JOIN USIt is said the best way to teach your children about things is through experience and visuals than just reading about it. And what better way to experience and see things than in a museum dedicated solely for the benefit of young minds. One such is the Amma Saraswati Loka, a workshop-cum-museum, in Bengaluru. It has been developed by the former chief of maintenance at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), P D Ravindra.
What makes this workshop stand out is the fact that everything that is on display has been made by Ravindra himself by recycling many waste scraps that are found on industrial sites. As a result, children get the opportunity to learn about unique scientific concepts from the innovative products that he has created and the importance of recycling. The septuagenarian’s love for inventing things dates back to his childhood days. “I always wanted to use things that I had made, including kites. So, early on, I started inventing small things,” he reminisces.
Named after his mother, this unique museum is popular with schoolchildren. “When I embarked on this venture, I did not visualise it as a museum,” he says.
Public response motivated him to establish his workspace as a museum for children. While the ground floor has innovations of various kinds like a portable traffic kit and an exercise bike that also doubles as a wet grinder, the upper floor and terrace have machines that explain the difficult concepts of physics in an easy way.
In fact, the whole space offers a hands-on learning experience in the field of science. “A visual display enables students to understand complex scientific concepts better. Even if the children visiting the museum are too young, they can connect the displays to what they saw here when they begin learning the concepts at a later age,” says Archana Palahalli, a teacher.
Passionate about science, Ravindra believes that the potential for innovation can be found in every object. The three Rs — Reduce, Recycle, Reuse — are Ravindra’s watchwords. But what makes him a man with a mission is that while he invents, he ensures that the scientific temper is passed on to the next generation, especially children. “Ravindra’s enthusiasm for science and teaching it to the younger children was evident and made the whole trip more enjoyable. My children still talk of it today,” says Bhavani, a parent.
Apart from using his museum to give children an understanding of scientific principles he also aims to showcase the myriad uses of inexpensive waste material. While he was working at HAL, he had noticed that expensive aircraft and helicopter parts being discarded during overhaul. This prompted him to make something out them and transform them into test equipment. His innovativeness with the waste materials led him to get an award from the company. This continued even after he left HAL to start his own business. “It’s all thanks to my father who gave me a free hand to tinker around his old cars,” reveals Ravindra.
Though the museum may not be quite hi-tech or trendy, it surely portrays the enthusiasm and hard work invested by Ravindra in creating all the models on display. He, however, is quite worried about the sustenance of the museum as there is no one to take over. Despite this worry, he hopes to continue spreading his love for science and enabling young children and adults to develop an interest in science.
While entry to the workshop is free, one must take an appointment with Ravindra before scheduling a visit. One can contact him on 9482514883.