‘Car boy’ shines with his collection of miniatures, hopes to become an automobile expert in future
Bhubaneswar, May 22, 2022: He is just 10 and studies in Class V of city-based DAV Public School Pokhariput, but for friends and relatives he is a “car boy’’ as he always thinks, eats and drinks about cars and about almost all leading car manufacturing companies and their popular models are on his fingertip.
Meet Ekakhyara Trinath Pattanaik, who loves everything relating to the high adrenalin machines as he thinks, if his luck gives him a chance, one day, he could also design his own dream car of his choice!
You ask anything from history, models, makes, sales, future models and modifications, their manufacturing facility and the compounds with which the cars are made and as his father-turned-actor Rusi Pattanaik claims, “Gulfam (Ekakhyara’s nickname) can take on any question on car of any make and to the delight of the person who raises the query, the young boy answer the same with ease and till date has an enviable collection of 15,000 or more car models (toy models) as he an avid collector of the miniature models as well.’’
“I always dream to get into automobile engineering or designing the cars so that I can become a professional in the car manufacturing industry. I hope one day I can fulfil my dream and also my parents are helping a lot in getting books, encyclopaedia and other things to fulfil my ambition. I am also getting a lot of things from the cyberspace as its full of knowledge and resources,’’ says Ekakhyara.
Leading Odia actor and social worker Sabyasachi Mishra, who is a family friend and well-wisher, says “I know Gulfam from his baby days and wish he could fulfil his dream one day. He is passionate about the cars, their models and makes and I hope with his growing interest day by day, he would gather more knowledge and make a mark of his own in the automobile engineering or its manufacturing sector. I wish him all the best.’’
Gulfam’s father, actor-turned social worker Rusi Pattanaik says “we discovered Ekakhyara’s talents from the fact that he can detect the car type from about a kilometre’s distance. We have also accompanied him to numerous events during inauguration of automobile showrooms and he had shared the stage with leading actors, actresses, models and businessmen and got so much of knowledge on his favourite subject – cars.’’
The popular name car boy’’ is also loved by Gulfam and his family. His mother a Tourist Officer of Odisha Government in Mayurbhanj district also makes it a point to get different models of toy cars whenever she goes out. During the pandemic moving out was absolutely not possible, but whenever there is a chance, we make it a point to get new toy cars to Gulfam’s collection. Other family members also help us,’’ says his mother Satyabhama.
Destiny and desire are, at times not fulfilled as per our wishes in life. However, with the support from family, kin and friends Gulfam is sure that his passion for automobiles and especially cars, might take him to a new altitude one day and he is ready for the finishing line.
