Rajkot teacher owns largest collection of miniature books,eyes world record

This 28-year-old school teacher has found mention in the Limca Book of Records twice,in 2006 and 2009. Now,he hopes to create a world record under the guidance of prestigious publication houses at the Crystal Mall.

Vagadia’s collection ranges from sizes 19 X 27 mm to 47 X 55 mm. The whole collection is organised into 17 categories like autobiographies,classic plays,short stories,children books,fiction and religious.

“The 33 X 46 mm autobiography of Gandhi is the smallest such book ever and the most valuable of my collection. So,the binding has been done with gold,” said Vagadia,who was inspired by the Guinness Book Of Records TV show in his childhood.

Vagadia began writing on rice at the age of 10. Writing the Hanuman Chalisa on rice kernel was a challenge that inspired him to work on a miniature autobiography of Gandhi.

“In my teens,I had thought about writing something tiny in size but that could spread a noble message. What can be better than Gandhiji’s autobiography?” said Vagadia.

He has already come out with handwritten miniature versions of the Ramayana,Mahabharata,Quran,an illustrated biography of Jesus Christ and Sir Alfred Nobel,Shakespearean plays like Macbeth and Othello,novels of Sidney Sheldon and other works like Arabian Nights and Bed Time Tales. It was because of this that he entered the Limca Book of Records in 2006.

But for the Guinness Book of World Records,he had to make some amendments in style. “They do not consider handwritten works. So,I have scanned and rewritten books with the help of digital technology,” Vagadia said.

He next intends to present Queen Elizabeth II of England a miniature copy of her biography.

“I hope I can do it personally someday,” he said.