Srinagar's Khayam girl Rutba Showkat has scripted a Guinness World Record by folding 250 paper boats within an hour, a superlative performance in the art of origami.
Rutba, a multi-talented personality, is already a gold medalist in martial arts at the national level and had won a spot in the India Book of Records previously. She is a calligraphy and painting master too, and has more than 60 medals in her kitty for martial arts.
In an exclusive interview to the news agency JKNS, Rutba told that she had been attempting for this record for three years, and had been unsuccessful twice before succeeding the third time.
"I wanted to surprise my family. My parents have always been my biggest support system. This success is as much theirs as mine," she told.
Her mother was overjoyed with pride over Rutba's determination and hard work, saying that she had always been keen to encourage her to go to her limits and succeed.
Rutba stressed the precision and patience that is required for origami. “I had to fold each boat with precision while working at speed and four boats a minute, one every 15 seconds,” she said, adding this was my dream, and I was not ready to give up.
Rutba wishes that her success will inspire young people in Kashmir to pursue their dreams. “With hard work and consistency, you can do anything,” she said.