NEGERCOIL: In a world of digital sculpting, native sculptors (pic) from Sankarankoil and Kazhugumalai, whose ancestors are said to have built the famed Thanumalayan temple in Suchindram near Nagercoil, struggle for survival; the profession is losing ground and the unavailability of raw materials are pushing these artisans into other professions. “We settled in Mayiladi three generations back, when our ancestors helped construct the Thanumalayan Temple.
Since then, we have been in the sculpting business,” said N Kumar, a 46-year-old sculptor. However, the numbers of sculptors continuing the tradition is dwindling. The knowledge is now under threat, and the major reason, is a shortage of stones. “Sculpting is not easy and we do not want our children to suffer in this field where we are unsure of regular income,” said another sculptor.