Meet the Record-Breaking Chalk Artist from Odisha, K Bijay Kumar Reddy, The Engineer Who Chose Art

K. Bijay Kumar Reddy, a 23-year-old electrical engineer from Ganjam district, recently made headlines by crafting the world's smallest wooden spoon—measuring just 1.13 mm—earning him a place in the Guinness World Records. But for Reddy, known locally as the "Odisha Chalk Artist", this achievement is part of a much larger journey that began in childhood.

"I started painting when I was a kid," Reddy recalls during our interview. "When I started B.Tech, chalk innovation came to my mind." It was during his engineering days at Parala Maharaja Engineering College that he joined the art club. "Everyone wanted to innovate, to do something unique in an innovative way. So, I was motivated," he explains. His first creation was a Ganesh idol, and from there, his passion for miniature art only grew.

Why Chalk?

With numerous artistic media available, Reddy's choice of chalk seems unconventional. But for him, that's precisely the appeal. "I have already made chalk, pencil, and clay. I have also made sculptures," he says. "But there is a problem with chalk. If we do not make it properly, it will definitely break. It is a challenge."

He elaborates on the difficulty: "You can do it on the floor, you can do it with your hands, but the thing is, how can you do it with soft material even if it breaks? You have to work on it slowly, you have to work on it with time." This patience has resulted in remarkable creations, including miniature replicas of the Puri Jagannath Temple and 20 famous Indian monuments, earning him titles from the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records.

The Daily Juggle

Balancing a full-time engineering career with his artistic passion requires immense dedication. "I am doing a professional job. I have to work seven to eight hours a day," Reddy explains. "I wake up early in the morning. I have to do four to eight hours a day for art and innovation, then I go to work. This is my first challenge."

The pressure is immense. "The main problem is that if you are doing a good job, you can make a minor mistake and you will lose all your time and efforts," he says candidly. "You might think that you will do it soon, but if you make a mistake, you will start from scratch. There is no replacement."

What's striking about Reddy is his vision extends far beyond personal accolades. "After that, the Vice President of India, Mr Venkaiah Naidu, sent me an appreciation letter. Then I got appreciation from many more, even from the Prime Minister," he shares. But these achievements were stepping stones to a larger goal. "I wanted to represent India. I thought that the Guinness Book would be a platform for me. I wanted to make a record and keep it with India."

His future plans are ambitious—he's already applied for five more records, which he hopes will be approved soon. "In the future, I want to create awareness in society, whether it is in art or through art," he says. "I want to inspire people, especially the youth."

Art as Mission, Not Commerce

Perhaps most remarkably, Reddy refuses to commercialise his art. "I can't sell my art in any way because art has its own beauty," he states firmly. "If I sell my art, it will be an insult to me. So, how can I sell my art? It's better to keep people at home. I will motivate people through art."

He's passionate about this philosophy: "The value of art will never increase if everyone just sells it. Everyone will have to keep art. I will motivate people. Not that I will sell it for business. Art is a societal need for everyone. I will not sell it for any purpose."

His ultimate goal is cultural preservation. "There is a lot of art in Odisha. We have different art forms. That art form will reach from Odisha to the world. This is our main goal," he says. "I will definitely inspire people from Odisha to do this."