Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar emphasized the importance of “learning by doing and experiencing” in science and technology to empower Yuva Shakti and drive India toward Viksit Bharat. Referring to the vibrant hands-on science experiments curated by Smile Wellness Foundation (SWF) at their 100th event, he stated, “What we saw at the event is the way to achieve it. The chalk-and-board method will not work.”
He added, “Instead of you thanking me, I should be thanking you all.”
Dr. Mashelkar told ImpactLens when asked about making India a laboratory in itself rather than just having laboratories in India, “Of course, laboratories of life! You don’t need to go to Harvard, Princeton, or Cambridge to create something meaningful. Your own kitchen can be a laboratory, and experiments in nature can serve as a laboratory of life.”
How Dr. Mashelkar Redefined Education on SWF 100th event.
Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar pointed to a half-full glass of water on the table and asked the 400 students of Sumati Balwan School to think of different ways to remove the water. At first, the students hesitated, unsure whether their answers would be right or wrong. But Dr. Mashelkar reassured them, appreciating every idea and showing that all answers had value. Encouraged by his response, the students gained confidence and began suggesting creative solutions—some even surprising him. Would they have come up with those answers if he hadn’t created a learning environment that redefined mistakes?
Before starting the exercise, he emphasized, “There is no single answer to a question, and failing a student for this is wrong.” He amazed the crowd by revealing that there are 42 ways to remove the water and encouraged students to brainstorm even more ideas, asking them to email him their suggestions the next day. One student came up with 64 ways! Next to the podium, Smile Wellness Foundation (SWF) displayed a poster featuring Marie Curie, , with the phrase “Be Curious.” It was the way in which he asked the question that got students curious about science. Their answers unknowingly highlighted scientific phenomena like centrifugal force (“shake the glass and the water will fall out”) evaporation (“leave the glass in the sun and let it do the magic”) and many more. Dr. Mashelkar said, “Let students enjoy the beautiful process of science, not just memorize its outcomes.” This exercise perfectly embodied that idea. It is the way in which a question is asked that moves a child’s thought process in a certain direction, sparking their interest.
A similar effect was observed when Poorvi, a 9th-grade student, walked out of a three-hour test with 400 questions—happy and surprised at her newfound abilities in math, a subject she had never felt confident in before. This transformation was due to how psychologists from Jnana Prabodhini, an NGO, had framed the questions. Dr. Mashelkar had initially asked, “How will you take out the water?” Yet one student responded with, “How will the sun take out the water?” Though it did not directly answer his question, he still encouraged the response, recognizing its value. Sumati Balwan and SWF follow a core philosophy: “Ten answers labeled ‘incorrect’ by the mainstream can lead to one that changes the world. But if a child is shut down after just two, how can greatness be born?”
When students are discouraged from asking and answering questions, they develop a fear of making mistakes. This fear manifests as three defense mechanisms when faced with a learning opportunity: 1.) Running away from it 2. ) Reacting aggressively to it 3.) People Pleasing. Dr. Brené Brown has stated that when these three shields come into play, learning is not possible.
A simple experiment for those in the education development sector: Teach the same scientific concept using a chalk-and-board method, then teach it through a hands-on experiment using a DIY science kit curated by SWF. The difference in student engagement will be evident in their expressions. These low-cost kits serve as a bridge for schools that lack the resources for practical science labs, making hands-on learning more accessible.
Dr. Mashelkar told ImpactLense, “As Gandhi Ji said, “The fruits of science must reach the poorest of the poor, keep it up SWF. I saw some very interesting experiments by SWF, and the enthusiasm and enterprising spirit they brought to the grassroots level is commendable. This is part of Gandhian engineering—affordable excellence.”
He shared with ImpactLense the role of a teacher: “It’s about observation, analysis, and synthesis. We all see the same things, but our thoughts on it are different. Then students analyze their thoughts and derive new ideas from them (synthesis) . “The eyes do not see what the mind does not know. The teacher’s role is to prepare the eye and mind to see.
He also spoke about co-creation, where students collaborate without teacher intervention, building on each other’s imaginations
Dr. Mashelkars inspiration from application-based science education:
At Union High School, young Raghunath’s teacher Mr. Bhave showed them how a convex lens can concentrate the sun’s rays and even spark a fire. It was this example that inspired Raghunath to become a scientist. He was even taken to a factory as an exposure visit to see how products were made.
His life is an inspiration to students of how finances don’t determine fate.
