Excellence, relevance, frugality and empathy: Young Gandhian Innovators
Excellence, relevance, frugality and empathy:
Young Gandhian Innovators
While appreciating the contributions of young technology
students invited to showcase their innovations at the second Gandhian Young
Technological Innovation Awards recently at IIMA, Ms. Ela Bhatt, Founder of
SEWA expected the youth to spread the Gandhian philosophy through their
action. A large number of innovations recognised on the occasion were
empathetic in nature. The problem of a line man worried about electrocution,
challenges of a blind person, an unsafe woman, drudgery from scaling of fish,
the need for a reminder system for pregnant women, a patient tracking system,
energy from poultry waste, or a head load carrier, are just some of the
triggers for innovative solutions shared by the student teams. There are
many examples were students make a trade-off between career oriented projects
and a socially relevant project. A new interpretation of Gandhian values
is necessary and Elaben felt that the young boys and girls are imbued with the
spirit of keeping solutions simple, frugal, socially relevant and sustainable.
There are also solutions that push the technological edge. Dr. Mashelkar
was unequivocal in his appreciation of the students practicing the spirit of
MLM [More from Less for Many]. Instead of value for money, he stressed
that the challenge is to produce value
for many. Dr. Gopi Katragadda, MD, GE India Technology Centre
appreciated the range of innovations explored by the students and particularly
underlined the importance of medical devices and diagnostics. Students have
developed silk fibre based bio material to solve the problem of lower back
pain, a device to fix clubfoot orthosis, a device that provides vision for the
blind using ultrasonic senses, nano finishing of freeform surfaces of
prosthesis knee joint implants, prognosis of diabetes based on non-invasive
estimation using infra-red thermography, instant vitamin B 12 diagnosis,
electronic support for deaf and dumb, etc. Many other technologies
impressed for having solved a problem in an effective manner such as
rubber-nano composites, an old saree cutting machine for weaving mats on handlooms,
a robotic dredger for cleaning lakes, a memory aid for old people, a niosome
based drug delivery system for tuberculosis, a self-cleaning functional
molecular material, a semi-automatic rubber tapping machine, a high performance
cooking stove, a cell phone for blind people, a laser ignited internal
combustion engine, a cow dung based microbial fuel cell, a jute bag making
machine, bamboo epoxy, a digital pen which can write on any surface except
glossy surfaces, a filter for sub/micron particles from fluids, a device to
estimate mineral composition of water through a portable spectrophotometer, and
many other projects.
Ninety three young people comprising 21 awardee teams and
22 appreciated innovations from all over the country demonstrated how
excellence could be combined with what Dr. Mashelkar underlined as
relevance. See more innovation awards at techpedia.in/award/
There is urgent need for a fund to take these ideas of the
students forward. The so-called India Inclusive Fund ignores all the
early stages of nascent ideas of youth, professionals and of course the
informal sector. Only in India, such an indifference can take place without
causing any prick on the conscience of the planners. But, things will change. A
young country cannot ignore the innovations by the youth too
long. Hiranmay and his team of volunteers managed a very complex process
of scouting, documentation, screening and logistics of participation in a
joyful and collegial manner. Prof. Ganesh and his students at IIT Bombay
helped in the review process involving a very large number of institutions and
experts in the public and private sector in India and abroad. The support
from unnamed volunteers from all the institutions of the Honey Bee Network has
made it possible for SRISTI to assure continued recognition to the young
innovators. Dr. Akshai Aggarwal, Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Technical
University, inducted 12 grassroots innovators from the state as visiting
faculty of the university. Innovators felt highly empowered and charged
that they can imbue the young generation with lessons of their lives about
frugality and social connectedness. I hope other technical universities
will take a cue and replicate this experience in respective states. We
also hope that the young innovators will be mentored by the industry and
academic leaders so that a conversion of innovation into enterprise takes place
faster and more effectively.
The Department of Science and Technology [DST] has
demonstrated that with a small support, a significant transformation can be
brought about. My only hope is that the platform techpedia.in will blend the passion, purpose and
performance of technological youth of the country to create a new benchmark of
originality, social relevance and excellence.
