Viral video by two Hyderabadis sparks an innovation revolution
The Engineer: Krishna Teja. (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: Soumeet Lanka and Krishna Teja Medempudi, are now in the national spotlight thanks to their video explaining the real innovation behind India’s Mars Mission. The YouTube clip, They said India doesn’t innovate went viral after several online agencies picked it up, triggering a discussion.
The duo’s four-and-a-half minute monologue focusses on innovations taking place “here and now” in India and asks viewers to pay attention to the present instead of indulging in nostalgia of past glory.
The clip, however, is just part of a larger revolution that is brewing, called The Makers of Things.
Within just a week of the video, applications started pouring in and friends in school, Soumeet and Krishna admit they “did not expect this kind of a response” to their little clip.
Also, over 400 to 500 volunteers have now come forward setting up little innovation pockets across major cities such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi so far.
“It was a call for action and people are taking it up. It is beyond the number of views on YouTube people made sure to come to the page after watching the video to be a part of the initiative. This was the most important part, otherwise the whole thing would be pointless,” says Soumeet.
Elaborating on the three main intentions behind The Makers of Things, the 26-year-old designer adds, “We intend to inspire people by showcasing incredible innovations happening throughout India. We will upload one video every week. We also plan to organise workshops and events in every city. Here’s where city representatives become so important.”
“We want to bring together a community of makers to foster collaborations. Finally, the cycle comes back to showcasing these products helping the innovators get exposure and again inspiring more.”
Being a designer-engineer duo themselves, Soumeet and Krishna are looking to make similar teams across the nation. And the need for such a platform comes from personal turmoil in their fields of work.
Krishna, who now runs a hardware company in Bengaluru, says, “When we want to make things, or there is need to make a prototype, it involves a lot of running around. We generally have to make things in parts and put it together. Even Soumeet, as a designer, has faced these problems. So when we set up the workshops, we will ensure that the people have all tools, such as 3D printers and laser cutters available.”
It was these troubles that had gotten the two talking on the need for innovation and the needs of innovators. And the “push for the project” really began with the Mars mission, they say.
“If you recall, there was a lot of positivity that came out of the Mangalyaan mission. There was a sense of self belief instilled in Indians. And we wanted just that. We wanted to ride that wave of positivity to drive our initiative forward,” says Soumeet. “A non-profit initiative,” adds Krishna.
And the hope for change is bolstered, “It’s gradually turning into a movement. Hopefully, next, it will turn into ‘change’.”
Soumeet adds, “It’s all really exciting and if everything goes as planned, it would be a huge step for us going from a developing nation to a developed nation.”
( Source : dc )
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