Bhubaneswar: An ingenious man, Malla Siva has time and again attempted to better his feats. He is a Guinness World Record (GWR) holder for making the world’s smallest handmade chess board along with its pieces using slate and slate pencils.
A loco pilot by profession, Malla is now stationed at Rayagada in Orissa. He entered into the GWR in 2007 when he made a chess board of 26×26 mm. He surprised himself when he made another one of 18×18 mm in 2008, which was also recognised by the world body.
“In 2005, I came to know about a person from Punjab who had made a chess board 32×32 mm. That feat inspired me to make my own record, and then break it,” a passionate Malla says.
“I started making small things from a very early age. Apart from this, I am an artistic person; a painter,” he says.
Malla Siva was at Rail Sadan in city to receive the prestigious GM award from his employer, East Coast Railway, for one of his artworks.
“My oil paintings of some of the oldest trains of the Indian Railways were featured in this year’s calendar by the body. I painted these in 2011, and some of them have been showcased at the national railway museum,” he says. The calendar was launched at an event in city, Monday.
The young professional from Andhra Pradesh also holds several records with Indian Book of Records and Telugu Book of Records for creating the smallest globe, and for a painting of Mother Teresa using dot rendering technique.
Malla cherishes the moments he shared with former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Rajasekhara Reddy at a function in the state.
Many ministers and highly positioned officials have recognised his artworks, and he subsequently won Andhra Kala Ratna in 2009 and Raja Ravi Verma Award in 2015.
His only complaint: He wants to travel the world and present his contribution to the art world before a larger audience. And for that he needs long leave, but has not been granted one yet.
“I have been requesting the government and the railway authority to grant me sufficient time off so that I can go to places across the world and share my knowledge, and learn a lot in return.”
About his craft of making small structures, he says, “Craft works such as this needs awareness and support from the government.”
One of his colleagues, Manmanth Reddy feels Malla needs a bigger recognition because of his talent.
Arindam Ganguly
Post News Network
