offerings and community observances forming part of the festival.
For Jookoo, seeing a Muslim child creating a Ganesh murti gave another dimension. He said he immediately spoke with Amzard’s father about it. The father’s response, he said, stayed with him.
“The idea of religion is to respect each other, and this place will be a better place,” Jookoo recalled him saying.
Jookoo said it was a message that deserved attention in a multicultural country such as T&T.
“I commend his dad for a statement like that,” he said.
“I applaud him for being a good parent, for guiding his son in the correct direction. Respect is given and respect is returned.”
Jookoo was so intrigued by Amzard’s work that he remained to watch the youngster finish.
“It was really, really amazing,” Jookoo said.
