Mahabubabad: Sand art for world peace

Mahabubabad: Here is a Good Samaritan, who is propagating for a war-free world through sand art a medium, which he is well adept of. Neelam Srinivasulu, who hails from the rural backdrops of Kuravi in Mahabubabad district and works as a degree college lecturer in Rajanna-Sircilla district, is known for creative art.

Be it sticks, soap bars, chalk pieces, sand and what not, he can come up with a masterpiece. Such is his mastery. Unsatisfied with his work, Srinivasulu wanted to create something unique so that he could make use of his summer holidays in a productive way.

His penchant for world peace drove him to create permanent sand art on a framed plaque.

The sand art has embossed pictures of great personalities and Nobel laureates Gouthama Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, Malala Yousufzai, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Nadia Murad and Barrack Obama with world map in the backdrop.

It took Srinivasulu 16 days to carve out the framed plaque that is 8 feet tall and 20 feet width. He used adhesive to put together sand grains to show the world map against a blue background. He christened it as 'No war, need peace'. He also mentioned two quotes either side of map.

One of Lailah Gifty Akita, founder of Smart Youth Volunteers Foundation (SYVF) of Ghana, - "There is beauty and power in unity. We must be united in heart and mind. One world, one people" and the other one is of George Washington's - My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.

Speaking to The Hans India, the 45-year-old Neelam Srinivasulu said: "I created this sand art seeking world peace and harmony among the people across world."

The idea behind framed plaque is to preserve the sand art for a longer period, he said, referring to the homework he had done for the sand art. The sand art on framed plaque took 100 kgs of sand, 15 kgs of adhesive, 115 kgs of steel, 50 kgs of teak wood, oil colours and plywood sheets, he said.

The sand art was put on display at Zilla Parishad High School in Kuravi. Srinivasulu, apparently, is hoping that his work would be recognised by Guinness Book of World Records. He has plans to donate his work to any State-owned museum for display, it's learnt.