America Denies Visa to Ayodhya Ram Lalla Sculptor Arun Yogiraj: Family Sources | Exclusive

New Delhi: Arun Yogiraj, the acclaimed sculptor of the Ram Lalla idol at Ayodhya's Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, has been denied a US visa, his family sources confirmed to Republic Kannada. Yogiraj was set to attend the 12th AKKA World Kannada Conference (WKC 2024), scheduled for August 30th to September 1st, 2024, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia. 

Family sources expressed disappointment at the visa denial, asserting that it comes despite his international recognition and recent global exposure. They mentioned that his wife, Vijeta, has previously travelled to the US, making the denial particularly unexpected given that all arrangements were in place. Their sole intention was to attend the event and return promptly. Arun Yogiraj was eagerly awaiting this trip, as it would have marked his first break since completing the Ayodhya project. 

Speaking to Republic Kannada, Yogiraj confirmed that his visa was rejected by the US.  "I don't know any reasons why it was denied but we have submitted all the documents related to visa", the Ram Lalla sculptor told R Kannada. 

Republic Kannada Accesses Invite Extended to Yogiraj

Republic Kannada has also accessed the invitation which was extended to Arun Yogiraj for the global Kannada event, recognizing his contributions to the community. However, despite the honour, Arun Yogiraj faced an unexpected hurdle as his visa was denied by America.   

About AKKA World Kannada Conference

AKKA World Kannada Conference is a bi-annual event held in the United States to bring together members of the community living in North America and other parts of the world under one roof. The aim of the event is to celebrate past achievements and to preserve the language and the culture for future generations. To date, the cities of Houston (2000), Detroit (2002), Orlando (2004), Washington DC (2006), Chicago (2008), New Jersey (2010), Atlanta (2012), San Jose (2014), Atlantic City (2016) and Dallas (2018) have hosted the event, attracting several thousand people from across the US as well as a significant number from India and other countries.

Who is Arun Yogiraj?

Arun Yogiraj, hailing from Agrahara, Mysuru in Karnataka, is a renowned sculptor with a rich family legacy spanning five generations. His grandfather, Basavanna Shilpi, was a prominent sculptor patronized by the King of Mysore. Despite this heritage, Arun initially pursued a career in business after earning a master’s degree in business administration and working for a private company. However, in 2008, he left his job to dedicate himself fully to sculpting.

Arun is known for his significant works, including the 30-foot statue of Subhash Chandra Bose, installed behind the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, a project supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also sculpted the 12-foot statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, inaugurated in 2021, and has created several other notable sculptures such as a 21-foot Hanuman in KR Nagar, Mysore, and a 15-foot statue of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

His other works include a 10-foot statue of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a 15-foot statue of Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, and various sculptures of Sir M. Vishveshwaraiah and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Arun has also sculpted a bronze statue of Sri U.R. Rao at ISRO, as well as idols of Garuda and Yoganarasimha Swamy. His sculptures are featured in numerous temples, including depictions of Panchamukhi Ganapathi, MahaVishnu, Buddha, Nandi, Swami Shivbala Yogi, Swami Shivakumara, and Banashankari.