The buzz of energy at the Maker Mela, the premier event for Grassroot Innovations in India is electric. A celebration of arts, crafts, engineering, science, the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset, the Makers Mela is aliveand buzzing with the sharing of ideas, the discussions between the makers from ages of 12 to 60, the music and performances making a great background.

Maker Mela, is an initative of Somaiya Vidyavihar.

The 100 plus Makers are from across India, from Chennai to Kashmir; from the rural Sakarwadi to Mumbai. Says Sagar Jage, a young 25 years Maker from Badlapur, who has developed a Finger Wiper for wiping water from the helmet visor while riding a bike “ This is a great opportunity to showcase our product. This give us an opportunity to look for collaborations, ideas for marketing. The excitement around the place is motivating”

Sunil Sheth, who is developing a product for controlling home lights through the mobile, at an affordable cost says” We are here to get some exposure and feedback on our product. We are getting feedback from visitors and other Makers, as to what features should be added, the price at which people they will buy. etc. This will help us create a better product.”

Brain-X Kids at Maker Mela,showing the power of the mind

BrainX Kids at Maker Mela

Cardboard Robot at Maker Mela

Cardboard Robot at Maker Mela

Innovative Finder Wiper for Bike riders at Maker Mela

Kids painting at Maker Mela

Laser Harp at Maker Mela

Laser Harp at Maker Mela

Racing car by Somaiya Students at Maker Mela

Wheel Chair Controlled by Brain Waves at Maker Mela

cheapest 3D printer at Maker Mela

Nikita Parjia, a 12th standard student from Yevatmal, says “ I paint as a hobby, and coming here, I have realised I have an idenity. I am a Maker. I don’t want to sell my painting, but just want to have the identity of myself. I am feeling very proud”.

Mr and Mrs Homkar, at 54 and 46 years are Makers, working from home, they are creating a business of storage compartments created with old sarees, that make the entire cupboard usefull. Says Mrs Homkar “ We are getting many requests for orders and business. It is nice to be in this place with so many young Makers too.

Burhan Ud Din Khateeb, who is from Srinagar, teaching design at Craft Development Institute, Srinagar has developed products such as blue tooth speakers, lamps, phone covers using waste paper. He says” I want to promote and combine local handicrafts from Kashmir with technology to make products which are relevant for consumers. I am here to showcase this idea, so that this art can be taken ahead. “

The Flying Robot; the harp without strings that makes music with lasers; the all terrain bike; Brain X kids – who can describe in details whats in front of them as well as ride a cycle while being blindfoded; a 12 year old boy who has created a machine for solving the Rubick cube are the block buster projects which are receiving much attention.

Arvind Sanjeev, founder of DIY hacking, and creator of Do It Yourself Google Glass says “ This looks to be one of India’s biggest Maker movements. I am very excited to see Makers from Kerala at the Maker Mela. “

Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman & Managing Director, Godrej & Boyce said “ Maker Mela is the premier event for grassroot innovaions in India. I am happy that this is being done. I am happy to give my support to this.”

Said Shri Samir Somaiya, President Somaiya Vidyavihar “Maker Mela, is part of our efforts to contribute to the community by facilitating entrepreunership and innovation at the grassroot level. By bringing innovators together and sharing knowledge and by exploring new ways of looking at existing ways of doing things new solutions can develop. This transformation will happen when we create a network of pioneers, ideators, technologies and users and enable them to come to the mainstream”

Said Gaurang Shetty, Chief Innovation Catalyst, Riddl, Somaiya Vidyavihar “ We are excited with the response we have received from across India to the Maker Movement. It shows this was an important platfrom that was so needed. From children to senior citizen, from ideators to entrepreuners, everyone has showed incredible enthusiasm. The Do It Yourself of Today is the Inventor of Tommorrow. We are humbled and proud at playing a role in this.”

The workshops at Maker Mela also saw a great response. The workshops range from Warli Painting , Screen print, Paper Qulling, Cake Baking, Pottery to 3D printing, Brainwave Robotics, Build your own Solar Mobile Charger, to Android Rooting.