An ingenious innovator

Shravan Gattu of Hyderabad has innovated around 60 products, has 40 patents to his name, and says that he has around 300 ideas that he would like to work on. But his dreams are his most prized possession, he says. This 27-year-old mechanical engineer’s spirit goes much beyond just his degree, as he says that he is looking for real-life solutions by way of his innovations.

“I am currently building an elevator that is battery run. The elderly, who live in duplexes, are confined to the ground floor because there usually isn’t a lift. I wanted to change that and have now completed the minor model, which can run even when there is no power as it has a battery back-up of six hours. While the usual lifts may cost up to five lakh, this one will only cost Rs 1.5 lakh,” says Shravan, whose air-conditioned helmet has also attracted many eyeballs. “The helmet can decrease the temperature by five degrees,” he says. Shravan has also developed an automobile jack that can be controlled just by the click of a button on your smartphone, so one can change the tyre easily.

However, his contribution to the agriculture industry is most heartening. “I was deeply pained by the farmer suicides and that got me thinking. So I gave a twist to the common seed bombing exercise. Seed bombing is a technique usually used for reforestation, where a seed is wrapped around in a ball of mud, sometimes even cow dung, and just thrown around so it starts sprouting. But the success rate is only 45 per cent. I have tried to upgrade it and make it work better. Along with the usual material, I use gluten and some other product so the water retention capacity is better. After just two rains, seeds will start sprouting and the success rate is 85 per cent,” explains Shravan, who has also developed an organic fertiliser with high water retention capacity and sufficient minerals that the usual manure fails to have.

It all started, he says, when one day, he was punished by his teacher for being the naughtiest kid in school. “I had to kneel down near the principal’s office where I saw the saying, ‘Reach for the stars, if you fail, you will land on the moon’ and that became my mantra from that day on. I was interested in science, and started trying to make things from a young age. My parents also left no stone unturned to support me. There have been times when my close family friends have told me that I will take forever to earn even one lakh, but my mother would always encourage me, saying, ‘you are different, go follow your dreams’. When I’d fail and feel dejected, even though she isn’t very educated, she would remind me that Thomas Alva Edison failed 3,000 times before he invented the light bulb. Throughout my college, my father was so supportive that he would actually give me Rs 40,000 as pocket money, since he knew I was using it for this. Now, I fund myself through my salary as I work as a third party research assistant for five agriculture firms,” says Shravan. 

Shravan looks up to Abdul Kalam and says that he wants his innovations to help society. “A child passed away since they couldn’t rescue her from the borewell. Now, I am working on a robotic arm which could help in this area,” he says, and adds, “I may not have security, but I am willing to take the risk. Out of five ideas, even if one materialises and is able to help society, my purpose would be fulfilled.”

Brimming with ideas

• Shravan is building an elevator that is battery run with a back-up of six hours. It will cost Rs 1.5 lakh.
• His air-conditioned helmet can decrease the temperature by five degrees and is popular.
• His upgraded seed bombing exercise is helping farmers and its success rate is 85 per cent.