Artist Maka Vijay Kumar is working as millet art in Visakhapatnam. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Visakhapatnam -based artist Moka Vijay Kumar, who works as art with MIRT, has gained international recognition by securing a place in the US Book of Records, which is the first artist in The Real of Millions. His achievement was recognized on 25 March, strengthening his position as a pioneer as an art, which combines creativity with the nutritional awareness of the millet. He recently held a series on US President Donald Trump, in which he captured a few milestones moments of his life.
Vijay Kumar, an Indian Railways employee, has been painting with millet for years, converts small grains into complex functions of art that reflects mythological stories, famous personalities, human emotions and beauty of nature. Their paintings are made completely from various types of millet, serve as a powerful medium to promote the importance of these nutrients rich in the diet. Vijay Kumar’s journey as an artist has always been associated with innovation. Initially trained in traditional art, he discovered the ability of the millet as a medium, which not only adds texture and uniqueness to their compositions, but also spreads an important message about permanent food options. “Millet has been an integral part of the Indian diet for centuries, but gradually lost prominence with the rise of sophisticated grains. I wanted to use them not only as a medium for their art, but also a means of ruling awareness about their health benefits,” he says. Vijay Kumar hopes that America’s recent recognition will bring a global spotlight on India and India, which is the world’s largest producer. Through his actions, he is reminiscent of the nutrition and ecological benefits of the millet, which are dried resistant and require minimal resources to grow. Over the years, Vijay Kumar has created hundreds of paintings using the millet, which features the gods of Hindu mythology, celebrating Indian history figures. His work is a testimony to his dedication to spread awareness about his artistic cleverness and healthy eating habits.
Each painting requires careful attempt and takes days to complete, as the grain is carefully selected, sorted, and placed to achieve the desired hues and textures. Artist mainly uses Ragulu (Ragi), Arikalu (Codo millet), Sajjalu (Pearl millet), and Samalu (Little millet) in his work. His artwork is displayed in various exhibitions.
He is currently working on a series on Jesus Christ. “This is a task in the millet that will portray 14 stations of the cross. I will release it on Good Friday,” says the artist.
Last year, Vijay Kumar obtained the title of India Book of Records 2024 as IBR Achiever (for extraordinary and remarkable tricks), using millets to create 50 paintings of famous personalities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and late APJ Abdul Kalam. He has won several awards in the past for his millet works.
Published – 03 April, 2025 04:43 pm IST
