This Patiala man turns scrap into beautiful models

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 28

Inspired by late Nek Chand, this Patiala man has created various models from scrap at his shop in Patiala. He has been single-handedly making models of bikes, cars, flowers and other things from the leftovers of automobile repair shops and is planning to open an art gallery to display his creations.

Ravi Kumar Dhiman (26), a diploma holder in welding from Government Industrial Training Institute, Patiala, had never thought of trying his hands at creating such things till few years ago. His father runs a 

two-wheeler repair shop near Sunami Gate. After completing his Class 

XII, he left studies to help his father.

In between work, he used to try his hands at welding things and made a flower out of the scrap. His elder brother Pawan Dhiman noticed his talent and asked him to try his hand at model-making. That’s how he started this work and decided to pursue a diploma in welding.

Throwing light on the groundwork he did, Ravi informed that the initial task was to gather scrap. “I got in touch with my father’s friends who had automobile repair shops and sought their help. I urged them to hand over the waste material to me. I used to work in the shop during day hours and go from shop to shop and junk market to collect the scrap. Then, in my free time I started making these models, which by god’s grace came out good,” he added.

Ravi further informed that as his models started getting some recognition, his neighbours and friends started sending him some pictures, giving him ideas and he started imitating them and that’s how he has made this collection.

“Though the expenditure is not much, but it is time-consuming as I also have to work in the shop. I take about one to two months to make one model and am planning to set up an art gallery in coming few years to display my creations,” informed Ravi.

Ravi said “Even though I am getting some good offers for selling my models, I am not interested because it was my identity. Once I come up with my gallery, I can think about selling them off but my ultimate aim is to give away the message of making the best out of waste,” he added.