The Last Stone Mason
by Sigrun Srivastava
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This story is about a devoted old sculptor, his son, and an orphan servant boy, and it shows that true art comes from love and dedication, and that the urge to learn helps one master a skill. The old stone mason carves statues of gods for temples, a craft he inherited from his father and grandfather; for him the work is a service to God. But his son Gopal, seeing no money in it, throws down the hammer and chisel and leaves for Agra to mass-produce ashtrays, candle-stands and paperweights for tourists. Alone and weak, the old man struggles to finish his last sculpture, a marble Radha-Krishna. His servant boy Salim lovingly cares for him, bringing tea and food. Working day and night, the old man finally faints, unable to complete the face and hands, which need a special something that 'comes from somewhere deep inside you' and cannot be taught. When he wakes, he hears a chisel and hammer at work and thinks Gopal has returned, but it is Salim, carving the face of the statue like an expert. Salim confesses he has been practising secretly in the quarry for almost two years. Full of admiration, the old man embraces him and tells him there is nothing he can teach him: 'you have it in your heart. I know you will be one of the best stone masons India will ever have.'
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The son leaves the family craft
The old stone mason lovingly carves statues of gods for temples, a craft passed down from his father and grandfather, and for him a service to God. But his son Gopal sees no money in it. He throws down the hammer and chisel, complaining that the work does not pay, and leaves angrily for Agra to mass-produce ashtrays, candle-stands and plates for tourists, saying goodbye to his father and the family tradition.
Alone with his last sculpture
Now nearly the last stone mason in the area, the old man must finish his last work, a marble Radha-Krishna, all by himself, though he has little strength left. His orphan servant boy, Salim, tends to him with concern, bringing him tea and food. The old man works continuously for days without rest, driven by his one desire to finish the sculpture, until his hands tremble, his arms grow heavy and his eyes tire.
The something that cannot be taught
Exhausted, the old man whispers that he cannot finish it. Even Gopal, he says, was not a good sculptor, he had difficulty carving the face and hands, because 'something was missing in his fingers', a something that cannot be taught. Salim gently completes the thought: 'Because it comes from somewhere deep inside you.' The old man works till late in the night and, in the early hours of the morning, faints as the chisel and hammer fall from his hands.
Salim, the true artist
Waking on his cot, the old man hears strong blows of a chisel and hammer and thinks Gopal has returned to help him. But it is Salim, working at the face of the statue like an expert. Salim confesses that he wants only to help, and that he has been practising secretly in the quarry for almost two years. Anger gives way to admiration. The old man pulls Salim's head to his shoulder and says there is nothing he can teach him: 'Go ahead, you have it in your heart. I know you will be one of the best stone masons India will ever have.' The story shows that dedication, love and the urge to learn make a true artist, regardless of birth or background.