Sanjib Basak, an artist from Dhubri, has created an idol of Goddess Durga out of medical waste. He has used 40,000 expired tablets, capsules and syringes to create a 6.5-foot high idol.
To complete this idol, Basak who works as a field officer with the Dhubri district disaster management authority, persevered for nearly three months. At a time when the pandemic has laid down several restrictions for people during Durga Puja, people are lauding this artist online for his inspirational artwork.
Tablet by tablet, strip by strip, Assam-based artist Sanjib Basak burnt the midnight oil for nearly 60 days to create a glorious idol of Goddess Durga, using more than 30,000 capsules and syringes. pic.twitter.com/tW14gim3St
— धीरज ठाकुर (@Dheerajthakur00) October 22, 2020
Also Read: Pomp and glory a miss as Assam all set for low-key Durga Puja celebrations
Basak says that the idea to make an idol from expired tablets crossed his mind upon seeing stocks of expired pills at medical stores in Dhubri that could not be returned to pharmaceutical companies due to lockdown. So he collected substantial medical waste in the subsequent months.
Assamese made this Durga Pujo epic!
Sanjib Basak (artist) took 2 months to make this Maa Durga idol & he used more than 30,000 expired capsules & syringes.
This is extraordinarily creative!@ParveenKaswan @susantananda3 @khushwant_IFS @SudhaRamenIFS @swastika24 @vinsinners pic.twitter.com/kUPG5VUzYp
— Anita Chauhan (@anita_chauhan80) October 23, 2020
Also Read: Assam: Dhubri priests decline to undergo mandatory COVID-19 test to perform Durga Puja
Basak has received many accolades and recognition for his innovative idols over the years, including and entry into the Assam Book for Records in 2019.
