Hinterland heroes

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Mansukhbhai Jagani from Gujarat during the shooting of a film about his innovation

It was at National Innovation Foundation Fair, 2001, that documentary filmmaker Matiur Rahman was first introduced to some of the scientific innovations in rural areas. “Those who had no formal education, had never seen a revolving chair or a conference hall, were presenting such mind-boggling scientific innovations that I was completely taken aback,” says Rahman.

Inspired by their inventions, Rahman decided to make films on these rural innovators. Since then, his camera has been filming the innovations of those who have never even been to school or just had primary education.
“This is what fascinates me the most. These people who can hardly read, have no resources or guidance, make such impressive innovations that even scientists will gasp,” says Rahman.
Mansukhbhai Jagani from Gujarat’s rural area was the first one to capture Rahman’s imagination. “A poor motor mechanic, who studied only till Class 4, had turned a Royal Enfield bike into a tractor. This remarkable innovation brought down the cost of tractor multiple times,” says Rahman.
Since then, there was no looking back. Rahman found a purpose in promoting the innovations of these people, who were not even sure what they had stumbled upon.
Among other rural innovators Rahman made a short film on Mujeeb Khan, a differently-abled person from Jaipur, who added additional attachments around the steering for clutches, accelerator and brakes so that physically challenged people can also drive cars.
Another film was shot on Vijay Singh from a village in Banaras, who made an anti-theft bike with an electronic censor that can recognise the owner.
“There are many such innovations that these people make to deal with day-to-day problems. Many of them are now getting financial help from the National Innovation Foundation and Technopreneur Promotion Programme under the department of Science and Technology,” says Rahman.
While Rahman is busy filming the challenges these innovators face, his own quest hasn’t been easy either.
“At present two people are working with me, but I can’t afford to pay them salaries. So far, I have made about 225 episodes, each about five minutes long. Though 24 stories were showcased on CNN IBN about five years ago and a series Challenge Chatni had been running on Doordarshan recently, usually it’s hard to convince channels to show these films,” says Rahman.
However, Rahman says that he would keep trying to highlight these innovations. “There are many such stories that need to be told. And I want these to reach everyone,” smiles Rahman.