Innovation is the process of turning ideas into manufacturer and marketable form and this maxim has been proven by M-Tech degree holder Jahangir Arshid of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district. He has over 20 patents in his name, out of which five of them have won him gold medals.
Jahangir, 27, is currently pursuing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML) at the University of Texas in the United States, and runs an institution called “Kashmir Innovates”, popularly known as KASHOVATIC, in Hazratbal, Srinagar.
Presently, he is working on a unique patent like “Spoon” that would check the concentration of salt in any dish that our womenfolk prepare in their kitchens.
The idea to determine the reading of salt in units was evolved after students often complained of not getting the taste of salt in their meals. Jahangir has six students of 9th to 12th standards assisting him at his Bandipora workshop, besides continuing with their learning.
Giving a reason for taking up the “Spoon” project, Jahangir said that, “In the dishes that our sisters and mothers prepare, the salt content either remains low or more. This encouraged students to create an electric device which will check the concentration of salt on the basics of 10th-level science, which teaches us the basis of conductivity and resistance.”
Jahangir further said, “Spoon will show the reading of units of salt when it is put in the utensil containing the meal to be prepared and accordingly the quantity of salt can be added.”
Describing it as a prototype, Jahangir said companies that accept it can take it and redesign it as per their requirement before marketing it.
“Presently, it works in battery mode and we are trying to make it battery less so that there is no need to charge it time and again,” Jahangir said, adding that it would take the boys at least two more months to reach perfection.
“We will make it on “Speck Effect”, which reacts to temperature and generates voltage and, when one dips the spoon in any hot dish, it will automatically show the content of salt,” Jahangir, adding, “We will change to super capacitor charge for it to run and work on its own.”
Jahangir said that “Spoon” will not only solve kitchen problems, but also help hypertensive people decide how much salt they should take.
He said that Adnan Farooq, Tabish Mushtaq, Tabasum Manzoor, Amaan, Seerat Jan and Zainab-un-nisa are presently on the job to take “Project Spoon” to its logical conclusion.
Jahangir’s first unique innovation was a “Baby Peace and Foretelling Device”, a diaper-shaped item meant for children and paralytic patients, giving advance signals about a baby or a paralytic patient about to go for a “Peep”.
He said a nurse or attendant would get a message in advance when a patient wants to go for a “peep” and accordingly she can move the latter to the washroom.
Different companies from Japan, including Unicharm and Unitear, have shown interest after seeing our patents.
“We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with them and are in constant touch rather than being in queue for medical research. Recently, we received an email stating that ‘we found your technology unique throughout the globe,’” said Jahangir.
“With the encouragement from Japanese companies, we have started a chain of innovations and presently we are working on more than 20 patents,'' he added.
“Five of these patents are of international level and have won me four gold and one silver medal. We have also won the Medal of Honor from the Association of European Innovators, which are being run by the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Portugal,” Jahangir said
Gold medals have been won for the baby peace and foretelling device, self-cleaning utensils, brain interface for specially-abled persons and hardware automation system for examinations. The patent for stabilisation and transformation frequency control won a silver medal.
“After achieving success, we started a patent institution where we teach our students how to make these patents and how to apply basic science to remove the problems of common people,” Jahangir said.
“The motive of KASHOVATIC is to develop an innovative culture and scientific temperament in the Kashmir Valley which would help students of 9th and 10th standards to differentiate and find out what is piquant in society and attracts them in a big way. Developing a scientific temperament and attitude will encourage them to innovate, take responsibility and help society deal with its many problems,” he added.
More than 150 students have given us innovations through “KASHOVATICS”.
“Recently, we got approval from the Association for Information Communication Technology (AICT),” he said, adding that “our institute is running successfully and our efforts are bearing fruit, as there is a lot of exposure in Srinagar.”
He said that under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2022, the promotion of innovative products needs enhancement of structure and development so that innovators can bring about a revolution in society.
Jahangir further said that engineers who have completed their studies have great potential and could be great innovators in society.
“Not only engineers, but every student could be an innovator, but the need of the hour is to look at problems in a way that we can give solutions and that kind of thinking can make us innovators. Only innovation could take us forward in this world,” he concludes.