Understanding engineering

When it comes to education in Kerala, two options always have takers — engineering and medicine. However, not all those who opt for these branches are made for it.  They just join the rat race, mug up lessons, but eventually fail to implement the acquired skills. There comes the significance of Kochi-based Najeeb Kuzhiyil’s book Spirit of Engineering that tells the tale of two college freshmen who set out on a mission to understand nuances of the industry in simple terms.  

Najeeb, who works as an engineer in the United States, says his book is done for those who want to delve into the depths of engineering. “Working in the field for 15 years has given me ample opportunities to interact with young minds who pursue engineering. I have realised that majority of our students believe that engineering is just about mathematics and science. And in most cases, they are not ready for jobs. I felt I should address their apprehensions. This book is an attempt towards it,” says Najeeb, who adopted fiction to explain the basic concepts of engineering.

Choosing fiction was a conscious decision as Najeeb wanted to grab young readers’ attention. “During my research, I came to know that academic books are complicated and difficult to comprehend. My book aims to provide high school students and college freshmen with a simple and systematic approach to learn engineering. Hence, I made sure that the book follows simple language,” explains Najeeb.  

Spirit of Engineering has the four pillar approach with reference to the story of the famous Wright Brothers. As Najeeb adds, the book explains four fundamentals of engineering — methodical approach, practical skills, creativity and abstraction — through the characters Maya, an Indian student, and Matt, a foreign student. It describes their journey to explore the true spirit of engineering. “Initially, I wrote the concepts in the form of essays. When I went through the draft, it dawned upon me that my book was not different. So, I scrapped the project, only to restart later in fiction format. The idea of fiction struck me one fine morning, and I decided to give it a shot. The characters are formed taking cues from my life and experiences,” says Najeeb, who believes engineering is about innovation.

The book has already released in the US. In Kerala, the book will be launched on Thursday at an event in Ernakulam Public Library. The programme will start at 5.30 pm. “I do not expect the book to be a best seller. I know it is not meant for the masses. However, if it inspires young minds who contemplate engineering, I am happy,” concludes Najeeb.