Puttur Students Ink Their Names in History through Research  

News & Pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Dec 3: Students of Ramakrishna High School here have, through their research, proved that ink can be manufactured by using naturally available things, which do not have any practical use for the society. Their invention has gained national level recognition, and has been chosen for international level competition.

Pramod N V and Bhargav C S, tenth standard students of the above school, gained national attention recently, by presenting their research at the national level science exhibition. They have now been chosen to participate in the international science exhibition set to be hosted by Los Angeles in USA in May next year.

Both Pramod and Bhargav believe that researches and inventions are not bound by the limits of age, and that avid interest to achieve something is the only driving force behind them. The recognition their invention has earned has spurred them further to evince more interest in their researches and be more creative.

The boys have proved that ink can be produced by using Alalekai (terminalia chebula - black myrobalan), Kadugeru (wild cashew), Kumkuma Kai (a kind of nut) and Shankha Pushpa (blue flowers borne by climbing herb), which are commonly found in the farms, thickets and forests of the area. Their interest could bloom into invention because of the contributions by teachers and parents alike. These two students have proved that recognition of the hidden talents and inspiration from teachers and close ones can bring out great ideas concealed inside the children.

These two students exhibited their invention at the national science exhibition held recently at Worli in Maharashtra. Out of 87 teams which participated in the exhibition, only eight, including the Puttur team, were chosen for awards. Bhargav and Pramod received citation, gold medal and laptops as prize. These two young scientists are set to fly our national flag high at Los Angeles next year.

Pramod N V is the son of Vishnumurty N from Nakkare in Badagannur village in the taluk.. Bhargav C S is the son of Navamanila Subbanna Shastri from Pangalayi within town municipal limits. Bhargav says that activities of the science club of his school, and information programmes about different plants and vegetations, apart from guidance by teachers, inspired them to achieve further. They were guided by Vasanti K, teacher of the school, in their research. Headmaster, Sridhar Rai, also extended support to their interests, while science teachers, Jayalakshmi, Trutpi and Shobha, contributed with their advices. Bhargav greatefully acknowledges the support of parents and guidance by teachers, which he says, enabled the two of them to register this distinct achievement.

Alalekai is a kind of nut that grows in plants where it hangs in bunches. This plant is found in plenty in Karnataka coast, but this nut does not have any known uses. The other things they have used for making ink are also available naturally in abundance, and have not been of much use till now.

How to Make Ink: A fine powder needs to be prepared by using Alalekai. After mixing water to this powder, a piece of iron is immersed in the solution for about eight days. Later, this water is filtered. If glycerine is added to this solution, black ink is got. If the solution made from Kumkuma Kai is mixed with this ink, we get brownish red ink. If the solution prepared by using Shankha Pushpa is added to this mixture, dark blue ink is got. The students are planning to conduct a few more experiments to further enhance the value of their invention.

The method of producing solution from these products is the same. They need to be finely powdered at first, after which, they are mixed with water. A piece if iron is then immersed in this solution for eight days, after which it is filtered before glycerine is added to it.

The people of Puttur have lavishly praised the efforts of these students in putting to use a few things that are naturally available, but are of no use. They fondly hope that the students will be able to contribute to the science sector in a major way during the years to come.