Urban Legend: The kite runner putting paper birds in the sky

One of India’s most renowned kite-makers, 57-year-old V.K. Rao, who lives here in Bengaluru, has dedicated himself to his greatest passion. The going is tough but that doesn’t stop Rao as he attempts to scale greater heights every day. He talks to aknisree karthik about his journey, his latest experiments and the struggle to keep the ancient tradition of kite-flying alive.

Makara Sankranti or Uttarayan, marks the New Year and the start of summer. In several regions across South India and Gujarat, people celebrate by flying kites – this is customarily done at dawn, so people would get the best from the early summer sun. In Karnataka, the tradition is especially common in the northern parts of the state. The country’s best known kite-maker, popularly known as the Kite Man of India lives here in Bengaluru and this is the busiest time of year for him!

V. Krishnaji Rao, whose face lights up as he pulls out his magnificent kites – There are miniatures as small as three centimetres and larger models shaped like snakes and dragons that are as large as 60 feet. There are also the parafoil kites, which have pockets in them that act as parachutes. He’s done it all and even holds the Limca record for flying 600 kites with a single string. “I was the one who invented the technique of flying a series of kites on one string,” he said, proudly.

He passion took an unlikely route. Rao grew up in a conservative household in Mysuru, where his father was part of the security at the palace. “He expected all of us to observe Ashada Ekadasi every year and fast through the day.” This is near-catastrophic for young, hungry children and Rao’s father, in an attempt to help the kids forget their hunger, gave them kites and materials to make their own. “We were given materials like paper, gum and sticks to make our own kites,” Rao explained.

That’s where his story began. Today, kite-flying is still Rao’s greatest passion, one that has fetched him much national and international acclaim. Rao grew up to become a photographer and would come to Bengaluru often to cover marriages and other functions. “The whole month of Ashada was a holiday for us as no marriages or significant ceremonies took place during that time,” Rao said. In 1988, during one such lean period, he came upon an advertisement inviting people to participate in a kite competition in Ramanagara.

His childhood love was re-ignited and Rao got together with a group of friends, raised a small sum of money and made an 11-foot kite that could be dismantled and put together once more. “I wasn’t even aware of the exact rules, but I came third,” he said. From that point on, lean months for his photography business were spent participating in kite festivals and competitions across India. “I was the only person representing India and Karnataka at the International Kite Festival held in Gujarat in 1989. I received my prize from Edmund Hillary, who was Chief Guest that year,” Rao recalled.

His kites are more than just about winning awards, of course. He uses them as a means to react to political happenings of the time - the first kite he made in 1988 for the competition in Ramanagar bore the words ‘Free Nelson Mandela’. One kite asked people to vote for the Taj Mahal being made one of the wonders of the world, too. During the last assembly election, he asked people to come out and caste their votes.

Unfortunately, support from the government isn’t easy to come by, which is disappointing for Rao, who wants to pass on his knowledge to younger generations. “I teach those who are interested through the Kite Clinic Club,” Rao said. He also visits schools, colleges and community gathering to teach the art of kite-making. “I don’t charge the underprivileged and the physically challenged, although those who can afford it pay me a nominal fee,” he added.

Over 10,000 students have passed through his hands and more than 460 have gone on to become experts of international acclaim. His 24-year-old son, Niranjan, seems to have been bitten by the bug too – he won the second prize in the International Kite Festival held in China in 2015.

His most recent experiment is an exciting one. For the last six years, Rao has been working on a kite that can lift a man into the air. He remarked, with a smile, “The idea is to attach a bucket to a group of about five big kites, which can lift a man as they rise.” He hopes, above all else, however, that he is able to start a kite-school someday.