Flaming passion: Teacher makes replicas with matches

Nakrekal (Nalgonda): He has all the eight wonders of the world in his house. Not only these, but also Pisa tower, Eiffel tower, Gate way of India etc.

Confused? No doubt they are the wonders of the world, but miniatures made with match sticks. Balaji, a teacher at Gudiwada government primary school, Kethepally mandal, has harboured a passion to build monuments with match sticks and chalk pieces.

Recently he prepared the Seven Wonders of the World, including pyramids, Taj Mahal, Pisa Tower, Eiffel Tower, Great Wall of China, Colosseum, also India Gate, Charminar and Telangana map with match sticks. He also prepared Shiva Lingam, cricket bat, screw driver, knife, cricket cup etc with chalk pieces.

Balaji also has the habit of collecting old coins and currency notes. Presently he is having old coins like ana, ardhana and one NP and many more.

He prepares greeting cards every year and sends them to his friends and others. Speaking to The Hans India, Balaji, native of Nakrekal, said that he learned various techniques of making miniatures to teach students at a training organised by Vignan Mela Shikshana of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan eight years ago.

Since he works as a teacher, he took the passion for part time. ‘I work for two hours daily and it takes two months approximately to complete a replica,’ he said. About 100 match boxes will be needed for a small sized replica and needs more depends on the size of the monument.

When asked about the long duration, Balaji said first he has to cut the match sticks accordingly, glue them into the desired shape. Only after the first glued part dries up completely, he has to go to the second step.

‘My goal is to enter the Gunnies Book of World Records by making more number of miniatures of the world monuments with match sticks,’ Balaji added.

By: Deekonda Ravishankar