Stories from India: From a Bihar village to the world, sculptor Briju shapes global recognition from clay

Born into poverty in Bihar’s Jamui district, Briju has carved an extraordinary artistic journey, quite literally, from clay. Trained at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and Banaras Hindu University, the fine arts graduate chose to return to his village, where his lifelike sculptures now attract commissions from across India and countries including the US and Japan. His work also adorns the Jharkhand Chief Minister’s residence, reflecting art rooted in resilience and purpose.