A FRIENDSHIP, 22 YEARS APART!
Sangam Vankhade,
ISculptor-artist and Dikshu C Kukreja, Architect
n 2016, the then 25-year-old Sangam saw some of Dikshu’s projects on social media and felt a certain connection to the architect’s work. So, he emailed Dikshu with images of some of his own works and links to his research project on Indian heritage.
Dikshu, 52, the managing principal of C P Kukreja Architects, had no idea who Sangam was, so he was startled by the email. But courteously, he went through the attachments and wrote back, advising Sangam to mix Indian and western heritage in his work. This led not only to a very natural guru-shishya relationship between the two, but also to Sangam winning the first prize at a 2017 competition in Italy.
“Sangam’s zeal to achieve something unique was inspiring,” says Dikshu. “Our relationship transformed into a menteementor one very organically.”
The two of them spend hours discussing life, philosophy and everything. “Dikshu sir is always willing to discuss even my craziest ideas, which is very reassuring. “He motivates me to take my chances as a friend but as a father figure he keeps reminding me to focus on my goals,” says 30-year-old Sangam.
“SANGAM EMAILED ME OUT OF NOWHERE. HIS ZEAL WAS INSPIRING. OUR RELATIONSHIP TRANSFORMED INTO A MENTEE-MENTOR ONE VERY ORGANICALLY.” —DIKSHU C KUKREJA, ARCHITECT
Wisdom dakshina: Even a chat with a helpful senior can make all the difference. “No academy can teach me what I learn from him and I’m so grateful,” says Sangam.