New Delhi: Now its pearls that will be in the form of 'Lord Ganesha' after the elephant-headed god in paintings, sculptures, calendars and candles. A young scientist has created this new pearl wonder. Ajai Kumar Sonkar, who started a research project in Andamans and Nicobar island in 2003, said with this latest technology pearls can now be created in various shapes.
"I have been experimenting since 2003, however, the Tsunami destroyed my lab the following year. I had to restart my research and the effort was worth it," said Sonkar. The 42 mm lord Ganesha shaped pearl was created in his farm.Sonkar said he used a special species of pearl oyster - Pteria Penguin - for this experiment.
"Earlier no free cultured pearl had been formed in this particular species because of its features. They are very sensitive to outside element and usually die when any foreign body is implanted," he added.
Sonkar, who in 2003 had developed the world's biggest black pearl in Andamans, said the usual 6 mm pearls takes about three years to grow in countries like Japan, but the Ganesha pearl was formed in just six months. The scientist, who had carried out three surgical operations on the oyster to regulate chemical secretion which forms the pearl, said the entire process is based on 'mental activation process'.
Sonkar said crafts the nucleus, which is then implanted in the oyster. "Then the mental (part of the body that secreates pearly component) grows and envelops the nucleus. Six months later, a Ganesha shaped pearl is formed," he said. On the cost of the pearl, Sonkar said, "The Ganesha pearl will be worth more than USD 30,000." (PTI)
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