Living in a chawl, walking barefoot to a municipal school, and struggling to arrange Rs. 21 for fees and a notebook to write his answers, he could barely make ends meet. Determined to fulfill his dream of becoming a scientist, he read outside bookstores, returning the books immediately because he couldn’t afford them. Today, he holds the national record for honorary doctorates, surpassing Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He is a Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan awardee, a jury member of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QRS), the Nobel equivalent for engineering, and much more Addressing low-income students’ at the Marathi-medium school, he said, “ Where you come from and which language you know does not determine your future—the outcome of your life is in your hands.” He also helped students overcome the inferiority complex often faced by those studying in vernacular languages who feel disadvantaged for not knowing English, sharing his own experience of language doesn’t determine success.
Yuva Shakti in Creating Technologies Accessible to the Poor – Gandhian Engineering
During the discussion, a student suggested using solid carbon dioxide to remove water from the glass. Dr. Mashelkar responded, “But solid carbon dioxide is not easily accessible. Instead, you can use soda.” This moment led him to introduce the term he coined—‘Gandhian Engineering.’
“If you face a problem, you must not dwell on it or feel frustrated. You must be part of the solution,” he said, inspiring students with the story of an 18-year-old village boy from Kerala who went to great lengths just to study.
As part of his National Innovation Foundation (NIF) initiative, Dr. Mashelkar awarded the boy. His father had cancer, and his mother was also ill. With household chores and long commutes requiring multiple bus changes, he had little time left for studies. His solution? He built a pedal-powered washing machine by connecting the rotators to a stationary cycle. Sitting on the cycle, he could study while pedaling, simultaneously washing clothes.
The second prize went to a 12-year-old boy from Bihar, whose father was disabled. The walker he used couldn’t climb stairs efficiently, so the boy attached springs to the back legs of the walker to provide extra push. The NIF helped patent his innovation and connected him with a company that paid him royalties, allowing him to cover his father’s medical expenses.
In 2011, Dr. Mashelkar founded the Anjani Mashelkar Foundation in honor of his late mother, fulfilling her last wish—to keep improving the lives of disadvantaged, excluded, and resource-poor communities through the power of science and technology. (Learn more at mashelkarfoundation.org.)
Entrepreneurship for Yuva Shakti:
Dr. Mashelkar said he gave the example of SWF in his speech as a chief guest at a Maharashtra Economic Council as SWF teaches youth how to calculate costs and market the products they make like soap. “Get to your 20’s and learn how to market, advertise and be financially literate? I do not agree with that. An entrepreneurship mindset should be developed from the school days.” he said.
The Importance of Affirmations for Yuva Shakti
“The best is yet to come, and today is the day!” The students of Sumati Balwan shouted in unison after Dr. Mashelkar encouraged them to make this their daily affirmation.
He shared a personal anecdote about how, every time he received a prestigious global accolade and excitedly shared the news with his mentor, Bharat Ratna Dr. C.N. Rao, the response was always the same—“Not bad.”
Dr. Mashelkar eventually asked, “What do I have to do for you to truly praise me?” That’s when his mentor explained, “Even after a victory, always remind yourself—‘The best is yet to come.’”
Understanding that resources are scarce, a way to inspire Yuva Shakti to innovate:
Dr. Mashelkar took a tour of the School. When asked about the products made from scrap by its students, he told ImpactLense, “This is part of Gandhian Engineering—where we move away from a throwaway society and focus on reusing and recycling. We must learn to get more and more from less and less exhaustible resources.”
We discussed in the past how he was particularly impressed by an 8-year-old boy who pointed out that producing 1kg of vegetables requires 120 liters of water to grow, making it unsustainable. Sustainability is at the heart of Gandhian Engineering.
At Sumati Balwan, students don’t just learn about the impacts of plastic pollution and build chairs out of plastic bottles to reduce waste and more.
The students have even designed a Sewage Treatment Plant that supports a lush banana plantation, applying their knowledge of the food and water crisis to create real-world solutions.
How Building a Scientific Temperament Benefits Youth Beyond Science
Being asked about this, Dr. Mashelkar told ImpactLense that science is not a set of equations or set standard norms—it is a journey, an experience.
“You learn about life from science. Even from failed experiments, you can create breakthroughs—just like how we got penicillin, which saved the world. Failure is not failure; it depends on how you look at it.”
Contributed by Rian K.- a freelance journalist with published bylines in The Indian Express, Hindustan Times and Midday. Developing life-centric and unconventional education, enterprising youth, and grassroots sports in the NGO sector. ( This article is contributed by Rian K, a freelance writer on Development issues).
This Post Has One Comment
Dr Mashelkar doesn’t complicate the issues but in very simple manner and language encourages students as we see here how to face challenges and get rid of negativity Be positive face it as bravely but wisely.
He is known to have spread his knowledge and experience in all the events he has participated .
He is a down to earth man and is seen always mingling with young and old and with a smile. . We wish him a very long life to participate in turning our country BHARAT into VIKSIT BHARAT. 🙏
The write up needs to be widely circulated for the benefit of our young generation . Our future .