The Hindu Business Line : `Mitticool' and more...

(From left) Mansukh Prajapati, maker of Mitticool, with Deepak Shourie of Discovery Networks India, Prof Anil Gupta from NIF and Dr R.A. Mashelkar from CSIR.- Kamal Narang

Think out-of-the-box. Think of the improbable. Think of a scenario where cars could run on water, refrigerators would be made of clay and washing machines powered by energy generated by human labour.

Bizarre, you may think. But when one considers the future, which would be propelled by a slew of nifty gizmos, an array of cybernetic appliances, innumerable sensors and the powers of artificial intelligence, "amphibious bicycles" and "hand-held translators" don't seem uncanny.

In an attempt to bring these innovations to light, Discovery Channel is currently airing an 18-episode series Beyond Tomorrow, which present stories on such products. And what's more, several of these innovations featured in the series have been fabricated by ordinary, down-to-earth Indians.

"Did you know that a pedal-operated washing machine, which serves the purpose of an exerciser even as it saves on electricity, was invented by a college girl in Kerala," asks Prof Anil Gupta, Executive Vice Chairperson, National Innovation Foundation (NIF). It's not just the washing machine - the amphibious bicycle, the tree climber and the scooter for the disabled are all ideas devised by Indians for whom "necessity was the mother of all inventions".

Remya Jose spent Rs 2,000 to build her pedal-operated washing machine.

Remya Jose from Malappuram, Kerala, who is pursuing her engineering from Calicut Engineering College and the brain behind the unique washing machine that was showcased in the Capital, says, "Making the washing machine wasn't that arduous a task once I had conceptualised it. It was identifying and replicating the machinery parts and mechanism that took time and energy." Now a proud owner of the pedaloperated washing machine, she adds that she spent around Rs 2,000 putting it together and hopes to sell it in the market once she gets the patent for it. "I am now working on other projects as well during my leisure time as I have realised the practicalities of the machine," she says, preferring to keep the details under her hat.

The idea for the machine came to Remya as washing clothes was a tiresome chore and her family couldn't afford a regular washing machine. She examined how one of these worked and replicated it to suit the family's pocket. Her washing machine typically follows a "tumble wash" system, but it is operated using a pedal mechanism that has been developed using parts of a bicycle. So, as the person pedals, the system rotates, thereby washing the clothes. Another unique innovation comes from a villager in Rajkot district of Gujarat who again felt the need to conserve power and combined the mechanism of a refrigerator and a matka - a clay pot used to keep water cool in the summers. The brown, rectangular refrigerator has an inlet for water, which is circulated in the system through internal piping. The refrigerator has a tap from which chilled drinking water flows out. Mansukh Prajapati, who put together the contraption, says, "What I have devised is `Mitticool - a village fridge'. It is a refrigerator made from special clay with three or more chambers for cooling water and storing fruits and vegetables."

Although it took Prajapati months to fabricate the first fridge, it now takes him 8-10 days to make one Mitticool. "It costs around Rs 1,700 to make and I sell it at Rs 2,000," he adds. So, where does he sell his patented fridge? "There is a huge market - and I find immense potential for other villagers like me who find this an alternative method for storing vegetables." He has so far found buyers in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Moving on, does a "Micro Windmill Mobile Charger" capture your fantasy? This unique tool is the handiwork of N. Sathyanarian from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The charger is a small handheld windmill that operates whenever there is a draft of wind, induced either by blowing wind or when travelling in a vehicle; it can charge a mobile phone and other equipment, including laptops.

Ever fathomed a bicycle that can run on water bodies? Well, Mohammad Saidullah, a senior citizen from Bihar, has done exactly that. His bicycle is a conventional cycle "refitted" to cycle- cross rivers, ponds and other water bodies. His bicycle also has a big basket attached at the front to hold fruits, vegetables and other goods meant for sale. "Although he's an old man, his imagination and capacity to think for the future is still immensely young," says Prof Gupta.

Meanwhile, Ashoka Kumar Dhiman from Panchkula in Haryana has devised a tea-making machine that can cater to different tastes and flavours. For instance, in the regular vending machine, water and milk pour into the cup simultaneously in fixed amounts while in the programmed machine, the user can choose the quantity of milk and water desired in the cup of tea. "It is not only cost effective but also fully automated" says Dhiman.

The list doesn't end here. It is surprising to notice exceptional innovations such as the natural water cooler, a bamboo splints making device and many others emanating from villagers in various parts of the country.

Says Dr R.A. Mashelkar, Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research0 (CSIR), "I have always believed that `I' in India should stand for innovation. What is most gratifying for us is to see the extraordinary blend of innovations not only in high tech sectors, where CSIR is in the forefront, but also at the grassroots level."

Where else in the world would an organisation like NIF exist, he asks.

And true enough, NIF has mobilised about 50,000 traditional knowledge practices and grassroots innovations from over 400 districts of the country in a span of five years. With a mission to make the country an "innovative and creative society", NIF has been working with innovators by documenting, adding value and protecting intellectual property rights of the technologies.

And hopefully, in the near future one might get to witness more such ingenious ideas to make life simpler and easier. All this thanks to NIF, Discovery Channel and above all the hidden talent in the country!

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