The ideas lab

Months before Valentines Day,engineering student Gaurav Minocha had found the perfect way to get his message acrossa tiny blinking heart that goes berserk every time somebody touches it.

From a blinking heart to a personal power plant,Dhananjay Gadres innovations crowd his lab and home

Months before Valentines Day,engineering student Gaurav Minocha had found the perfect way to get his message acrossa tiny blinking heart that goes berserk every time somebody touches it. This gift of love was born in a forbidding surroundinga sparse laboratory of the Centre for Electronics Design and Technology at the Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology in Dwarka. The heart is made of rows of tiny bulbuous eruptions fuelled by LED,technical knowhow and the engineering creativity of Minocha and his professor,Dhananjay Gadre. The lights start flickering madly when somebodys hand reaches towards it. Touch the bulbs,and the flickering intensifies into a mad series of winks and blinks, says Gadre.

It isnt love alone that fuels Gadres creativity. The laboratory is filled with geegaws that range from the bizarrea face-shaped monitor with lips moving to music or a spinning top that flashes messagesto the awesomea battery-less remote control that Gadre promises can reduce environment pollution in ways unimaginable. I hate batteries. They are not bio-degradable. They seep into the soil,soak in the water and make their way into our blood stream as poison particles, he says. The battery-less gadget is a conventional TV remote fused with a syringe-like contraption. He adds,Shake the remote twice as you would a bottle of medicine and… He aims it at a faraway plug point that starts blinking. And you can use it to switch channels and increase the volume,it can be used as a normal remote with one exception. No battery changes,ever. I use it at home. Gadre calls these nuggets of creativity his jugaad collection,of which some quirky pieces will be showcased at CeC & CaC (pronounced Sek & Sak),a Carnival of e-Creativity & Change-agents Conclave that will be held in Bhimtal near Nainital later this month. Accompanying him there would be student Nehul Malhotra.

While most of Gadres innovations are open source he intends to patent his favourite work. Made of translucent cylinders,the Personal Power Plant is an alternative to electricity. The device is strapped to the knees and attached to an FM radio (battery-less) or a mobile phone. Go trekking in a remote area or just move your legs,and the magents create enough power to charge your cellphone or play the radio. You dont need electricity, he says.

Gadres creative streak wasnt obvious as a child. In fact,as a child he broke everything in sight. The first time I constructed something,rather than pull it apart,was in engineering college. It became an addiction. Even as the world swore by Indias software talent,Gadre was having visions of the future. China is to the US in hardware what India is to the US in software. China is just a short distance away from overtaking us unless India upgrades its hardware capability, he says. Technical innovations crowd his home and lab. He launches into lengthy technical talk about magnetic force,LEDs,lights,power of vision and the jargons of physics. He lifts a small box with a slit for a cellphone screen. This is a contact-free tachometer. Attach a magnet to a fan,and the screen shows the speed of the whirring blades, he says. Another innovation is a slim pencil-shaped thing that Gadre operates as a matchstick,striking it against a conventional matchbox packed with magnetic balls. Hardware is so much fun that it becomes an addiction for a lifetime, he says. As far as he is concerned,a crazy blinking heart says it better than roses.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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The ideas lab

Months before Valentines Day,engineering student Gaurav Minocha had found the perfect way to get his message acrossa tiny blinking heart that goes berserk every time somebody touches it.

Months before Valentines Day,engineering student Gaurav Minocha had found the perfect way to get his message acrossa tiny blinking heart that goes berserk every time somebody touches it.