Pencil lead is Uday Kumar 's canvas

​Khammam: Here is a self-taught micro artist hailing from a rural backdrop who has his eyes firmly set on Guinness Book of World Records. Carving fragile pencil leads into miniature art forms is Sangisetti Uday Kumar’s forte. What began as a make-do idea to gift a friend has become an inseparable passion for Uday.

It was in 2014, he wanted to gift something to one of his friend who was celebrating his birthday. With no money in his pocket to buy a gift, Uday was desperate and then he found a way. He took a pencil and carved the letter ‘P’ on its lead and gifted it to his friend. The carving which evoked overwhelming response from his friends drove him to focus on the art form.  

Speaking to The Hans India, Uday said: “During my PG days, once I went to NTR Garden where I saw an artist sketching portraits with pencil on thick drawing sheets. It was awe-inspiring. It generated a lot of interest – why not I master in something special? Thereafter, I picked up interest to etch figures on pencil tips.”

It needs a lot of patience as the pencil leads are so fragile. It takes me two to three hours to etch a figure. I also write names on 0.7 mm mechanical pencil leads, the 25-year-old Uday, who is now working with a multinational company (MNC) in Hyderabad, said. Now he has a collection of 50-odd carvings on normal pencil leads and over 500 names etched on mechanical leads.

Recently, he received Vajra World Records award, said to be an Indian equivalent version to the Guinness Book of World Records with emphasis on unique achievements of the people within the country and abroad. The man who loves to spend his time in natural habitats said that his aim is to achieve Guinness Record.  Apart from his passion for micro carving, Uday also likes photography. 

Hailing from a nondescript village Nacharam under Enkoor mandal, 250 kms east of Hyderabad, where his parents - Manga Tayaru and Srinivasa Rao - run a small-scale flour mill unit, Uday had very little opportunity to hone his skills in drawing due to financial constraints.