“India’s way is not Europe’s. India is not Calcutta and Bombay. India lives in her 70,000 villages.”
- Mahatma Gandhi, 1926.
Gone are the days when rural people went to nearby urban areas to buy new brands or technical items. Rural India with its traditional perceptions has grown up over the years, not only in terms of income but also in terms of thinking and speculation. The literacy rate is low in rural areas as compared to urban areas. But still, rural Indians are ready to face any challenges that come in their way.
Max Muller, a German scholar, once said, "If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems and has found solutions, I should point to India."
A classic example is that of a farmer from Gujarat, Amrutbhai Agrawat, who came up with the innovative idea of a bullock cart with four wheels and a harness-rotating device. It was not such an easy task. Developing a prototype was a very time-consuming and expensive method. Agrawat’s savings only permitted him to develop a metal frame of the intended bullock cart. But as luck would have it, he got financial help from a non-governmental organization, SRISTI and the cart was made.
It has a four wheel base that equalizes the load of the cart, preventing the formation of galls in bullocks. The iron body of the cart makes it more durable than wood that is conventionally used. With the pneumatic wheel, it is easier for the bullocks to pull and an improved brake system reduces the tension on bullocks. This cart has been approved by NABARD and is eco-friendly. By the time he made it legal, he had already earned Rs.84, 000 as license fees.
Another example of a widow, Keshaben B Thakore will leave everyone shocked. Since her childhood days, she has been developing some herbal medicines which have worked miracles on animals.
A very common problem occurring in animals is the dislocation of uterus after they give birth to young ones. After the dislocation, the animals themselves try to get rid of the uterus that may prove fatal. This lady thought of a solution of giving Urad daal to the animals.
Three kg of boiled Urad daal given for 2-3 days persuades the animal to discontinue its efforts to remove its uterus. She has also recommended the use of VAKHADA, a herb to increase the milk production of cattle. The entire plant is to be given to the animal to eat along with the dry fodder. It should be given two times in a day for 15 days. She has also developed cures for conjunctivitis in the eye, for rabic and arafa diseases, and sprains. Though she did not enjoy any intellectual property rights, she became famous in her neighborhood.
A recent real life example of a Bokaro man who sells electrical gadgets in the Bokaro – Ranchi road has proved that living in a rural area is not a drawback in achieving success. This man has not completed his studies; he has however accidentally created a mind-boggling invention which has helped lots of people including shopkeepers, businessmen and even doctors.
Shatrudhan Mahto, as he is called at his native place, has made an alarm mobile system called “Chor Pakdo Mobile System.” This superb and helpful system was invented accidentally when he was distressed and disturbed by the theft of goods worth several hundred rupees that happened in his neighborhood.
This 'happening thing' occurred when his cell phone fell on the floor and its fascia got detached. Being an electrician, he tried to re-assemble it. Accidentally, he pushed on one of the buttons, which set off a ring on his friend’s cell phone. When he tried to locate the button, he stumbled across a device in the mobile, which is attached to the several wires with which the calls are made.
“I tried to make calls by connecting the device with wires attached to it and it worked. Then a brainwave struck me,” says the inventor.
“I thought of using this mobile to protect the shop. I made several calls by experimenting with it. Luckily, the device worked.”
Here comes our inventor’s glorious days. He then bought a cheap mobile set and several meters of wire and of course used the old mobile for the experiment.
“I deleted all the contact numbers from the mobile and kept my number only. I fixed two wires to the device permanently and then spread all the bought wires in the roof, shutters and corners of the shop. Now, whenever the wires touch each other, the calls are made to my mobile from that cheap handset which serves as an alarm,” says our hero with a victorious smile.
He has impressed his neighbors and has tempted them to buy his “Chor Pakdo Mobile System.” The local people cannot resist as everybody is scared of thieves.
He is getting popular day by day as people from other towns are approaching him to buy his so called unequaled, unparalleled device for just Rs. 1500. He is very famous among the businessmen. One of the businessmen, Jai Singh says,”After installing it, I can sleep in peace at night, knowing that whenever anybody tries to enter my shop, my mobile will give me a ring. It is more dependable than police.”
Our knight in shining armor has even impressed the doctors. “The device is very attractive. I have asked Mahto to install the system in my own clinic,” says A.K Sinha, a local doctor.
This man has proved once again that rural Indians are no retarded beings. They can find their own ways and their own solutions themselves. They are no dependent bodies. The only difference between an urban Indian and a rural Indian is that one lives in towns and cities and the other lives in villages.
There are thousands like Amrutbhai, Shatrudhan Mahto and Keshaben B Thakore who have used their intellect to come up with mind-boggling solutions but have not yet been blessed with good fortune and remain unnoticed.
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