India’s most significant twenty-first-century legacy was arguably its teachings, which had a profound impact worldwide. Ratan Tata has drawn inspiration from Mashelkar’s vision to develop a frugal approach to innovation, which he dubs “Gandhian engineering.” As someone who hails from modest roots, Mashelkar is driven to ensure that the benefits of science and technology are distributed more equitably. He sums up his philosophy with the epigram “extra from much less for extra.” This engineer has led India’s preeminent R&D group, the , and he has suggested successive governments.
There are two quotes from Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy that have had a profound impact. The principal assertion was, “The earth has enough for everyone’s needs, but not for everyone’s greed.” He advocated that in a world where resources are finite, you must obtain more with less. The benefits of scientific advancement, he emphasized, should be accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status. When combined, they amount to “more from less for more.”
My own life experience impressed me, as well. Growing up in abject poverty, I suffered the loss of my father at just six years old. Despite my mother’s lack of formal education, she instilled in me a sense of adventure and took me on a journey to bustling Mumbai in search of a new opportunity. As a child, I faced the daunting challenge of surviving on just two meals a day, and I often went without shoes until I was 12 years old, relying on streetlights for my studies. From my personal experience of struggling due to a lack of resources, I also gained this insight.
Typical engineering often emerges as a response to market demands or intellectual curiosity, whereas Gandhian engineering is driven by the potential to positively impact society and the environment, with a focus on software development that brings about meaningful change. What are the key characteristics that define the most influential consumers and how do their needs drive progress towards a more humane society?
Engineering often involves leveraging marginal gains to achieve exceptional results. They consistently produce high-end fashion items at premium prices. For those struggling financially, a fundamental issue is that innovation often seems too expensive: A more feasible solution might be found in reducing costs rather than eliminating choices.
In Gandhian engineering, the philosophy centers on harnessing advanced technology to empower the disadvantaged rather than producing cheap, subpar products. We embark on a comprehensive redesign of the product, starting with a blank slate and reimagining every aspect to ensure a truly innovative outcome. While traditional strategies focus on premium values and high margins, Gandhian engineering prioritizes low-cost value with substantial volume growth.
The Jaipur Foot is a lightweight, cost-effective, and robust prosthetic solution.Gurinder Osan/AP
My favourite is the . Typically, a high-tech prosthetic foot costs mere thousands of dollars, but the Jaipur foot achieves this level of functionality at an astonishingly low price: just [US] $20. The remarkable adaptability of the Jaipur foot becomes evident when observing an individual using it to climb a tree, much like a person with a traditional prosthetic limb; its pliancy is remarkably similar. He then completes a one-kilometre run in four minutes and thirty seconds.
Among young people, we witness innovative spirit and eagerness, but it’s compassion that truly matters. To achieve seamless financing, we require additional grants or interest-free loans, as corporate entities often convert “vulture capital” into a means of generating swift returns.
Companies must pivot to prioritize profits generated by affordable excellence in products that cater to vast audiences rather than just targeting high-end consumers through premium merchandise.
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