The uneducated scientist

L Sailaja Kumar

When life throws challenges, the spirited ones take them up head-on and emerge as conquerors. When such stories happen in your neighbourhood, and the boy next door turns into a living legend, it's a source of inspiration for all. Bommagani Mallesham is one such spirited lad who at the age of 16 tried his hand in innovation and unleashed the 'Edison' in him.

Unable to see his bed-ridden mother suffering from leprosy, this teenager attended an electronics workshop for two months in his village Hajimpet, of Mothkurmandal and invented a remote control to operate light and fan. He had no other option but to do this as none of his neighbours were willing to enter the room she rested in (even to turn on the lights, as leprosy was a huge social stigma) and all the other family members had to go out for work.

This humble, unassuming and uneducated youngster is in awe of Edison and says, "I am surprised how Edison thought of something that changed the face of the world. I would also like to come up with more and more inventions like him."

His mother passed away in February 2013 and a month later he received an Appreciation Award from National Innovation Foundation. Mallesh says, she always encouraged him to experiment with all tools available and do something useful for the society.

It is no mean task that this uneducated genius has almost eight inventions (one is patented so far and two are on the way) to his credit and nearly 200 small innovations he did for school children during their Science fairs. From a person below poverty line to an entrepreneur with five employees, his is a saga of diligence. Above all, it is heartening to see him incessantly pondering over problems of mankind and come up with workable solutions.

His 'Solar Power Spray' which took him three years to take a proper shape won Appreciation Award from NIF, facilitated by Hyderabad based NGO �Palle Srujana /Honey Bee.

This innovation which costs Rs 6,500 per piece runs on solar energy, saving farmer almost Rs 6,000 worth petrol. Apart from this, his remote control device for fans and lights brought him huge recognition across his district and at national level too. Mallesh says, all those neighbours and well-off relatives who used to avoid their family are eager to rub shoulders with him. Looking at the plight of disabled accident victims most of whom are targets of drunken driving, Mallesh invented an alcohol detector that doesn't allow the vehicle to move if the driver is drunk.

Another major utility item from his Pandora's Box is the mobile starter that sends 'sms' to all farmers when the crop is in need of water. Not to forget the solar powered tricycle he created for physically challenged and a mobile phone charger made of cycle dynamo.A His daily schedule is hands �on engineering, assembling the solar power sprays, of which there is a huge demand, and spending at least two hours on new ideas.

Mallesh is full of gratitude towards all the supportive bankers, district collectors and the Honey Bee NGO which collaborates with NIF to discover and support grass root innovators. He says, they have all been instrumental in picking, mentoring him and placing him on the right platform.

Ask him about his future plans and pat comes the reply, "I am now looking at wind power and also wireless power supply option." What do we call those for whom even the sky is not the limit?!

Mallesham's inventions 1. Remote control to operate light and fan. 2. Solar Power Spray that saves farmers almost Rs 6,000 worth petrol. 3. An alcohol detector that doesn't allow the vehicle to move if the driver is drunk. 4. Mobile starter that sends 'sms' to all farmers when the crop is in need of water. 5. Solar powered tricycle for physically challenged and a mobile phone charger made of cycle dynamo.