Dubai resident makes a Guinness World Record attempt

Shivali Johri Srivastava, a final-year student of computer science and engineering (CSE) in Andhra Pradesh’s GITAM University, and her parents Kavita and Anil jointly secured their 12th Guinness World Record for the largest display of 1,993 origami maple leaves. This was also the highest number of Guinness records held by a single family in Hyderabad.

Cut to Dubai on February 28, 2021, amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Kaavya Mohana Sundaram, an information technology (IT) project manager at Heriot-Watt University’s Dubai Knowledge Park/Knowledge Village campus, makes a valiant bid to beat this Guinness World Record. She has made 2031 origami maple leaves, which awaits Guinness’s stamp of approval for the largest display. “The maple leaf is a symbol of hope. I wanted to share the feeling of hope with all and sundry amid the contagion. This is my way of making people believe that all’s well,” says the mother of two.

The display of her creations in neat 10x10 stacks were on display between 4:30pm and 6pm on Sunday at the Heriot-Watt university campus in compliance with Covid-19 precautions of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), which is responsible for the growth and quality of private education in Dubai.

As per stipulations of Guinness World Records, two witnesses — Shan Fazelbhoy and Humza Bhatti — were at hand to attest Sundaram’s bid to achieve the stellar feat. Fazelbhoy is the founder of Kobo Art, an online art gallery for emerging talents, while Bhatti works for a local audio-visual company.

Sundaram, who has lived in the UAE for the past 28 years spent four hours daily between November 17 and 29 while juggling her day job. “My day job of being an IT project manager for Heriot-Watt University keeps the left hemisphere of my brain active and it’s art that keeps me alive. I’m very passionate about artwork, and it is more than a hobby to me,” says a gregarious Sundaram. Her happy disposition embodies the vibrant colour schemes of origami maple leaves.

She is thankful to the UAE for her well-rounded personality. “I’ve lived in UAE for nearly 3 decades and it’s always shown me graciously how a person can advance in a fast-paced world and yet be true to her/his heritage. No wonder, the UAE is home to me,” she adds.

So, what’s next if she doesn’t make it to the record books? “I will try again. Resilience is the outcome of hope! I will start working on the next record to break in a few months’ time!”

joydeep@khaleejtimes.com