In this world of canvas and color, Suram Sampath Kumar chose an easily breakable, unconventional medium: chalk. What started at 9th standard out of curiosity has grown into a legacy of miniature masterpieces celebrating India’s architectural grandeur.

He is a BFA sculpture student at JNAFAU, Hyderabad, and a self-taught artist who holds 1 National and 3 International Records, along with the following honours: Credence Book of World Records, 2020; India Book of Records, 2021; Bravo Book of World Records, 2021; DCB World Record, 2022; National Pride Award, 2023; Recognition Gala Award, 2025.

Hunched over chalk sticks in a small room in Hyderabad, long after the world slept, the fragile and minute carvings demanded precision, but the dream behind them was large.

Sampath Kumar’s journey began with one blade and plenty of patience. His early carvings evolved into architectural marvels. In 2023, he recreated the Yadagirigutta Temple using more than 8,000 chalk sticks and later gifted it to the temple. In 2025, he sculpted the Ambedkar Statue, which is now kept at the Ambedkar Statue Museum near Tank Bund.

Then came Sri Swarnagiri, his most ambitious creation. After visiting the temple in April 2024, he received official permission to craft its miniature. What followed were 245 days, 4,370 hours, and 15,000+ chalk sticks. Balancing college from 9 AM to 4 PM and carving into the night, he fought against exhaustion, breakages, and immense complexity.

A defining moment came when he sourced a 1-gram gold-plated Sudarshana Chakra from Nepal, elevating the model from artwork to divine offering. Taught by Sri Chaganti Koteswara Rao Garu, he learnt that devotion requires patience, and patience shapes destiny.

“Start small, but dream big,” he says. “My art is my service to the Divine.”

From a single piece of chalk to entire temples, Sampath Kumar’s journey stands out as a hallmark of dedication, devotion, and the immense power of patience.