Uttam Das at a news conference in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, May 11: He has an ?inverted? view of life and an unwavering eye on the Guinness Book of World Records.

Possessing the unique gift of reading and writing what he describes as the ?mirror language? ? words as they appear on a mirror ? 29-year-old Uttam Das has moved the Guinness authorities for recognition of his special ability.

Das, who hails from Silapathar in Assam?s Dhemaji district, has used the technique of lateral inversion to even write the New Testament and hopes to gift it to the new Pope. ?I hope the government of India will help me realise my dream of gifting the book to Pope Benedict XVI,? he said during a demonstration of the technique in Guwahati today.

Though he is not sure of how his talent will benefit society, Das views his ability to read and write the mirror language as more than just a gimmick. ?My technique could be of help to defence, intelligence and police personnel in conveying and receiving classified information.?

Das first began reading and writing inversely in his mothertongue, Bengali, and then switched to Assamese, Hindi and English. ?I always wanted to do something different and I am fortunate to have succeeded,? he said.

The youth is now writing the Naam Ghosa, a book of hymns by saint-reformer Sankardev, in mirror language and intends to donate it to the Sankardev Kalakshetra library. ?It is nearing completion and I would be honoured if the Sankardev Kalakshetra authorities exhibited it,? he said.

What is amazing is the speed with which Das can read and write inversely. ?I started doing this in 1998, but did not display my skills in public until recently. I wanted to be perfect before I faced the world,? he said. Such is his passion for mirror language that Das even signs documents inversely.