A little instance, one regular moment that catches the eye, one little observation and sometimes, this is all it takes to make a difference, to motivate and to compel the creative mind. Manen Mollier begins by telling me this incident, which I believe that the majority of us would, at the most, pass a heart rending remark and leave it at that.
In his own words…. “One day I saw this small girl student all alone in the rickshaw. Asleep. And it struck my mind that many parents cannot afford to be around all the time…”
“She was belted to the rickshaw so that she doesn’t fall,” he continues, even as realisation on the dangers of such a situation dawned. And it was for safe passage to school and back for these children that he came home feeling unusual but inspired to do something more than mere thinking.
Followed by proofing of designs and making blueprints on a rickshaw of his very own, Manen approached his Dad who was at first a bit reluctant (as he puts it) but eventually gave in. He thus began on a venture that no other Naga has ever gone before. With a mere Rs 3000/-, he purchased the parts of a rickshaw and with a combination of effort, creativity and hard work, he completed his design and product in one month.
In time, he came up with 30 rickshaws of the same model which is more comfortable, safer and lighter and made of metal with assistance from his Uncle. This time it took him only 5 months for 30 rickshaws. And that’s how Jeman Rickshaws came into being.
This new innovation gained popularity during 2006, even more so because he was spreading the love of God by quoting verses from the Bible and getting them written on the rear of his rickshaws. Significantly, an Amritsar based Journalist happened to chance upon these rickshaws while in Nagaland and he was so taken in by it that he did his bit by doing a story on this young man.
Next thing he knew, there were unending calls coming in from hundreds of readers in Amritsar. He had compliments and queries pouring in for him from among those who were touched by the verses, from among believers who shared the joy of spreading the heavenly mission together and even from those who may not share the same belief but still agreed to the lines written on the rear of his rickshaws.
Manen was clearly happy with the overwhelming response. “It was very positive” he states. And people also obviously appreciated his dignity of labour. “I got a lot of encouragement,” he expresses.
But as one knows, most times it takes a little more than encouragement to carry an idea forward. And so, he left it at that. However, he kept his first model with him for 3 years, for emotional reasons perhaps.
When asked if he would pick it up again, Manen seems set on leaving it where it ended. But, indeed a good experience, and a life changing one at that for a good many people, his tryst with destiny has a mixed bag of specialties.
It would come as a surprise that somebody who majored in Geography from Rajasthan College actually pursued a Master’s Degree in Psychology and went on to get a Diploma in Software Engineering, before he settled on being a Psychology Teacher at Dimapur Mission Higher Secondary School, which is also his current profession.
But more than the teacher in him, which he insists on thoroughly enjoying, the creative side of him refuses to die down. He admits that he is a restless chap who is always up to something or the other. True to this, most of the things he engages himself in when not teaching has something to do with innovation, traces of which you see in his home zone. For instance, a table that he recently made and other new designs placed in corners of the house.
The most interesting one lies in the front-yard. It’s a two wheeler, a bike to be precise, which he modified, more out of interest than compelling attraction. He has artistically designed and creatively placed a roof above for the sole purpose of getting protection from the sun or the rain. It’s more like a whole motor vehicle but obviously the difference lies in the two wheels that handsomely fulfils the purpose of transportation. Only, it’s more comfortable than the actual bike, although of course, he has only modified a bike to something more than catches the eye.
Having made this during a time when ginger farmers were going through a very difficult time disposing surplus production, he dedicated his latest creation to these farmers. Presently, he’s trying to take this model to some company and one hopes that it does make an impact because it surely promises of a much more convenient way of commuting.
I also believe he can make an airplane and make us all proud. Actually it was his idea, which he quickly brushes it aside as “crazy”. But then, as they say…“it’s better to be absolutely absurd then boring”…
In his own words…. “One day I saw this small girl student all alone in the rickshaw. Asleep. And it struck my mind that many parents cannot afford to be around all the time…”
“She was belted to the rickshaw so that she doesn’t fall,” he continues, even as realisation on the dangers of such a situation dawned. And it was for safe passage to school and back for these children that he came home feeling unusual but inspired to do something more than mere thinking.
Followed by proofing of designs and making blueprints on a rickshaw of his very own, Manen approached his Dad who was at first a bit reluctant (as he puts it) but eventually gave in. He thus began on a venture that no other Naga has ever gone before. With a mere Rs 3000/-, he purchased the parts of a rickshaw and with a combination of effort, creativity and hard work, he completed his design and product in one month.
In time, he came up with 30 rickshaws of the same model which is more comfortable, safer and lighter and made of metal with assistance from his Uncle. This time it took him only 5 months for 30 rickshaws. And that’s how Jeman Rickshaws came into being.
This new innovation gained popularity during 2006, even more so because he was spreading the love of God by quoting verses from the Bible and getting them written on the rear of his rickshaws. Significantly, an Amritsar based Journalist happened to chance upon these rickshaws while in Nagaland and he was so taken in by it that he did his bit by doing a story on this young man.
Next thing he knew, there were unending calls coming in from hundreds of readers in Amritsar. He had compliments and queries pouring in for him from among those who were touched by the verses, from among believers who shared the joy of spreading the heavenly mission together and even from those who may not share the same belief but still agreed to the lines written on the rear of his rickshaws.
Manen was clearly happy with the overwhelming response. “It was very positive” he states. And people also obviously appreciated his dignity of labour. “I got a lot of encouragement,” he expresses.
But as one knows, most times it takes a little more than encouragement to carry an idea forward. And so, he left it at that. However, he kept his first model with him for 3 years, for emotional reasons perhaps.
When asked if he would pick it up again, Manen seems set on leaving it where it ended. But, indeed a good experience, and a life changing one at that for a good many people, his tryst with destiny has a mixed bag of specialties.
It would come as a surprise that somebody who majored in Geography from Rajasthan College actually pursued a Master’s Degree in Psychology and went on to get a Diploma in Software Engineering, before he settled on being a Psychology Teacher at Dimapur Mission Higher Secondary School, which is also his current profession.
But more than the teacher in him, which he insists on thoroughly enjoying, the creative side of him refuses to die down. He admits that he is a restless chap who is always up to something or the other. True to this, most of the things he engages himself in when not teaching has something to do with innovation, traces of which you see in his home zone. For instance, a table that he recently made and other new designs placed in corners of the house.
The most interesting one lies in the front-yard. It’s a two wheeler, a bike to be precise, which he modified, more out of interest than compelling attraction. He has artistically designed and creatively placed a roof above for the sole purpose of getting protection from the sun or the rain. It’s more like a whole motor vehicle but obviously the difference lies in the two wheels that handsomely fulfils the purpose of transportation. Only, it’s more comfortable than the actual bike, although of course, he has only modified a bike to something more than catches the eye.
Having made this during a time when ginger farmers were going through a very difficult time disposing surplus production, he dedicated his latest creation to these farmers. Presently, he’s trying to take this model to some company and one hopes that it does make an impact because it surely promises of a much more convenient way of commuting.
I also believe he can make an airplane and make us all proud. Actually it was his idea, which he quickly brushes it aside as “crazy”. But then, as they say…“it’s better to be absolutely absurd then boring”…
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