Bengaluru: What began as a simple classroom experiment has blossomed into a record-breaking feat for 12-year-old Shlok Mathur, a Class 7 student at Edify
School, Kanakapura Main Road. Over three days of sheer grit and persistence, Shlok folded and assembled thousands of paper houses into a massive origami mosaic measuring 27 square metres, a creation he dedicated to former president APJ Abdul Kalam, as per a TOI report. “Dr Kalam was like a house of knowledge for millions. That's why I chose houses for my mosaic—to dedicate it to him and to my school, which is also a house of wisdom,” said Shlok, after unveiling his work on 31 August. Preparations began on 21 July, with long hours of effort each day. “I worked from 9am to 7pm with small breaks. It was tiring, but I had to push myself. Even when I was stressed, I knew I had to finish,” he recalled. His classmates pitched in by cutting sheets of paper, while teachers and parents kept his spirits high. Also Read: How Chennai Hit 2 Birds With 1 Stone: Transformed 50 Years of Waste Into Art Decor; A Lesson Delhi Can Note By the end, more than 3,000 sheets of craft paper had been transformed into 7,500 origami houses. The mosaic was completed under the supervision of a record analyst and has now been recognised by both the Indian Book of Records and the Asian Book of Records. For his family, the achievement was no surprise. “He can sit for hours on puzzles and never lose focus. Origami suited him perfectly,” said his father, Sachin Mathur. His mother shared how on the final day, her son worked almost 18 hours at a stretch to finish what he had started. Outside his passion for origami, Shlok also plays the tabla and the piano. With dreams of becoming a scientist, he says Kalam remains his greatest inspiration. “Kalam inspired millions of children. I want to do something for him too,” he said. The school too beamed with pride at his achievement. “Such attempts show children the value of dreaming bigger,” said Shashikala Bai, principal of the institution managed by the VVN Trust.
