Any incident or commonplace occurrence can ignite the mind of young inventor Masha Nazeem (18), a second-year electrical and electronics engineering student of Chennai’s showpiece private sector SSN Engineering College. Despite her youth, she already has eight inventions to her name. Among them is a flameless seal maker which has won her plaudits and honours from political parties and social organisations.
The hand-held seal maker melts lac sticks through electricity, thus obviating the use of a candle flame. It was successfully tested in two polling stations in the Nagercoil constituency of Kanyakumari district, during Tamil Nadu’s assembly elections in April last year. Nazeem also demonstrated the seal maker to officials of the Election Commission of India, who have sanctioned its use in all forthcoming elections.
The idea of a flameless seal maker was conceived when as a class X student, she would observe her father, Kaja Nazimuddin — then employed in the sub-treasury in Nagercoil — sealing the strong room of his office using wax and candle flame. “It’s an age-old, hazardous method still being used in schools, colleges, post offices and government offices to affix seals and can easily cause fire accidents and burns,” says Nazeem, who was enamoured with science from age nine and encouraged by her father to participate in every school compet-ition, science project and exhibition.
Nazeem’s latest innovation is a ‘mechanical porter’ born out of the need to save travelers the physical effort of lifting, carrying and storing heavy luggage at airports and railway stations. The cost-effective device has a luggage holder that can be raised to a height of 4 ft. by pressing a foot pedal. Unlike existing trolleys, the mechanical porter can also lift luggage from conveyor belts at airports or from railway coaches and even place it inside a car or taxi.
“My inventions are simple and useful to society and I’ve applied for patents for five of them,” says Nazeem, who travels widely and has made presentations to numerous colleges and universities in the country including the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Trivandrum and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. She was also invited and honoured by the government of Japan in June 2010.
With her suite of talents, Nazeem hopes to convert many more ideas into action for the public good. “My future plans are to enroll in a postgraduate programme at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Trivandrum and begin my career as an entrepreneur, so I can manufacture and market my own inventions,” says the can-do young inventor.
Hemalatha Raghupathi (Chennai)
Arunavha Chanda & Mitul Dey Chowdhary
A team comprising Arunavha Chanda (class X) and Mitul Dey Chowdhary (class XII) of Delhi Public School, Ruby Park, Kolkata, was adjudged winner of the Limca Book of Records Quiz 2011, last December. In the national finals conducted in New Delhi, the Kolkata duo outsmarted teams from Sherwood College, Nainital and the New Era Public School, New Delhi, who were first and second runners-up respectively.
The fourth edition of the annual Limca Book of Records Quiz (LBRQ, estb.2007), supported by Coca-Cola India, attracted participation from 3,800 schools in 80 cities countrywide. Launched in partnership with Derek O’Brien & Associates — a quiz events and education consultancy firm promoted by quiz-master Derek O’Brien in 1991 — LBRQ is open to students of classes VIII-XI. Last year the elimination rounds began in July to determine city winners. Thereafter, winning teams from 80 cities competed inter se through web conferences, reducing the number of teams for the national finals to ten. The winners were presented trophies, medals and certificates by Justice J.S. Verma, former chief justice of India.
The winning duo is obviously delighted with the outcome. “Last year, we won the national inter-DPS quiz competition and since then we’ve become a mutually supportive team,” says Chanda, who is set to defend the title this year as well.
The boys also excel in academics and their interests span quizzing, debating, sports, music and UN conferences. “All this helps in updating our knowledge and preparing for quiz contests,” says Chowdhary, an aspiring astrophysicist.
Given the role of “cloud apps” (internet applications like facebook and gaming) and TV shows in diverting the attention of youth from stimulating co-curricular activities, the twosome believes this “so-called threat” can transform into learning opportunities. “The internet is a mine of information and also offers fun and social networking. But time management is very important. Students must make a judicious choice,” says Chanda.
Good advice!
Autar Nehru (Delhi)