MUMBAI-BASED Angad Daryani (15) is the latest teen to join the brigade of precocious global IT (information technology) entrepreneurs. With parental support, this self-styled open source software and hardware developer promoted Shark India Pvt. Ltd in 2012, and is getting ready to launch the country’s most cost-efficient, fastest, and most robust desktop 3-D printers. Priced at one-third (Rs.20,000-25,000) the tag of 3-D printers available on the Indian market, Angad is also working on launching the product line of his DIY (do it yourself) Shark kits for children in the 5-15 age group. The younger of two siblings of Anil Daryani, an engineer, and Kanchan, a homemaker, Angad began dismantling and reassembling toy cars at the age of three. With father Anil’s active encouragement, he built a humanoid robot with a Lego NXT Mindstorm kit and a remote-controlled hovercraft when he was just 11, and his version of an open source RepRap 3-D printer at 13. An enthusiastic participant in science fests, he created a sensation at the IIT-Techfest 2010 where he presented a solar-powered speed boat. I am blessed with an inquisitive mind and derive pleasure from hands-on technology. Sharks are my favourite creatures, so I’ve named my products after them. As I have learnt so much from other inventors thanks to open-source technology, it’s my endeavour to empower others the same way, says this gifted teenager, who completed his secondary programme equivalent to class X under the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) system in March. Despite his busy schedule involving a host of activities, attending STEM seminars and workshops, conducting research etc, Angad dedicates five-six hours a day to intensive study, and was recently admitted into the Plus Two programme of the highly-rated Jamnabai Narsee School (IB), Juhu. His future plan is to study embedded systems design and development programmes abroad. My goal is to develop cost-effective, accessible solutions for real-world problems and spark a production revolution across the country and worldwide, he enthuses. Right on! Sunayana Nair (Mumbai)
