A self-taught digital technician from Thodupuzha, Kerala, Biju Narayanan has all the time been curious in regards to the functioning of various digital gadgets. As he was rising up, his love for electronics started when he began listening to the radio.
“In my childhood, radio wasn’t quite common in my village. Although there have been a number of who owned one, my household couldn’t afford it at the moment. So, I needed to construct a radio alone,” Biju tells The Higher India.
On the age of 12, he constructed a working radio all by himself. “It was certainly my curiosity that made me discover and study electronics alone. I didn’t have a mentor; what I discovered was purely by way of studying books and my experiments,” he says.
The success of constructing a radio opened a brand new path for him. He continued his experiments with electronics and turned this into his career. Just a few years down the lane, he began innovating new digital gadgets along with his sensible information.
“I needed to seek out options to the problems we face each day,” says the 52-year-old, who says he has innovated over 20 gadgets to date. Amongst his improvements within the final twenty years, the ‘Good Photo voltaic DC Mixie with Grinder’ stands out for a lot of causes.
Biju explains that the mixie could be operated both by solar energy or electrical energy, and has a battery backup of as much as eight hours. Not like regular mixies, it has the power to carry out quite a lot of duties and has round 15 distinctive options.
“This mixie can be utilized not just for grinding but in addition for grating coconut and chopping greens in numerous sizes and styles,” says Biju. It will also be used to cost cell phones, join WiFi modems, and performance as a vacuum cleaner.
He gained the Rural Innovation Award for this innovation in 2021 from the Kerala State Authorities.
Nurturing a ardour for innovation
It wasn’t a straightforward childhood for Biju, whose father was a blacksmith and confronted monetary struggles. Biju says that he loved listening to music and this was additionally one of many causes that pushed him to construct a radio on his personal.
“After I was at school 4, I discovered a guide that taught the fundamentals of constructing a radio. Over time, I began exploring extra and started working on defective radios. Ultimately, I gained an intensive understanding of its functioning and was able to construct my very own. The primary programme I heard by way of my radio was Vividh Bharati,” he recollects.
As time handed, radio was changed by tv however Biju saved his curiosity alive. He says that by the point he was in pre-degree, he began repairing tv units as nicely. After ending his pre-degree, Biju started working as an electronics technician full-time. Inside a number of years, he arrange his personal restore store and likewise a cassette store.
“Though I discontinued my research after my pre-degree, I continued my self-study of electronics. I largely discovered by way of books and hands-on expertise,” he provides.
Across the late Nineties, when Biju was operating his electronics restore store, he began constructing a number of helpful devices. “I innovated a cordless tv booster by way of which one can hook up with the TV safely, thereby lowering the danger of getting an electrical shock whereas plugging within the cables,” says Biju.
The all-rounder good photo voltaic mixie
After operating his restore and cassette store for over 10 years, Biju determined to proceed his work at home.
“It was round this time when a VCR was changed by a CD participant. I needed to shut my restore store attributable to some monetary points. So, I turned extra into analysis and innovation,” says Biju.
Whereas spending extra time at residence, he realised the necessity to innovate one thing to ease his spouse’s every day kitchen work. So in 2010, Biju got here up with the primary mannequin of his good photo voltaic mixie.
“Mixie is a vital kitchen gadget, however ineffective when there’s no energy. Again then, we used to face frequent energy cuts, particularly throughout monsoons. And my spouse would battle to handle the kitchen work with out a functioning mixie. This gave me the concept of innovating one which may work even with out electrical energy,” he explains, including that he first constructed a fundamental mannequin with simply the grinding function.
Biju says that the motor of the mixie is the energy of the innovation. It took him over a decade to innovate and modify the mixie by including extra options.
The good photo voltaic mixie could be charged utilizing a 20W photo voltaic panel or by way of a direct energy connection. “As soon as totally charged the mixie can function with a backup of as much as eight hours. As it’s not related to energy, it may be used even throughout thunderstorms or when there’s no energy,” he elaborates.
The mixie additionally includes a cell charging port and an emergency lamp, and it may be related to a WiFi modem. It additionally has an inbuilt radio and USB ports for attaching pen drives.
“Because the gadget works on a DC motor, there’s not a lot noise. As a security function, I’ve added a sensor for detecting smoke or LPG leakage within the kitchen. The mixie whistles when it detects the smoke. Apart from, we will connect a fan to it, and it may be transformed right into a blower or a vacuum cleaner. The current add-on to its options is the distant management,” explains Biju.
His household has been utilizing the mixie for the previous a number of years.
Biju says he has gained a number of awards and recognition for his improvements over time.
He innovated Energy ID, a tool to detect battery charging in autos whereas driving, which gained the Kerala Startup Mission award. He additionally innovated a black field much like the one in aeroplanes to file audio and visuals whereas driving. A driving care system, which sends out an alert when the motive force dozes off whereas driving or drives carelessly, and a simple coconut-breaking machine are a few of his different distinctive improvements.
Biju hasn’t been capable of apply for patents for his improvements due to the applying bills.
“I’d like to make and promote the mixie on a industrial foundation however sadly I can’t afford it proper now,” says Biju, including, “Folks throughout the nation can profit from my good photo voltaic mixie. Furthermore, I plan to promote it at an inexpensive charge of Rs 4,500 – Rs 5,000.”
For extra info and enquiries, you possibly can contact Biju Narayanan at bijukn1970@gmail.com
Edited by Pranita Bhat; Photograph credit: Biju Narayanan