MANSUKHBHAI PRAJAPATI & MITTICOOL
A true inspiration, Mansukhbhai Prajapati, hails from a village in Gujarat from a family of potters. Post Machu Dam breakdown, his family lost everything and migrated to another village where his father took up a job as a mason. Mansukhbhai opened a chai- stall. It so happened that, his chai-stall was right in front of the factory of his wife-to-be. He felt the need to make a name for himself and do something big, because he did not want his wife to ever feel embarrassed of his profession.
Once, his uncle visited him and offered him a job in a rooftop tile manufacturing unit. He closed his tea lorry and joined the factory. During his time there, he learnt all related work at the factory.
He combined the traditional pottery knowledge with his experience at the factory and set up an enterprise called MITTICOOL (Read the whole story in detail here). He developed water filters with ceramic candles, refrigerators, cooker and non-stick tawa (pan)- all made from clay.
These products operate without electricity and have negligible maintenance costs. They are easy to produce, sustainable and serve their function well. They have improved the domestic lifestyles of people from so many small towns and villages.
Mansukhbhaai, discontinued his education in class 10. Without any educational expertise, he managed to succeed in Designing for the real problems that people face.
Mansukhbhai's story really makes me question my own actions as a designer. We- designers- spend all our time trying to help brands of all kind sell better but does the world actually need all these brands, some of which sell really useless products? Are we really 'designing'? Are we really solving problems that need our attention? Is selling a new brand of toothpaste or designing a packaging for a bodywash, worth our time and effort? Will the world die without more brands and are these brands really making a difference in our lives?
Many problems faced by the rural sector are untouched by designers. We can make a difference in their lives- give them a chance to live the same healthy lifestyle and fulfill their needs beyond the basic food, clothing and shelter. Attention to those problems really requires time and effort and it is worth it. Mansukhbhai has proved that.
Photocredits: Kanchan Dhankani
This talk was held at Kyoorius Designyatra 2012 at the Grand Hyatt, Goa, India ( Aug 30 - Sep 1)
