Crafted in gold, an opium pod just 5 mm long!

Indore: Watching the lush opium crop waiting to be harvested, Rajesh Soni felt a wave of inspiration run through him. The opium fields, currently flourishing across Neemuch and neighbouring Mandsaur district, stirred the micro artist within him.For the next two days Soni, a goldsmith by profession, let his creativity flow and crafted in gold, a miniature opium pod with stem, petals and floral crown --- just 5 mm long, 3 mm wide and weighing only about 50 milligrams. It can be placed on tip of a needle or even among poppy seeds.A resident of Javad town in Neemuch district, Soni said that making the piece required careful work and several attempts before the final structure could be completed. "The delicate components such as pod, petals and stem were shaped using extremely fine tools normally used in goldsmith work. The individual parts were then welded together using a very low gas flame. Even slight carelessness during the process could have damaged the structure due to extremely small size of the parts," he said and claimed that it was the world's smallest gold replica of an opium plant and its pod.The region (Neemuch and surrounding areas) is among the country's well-known centres for licenced opium cultivation, and the crop is widely associated with the area's identity.Soni has practised micro art for several years and has created several tiny gold artefacts. Among his earlier works are a miniature Taj Mahal that can be placed on a thumbnail and a tiny gold World Cup replica.Through his creations, Soni said he hopes to highlight the artistic possibilities within traditional goldsmith craft while also bringing recognition to his hometown and district. He is now aiming to have the miniature gold opium pod recognised in record books, describing it as a unique artistic tribute inspired by the region's iconic crop.