shadamarshanavasu

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Washing machine or lassi maker?

Washing machine as a gadget has become indispensable in many households.My son tells me that nobody nowadays washes clothes the non technology way!If they dont use a washing machine then they give it to the dhobi!But then washing machine is always used for washing clothes, right?
Wrong. It is well documented that across the Punjab rural expanse, washing machines churn loads of lassi to quench the thirst of the millions!Yes, shops and big rural households have found an innovative use for washing machines;to help churn their ubiquitous health drink!When I shared this news with my mother, who has had her share of visiting Punjab in her hey days, she was duly perplexed. How will they wash it clean of all the cream and butter is her worry.I am sure our friends from Punjab would have found an effective way to handle this intractible problem.
Again Godrej is a well known brand in the hair dye market. We know what hair dye is used for. Yes, to dye one's hair, to hide the grey streaks!
Wrong again, godrej hair dye is used to give a sheen to the buffaloes when they are taken to the shandy for sale.They fetch a much better price!I am sure our clever farmer would have recovered the cost of a godrej hair dye many times over!
All of it goes to show that innovation is not only in product designing, positioning and in service delivery. Our farmers and rural janta have shown there is innovation happening everyday in their midst on using a product;and it is totally different from
the usage for which it is designed.
I do recall immediately how when a pc booth was installed in a rural place, it recovered its cost of operation by taking photographs and not by doing any computing!
Profit for the business came from horoscope casting!
Innovation and creativity abounds in a multi cultural society like ours. Give the rural folk a product at competitive prices and they will create an entirely new market for you!

7 Comments:

At 1:23 AM, Blogger Snowbeak said...

I agree with you. Most often people in the urban areas are condescending of people from the village. We somehow think that just because they dont have a stylish education, they are somehow stupider than us. But you will often see a good dose of common sense and a native intelligence that more of us need.
Maybe education does dull us, look at athai paati and her management skills. totally uncanny. she didn't need education, she just needed opportunity!

 
At 6:43 AM, Blogger bluejagger said...

It is interesting to know the way the gadgets are put to use. My worry is just like your mom's. How will they clean the lassi maker, and if their innovation stops at making the lassi, how hygenic it is to drink that tasty lassi in Punjab.

 
At 12:48 AM, Blogger vasukumar said...

getafix..
Remembered a situation when my neighbour had to do 'pal kachufying' for moving in to their new house. She did not have a gas connection transferred and did not want to go through the hassles of a kerosene stove. she had a rice cooker and quickly converted it to enable milk to be boiled!I was quite impressed.
I think if we have a need and it is serious enough, we will definitely explore the existing tools(read gadgets) available on site!
I suppose people in rural areas cannot quickly access gadgets to the extent urban people can and to that extent they use their creativity on many occasions. we can say they get more opportunities to test their skills.
bluejagger..
I know the questions that will pop in your mind next time you go to punjab or you meet a punjabi friend on your frequent travels!!!Keep me posted of their response, ok?

 
At 8:52 PM, Blogger mr.udders said...

It just seems to me that these two examples are proof of how unethical and unhygienic people can become when they want to earn a greater profit.

 
At 4:05 AM, Blogger Nitika said...

You have mentioned it is well documented fact ...i'll be grateful if you can give me reference, i need it for some research.

 
At 11:28 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Excellent post! I must thank you for this informative read. I hope you will post again soon.
Kind regard
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At 1:48 AM, Blogger Michael Sheen said...

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