Shri P L Mistry - a forgotten innovator
Shri P L Mistry (Suthar) has been awarded posthumously by Second National Grassroots Technological Innovation and Traditional Knowledge Awards - 2002 for his great inventions like Wise platform ticket machine, automatic air pump for bicycles and other innovations. The other innovations that he had developed and in most cases patented are:
- Improved tea coffee maker,
- Platform ticket machine,
- Automatic air pump for bicycles,
- Animal body weight drawn water lifting pump,
- Device for constant pressure of water in pipeline/tap,
- Improved machine for making chapatis/puris,
- System for prevention of train collision and accident due to derailment and sabotaging,
- Improved churner,
- Small flour mill,
- Folding cradle,
- Cloth washing and drying machine,
- Folding swing bed,
- Automatic lighting and delighting kerosene lamp and
- Power generation from road traffic.
Late Shri Poonamchand Lakha Mistry born in 1914 in a poor family, was an outstanding innovator of his time. He was the eldest among four brothers. He thought about several problems affecting common people as well as large systems like railways. In some cases he succeeded with the actual prototype and a few remained just as his dream.
Poonamchand couldn’t continue his education after fifth standard because he had to assist his father in carpentry work. While pursuing carpentry, he developed interest in creative activities, and at the age of 17, he prepared a functional miniature steam locoengine. The then administrator of British government instead of encouragement, advised him to destroy his loco-engine. He, however, stashed away his creation but this incident couldn’t suppress his creative talent to develop innovative things. In due course, he established a flour mill and a motorcar repair workshop.
Most of his income had been spent on experimenting his ideas. He received financial and moral supports from his brothers for pursuing his innovative experiments. During his lifetime he made 33 innovations and of these 25 have been granted patents in India. Such a crazy innovator left for his final abode in 1981 leaving some of his innovations incomplete worthy further research and development even today.
Vry Sad to knw that P L Mistry & Bros is permanently closed. I am saying so, bcoz it was Brand of trust nd quality. They focused on quality rather than doing publicity. Why i m posting this now, bcoz My parents were customer of their products nd they are still fan of this brand. I want to share my family's experience with PL Mistry product as an appreciation, Salute nd complement.
ReplyDelete30+yrs ago my parents brought PALNA of this brand for me, I enjoyed my whole childhood with that, now my 2 kids using it. Thats the quality they deliver. Nd still now PALNA is in perfect condition nd i hope it can be perfect for nxt gen too. Nd since 1987-1988, it never need any repair or service.
Here is the pics of that PALNA. Love u P L Mistry & Bros company, will miss u alwys nd forever.