What is common among Santosh Pachar, a lady farmer from Rajasthan, Paresh Panchal, a mechanic from Gujarat, Akash a tenth class student from Tamil Nadu, Shalini, a student from Patna and six other innovators from around the country? Hosted by The President of India as innovation scholar in residence along with two artists and writers…
In my recent book on Grassroots Innovations ( 2016, http://www.amazon.in/Grassroots-Innovation-Minds-Margin-Marginal/dp/8184005873) I describe this dilemma and I quote: “The role of women in grassroots innovations has thus remained rather obscure. The number of innovations by women has also been rather small in the Honey Bee database compared to their real-life societal contributions. There could be many reasons…
When unsung grassroots innovators from different parts of the country stay as a guest of the Hon’ble President of India as a part of Innovation Scholar-in-residence, a small statement is made about Indian value system. There are not too many countries where the Office of the Head of the State hosts a Festival of Innovation at Rashtrapati Bhawan. This journey of creative children, students and farmers and artisans over the last 26 years has been steered by the Honey Bee Network, thanks to the patronage of the last three presidents of our country.
The increasing role of social media, alternative online news channels and individual blogs in shaping public opinion has generated new paradoxical challenges before institution builders. Younger generation is all the more impatient with in-depth analysis. The twitter generation is making new demands on the process of institution building. In any society, the existing…
Deification of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam legacy will be the greatest disservice to his memory. Having his statues on crossroads would not make him more venerated. We killed Gandhi, many times over by deifying him. I hope Dr Kalam will survive this tendency of making idols of people and forgetting…
Birds, bridges and beautiful memoryscapes: Shodhaytra in Tripura-II For a long stretch, while walking in Gondacherra region, Dholai district of the state, we did not hear the songs of the birds nor did we see them flying. Later, we discovered that they used to make clay balls,…
Every time there is a tragedy, the parliament discusses the issue and then business resumes as usual. I hope things will change this time. Not because in the presence of thousands of people, a farmer was allowed to commit suicide. But because the conditions which lead some farmers to take extreme step have their…
Ignite awards for creative and innovative children announced on Oct 15, 2014, Bharat Ratna Dr A P J Abdul Kalam’s birthday celebrated as children creativity and innovation day by NIF. Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam will kindly give away the awards at 3.30 pm on Nov 19, 2014 at iima rjm auditorium. Those interested…
Twenty-five years of web and the Honey Bee Network: The cross-cultural exchange of knowledge before the invention of world wide web by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 took place slowly but perhaps more attentively. The surfing culture of television channels and social media had not emerged. The learners not only read books but also wrote letters,…
MOM to Mars: will mangalayan make life of ‘mangli’ girl better? The entire country celebrated the unique achievement of Indian space scientists when in the first attempt, the Mangalayan reached the orbit of Mars. Naturally, the celebration was much deserved. However, every time our public sector scientists achieve extraordinary results without any extra bonus, monetary…