Micro Artist Raghavendra Babu Carves 200 Chalk Miniatures and Collects Rare Coins

Hyderabad: Koduri Naga Surya Raghavendra Babu, a micro artist and numismatist hailing from East Godavari district, has crafted 200 miniature sculptures of iconic Indian personalities out of chalk and gathered a collection of nearly 100 commemorative coins.

Raghavendra Babu, an MBA student and graduate from the hamlet of Teeparru in East Godavari, has won appreciation across the Telugu community for his micro-sculptures. In 2021, he earned an entry in the Telugu Book of Records for his miniature chalk sculpting work.

His art previously gained the attention of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandra Babu Naidu. In 2019, when Naidu was serving as the opposition leader, Raghavendra presented him with a miniature chalk sculpture. Naidu appreciated the micro artist's talent and praised his effort with the remark, “Keep it up.”

To date, Raghavendra has sculpted 200 chalk miniatures depicting various iconic Indian personalities.

Alongside his sculpting work, Raghavendra is an avid numismatist. He has built a collection of nearly 100 commemorative coins released by the Reserve Bank of India to mark significant occasions, including the birth and death anniversaries of prominent Indian leaders.

His coin collection features commemorative pieces dedicated to figures such as Mother Teresa, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Dr Rajendra Prasad. Raghavendra described a 50-year-old ONGC commemorative coin as the rarest item in his collection.

In addition to his creative and numismatic pursuits, Raghavendra is active in community work. He operates a non-governmental organisation named “Abdul Kalam Seva Samithi,” through which he participates in various social service activities.

Speaking about his future goals, the MBA graduate noted that his long-term dream is to enter public service and become a politician.