Written on: July 20, 2025 | On a flight from Bangalore to Bhubaneswar
I pen down this note while flying back from Bangalore to Bhubaneswar on July 20, 2025. It’s a part of my travel diary. Writing helps me reflect deeply and connect different experiences—something like looking back to move forward with clarity. It began in Bhubaneswar, moved to Delhi on 15th July for our “Tinker on Wheels” project in partnership with GMR Foundation and Delhi Capitals, and then continued on to Bangalore.
In Bangalore (July 16–18), I participated in the IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL Bootcamp for Nonprofits, hosted by IIM Bangalore. It was inspiring to meet fellow changemakers from across India working in various development sectors. The insights shared by speakers: Anand Sri Ganesh, Seemant Dadwal, Rakesh Godhwani, Suresh Bhagvatula, Saras Sarasvathy, Dr. Archana Pillai, Sourav Mukherji, Kumar Anurag Pratap, Padmashree Shagrithaya, Smita Ram.
It was fascinating to learn that IIM Bangalore was built during the 1970s–80s on a sprawling 100-acre campus—an oasis of greenery and calm, standing in stark contrast to the chaos of Bengaluru’s traffic and noise. Designed by the legendary architect B.V. Doshi, the campus architecture features stone walls, minimal concrete, and greenery that flows inside and out. The use of unplastered surfaces—left unfinished after slab, column, and roof casting—not only felt raw and grounded but also made me reflect on how architecture can be more sustainable, cost-effective, and deeply connected to its environment.
Among the IIMB NSRCEL’s cohort , I met Prashant from Maharashtra, who works with the Vidyodaya Foundation. My team at Bhubaneswar had already planned by trip to Kuppam. Prashant had an interesting idea—why not ride a bike instead of taking a car? And that’s exactly what we did. On the morning of July 19th, we left Bangalore at 6 AM on a Royal Enfield, riding through Karnataka, a bit of Tamil Nadu, and into Andhra Pradesh—a 105 km journey.
Riding a bike was a beautiful choice. It gave us time to stop, explore, observe, and truly feel the journey. Along the way, I noticed an old temple hidden in the forest near Theertham (Tamil Nadu), lush coconut farms, and even a beautiful lotus pond—though sadly, some of its beauty was lost within minutes due to pollution or neglect. We got a bit lost due to no network and ended up 15 km in the wrong direction, but even that became part of the adventure.
On the way, we passed a place named KGF—yes, the same Kolar Gold Fields you hear about in films. I haven’t watched the movie, but it sparked curiosity to explore more about the real place.
Our destination was the Agastya International Foundation in Kuppam. I’ve been documenting a concept called 3-D: Discover, Design, Document since 2020. It’s part of my ongoing effort to build the “School of the Future”, something that started taking shape in 2015 with my first initiative, IPSFRI (International Public School for Rural Innovation).
Creativity Campus, Kuppam
As we approached Kuppam, the landscape changed—rolling hills, colorful rocks, green valleys—it was like watching nature paint a canvas. From a distance, the Agastya campus looked like something out of a dream.
We were warmly welcomed by Suresh ji, the center head. Every corner of the campus spoke of creativity and care. Art installations made from scrap—old kitchen tools, tires, motorcycle tanks—were used to trigger imagination in children. At Parijatha building, I saw utensils turned into artistic expressions. That’s where we had tea and met the visionary behind it all—Mr. Ramji Raghavan, the founder. He shared how he transformed 170 acres of barren land into a green, creative campus. Truly inspiring.
1. Innovation Centre (Supported by NCSM): The Innovation Centre is one of the first places we visited. It welcomed us with a real Hansa aircraft on display. The floor slabs were made from concrete with leaves from the Kuppam region embedded into them during casting. This simple design touch rooted the space in local nature. The entire area is designed to challenge students to think differently—to do what others might consider “unthinkable.” At Young Tinker Foundation, we call this the “Jab log kahen nahi, toh aap ka kyun nahi?” mindset.
One installation had a world map pasted on the ceiling, and ships flying above it—prompting students to imagine: “Why can’t the sky be green?”, “Why can’t ships fly?”
These small but powerful prompts spark creativity. The centre had artworks made from natural materials like leaves, stones and soil, even old keyboard keys. Art from scrap was everywhere, showing how small things can become big when done with intention. It also reflected teamwork and discipline.
2. Design & Tinkering Lab: There was a camel sculpture made from an old microscope, and students from government schools were busy working in groups. Their task: to design a game using 5-6 unique shapes provided to them. Each group came up with a completely different game—proving once again that creativity is innate, but unfortunately, many schools fail to nurture it. It made me wonder: How can we build environments where creativity naturally thrives in schools? Nearby was a fully equipped workshop, just like our TinkerSpace at Young Tinker Foundation, with 3D printers, laser cutters, drilling machines, and more.
3. Installations & Structures: Outside, I noticed a mentis-shaped sculpture made entirely from truck taillights. It was designed as a functional light fixture for buildings at night—brilliant use of scrap! The stairs were made from rock slabs, while the structures used wireframes filled with soil and aggregates, similar to what we call coarse aggregates in civil engineering. The design blended engineering with sustainability.
4. Auditorium – “The Beetle”: We then visited the auditorium, nicknamed “The Beetle” because of its shape when viewed from above. The walls were made from red bricks covered with stone, and the gaps were filled with crushed stone chips. The metal roof, supported by hollow steel pipes, gave it an industrial-yet-earthy feel.
It can accommodate 700 students, and the 25-foot-tall doors in the front allow natural light to flood in when needed—or can be closed for projector-based sessions.
5. Biodiversity Discovery Centre: Next was the Biodiversity Discovery Centre. The walls were made of natural bricks with elements like nets and open structures that allow natural ventilation. It made me wonder—why do schools, especially international ones, need closed dining halls with air conditioning? Why can’t students simply sit in the open and eat together?
I took some beautiful photos with kids here. The walls were filled with sketches, butterflies, and mushrooms made from stone—thousands of tiny details right before our eyes. We also saw a Goshala (cow shed) and a sculpture of a bull made from old Honda bike parts, especially the fuel tank.
6. Chemistry Lab & Traditional Learning: Outside the chemistry lab, a large rock was suspended using a pulley and rope—a clever way to demonstrate tension. Interestingly, we also saw monkeys roaming freely—but they were calm and disciplined, unlike the aggressive monkeys I’ve seen in some villages and temple areas. It made me realize how human behavior can influence animal behavior too.
Inside the lab, students were sitting on the floor and learning. It reminded me of how children used to learn in ancient Indian civilizations. It’s a powerful and healthy posture, both physically and mentally. Many modern ideas are now revisiting traditional Indian wisdom, including the squatting toilet design, which has deep health benefits.
7. Vision Works: Next, we visited Vision Works, a space inaugurated by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam himself. This is the heart of the campus where all art installations, structures, and creative pieces are built. Every major design element on the campus originates from here.
8. Maths & Physics Discovery Centre:We then explored the Maths and Physics Discovery Centre, where a striking sculpture of Mr. Jhunjhunwala welcomed us at the entrance. The walls were adorned with inspiring stories of Indian success in STEM. One image that stood out was of a rocket nose cone being carried on a bicycle—a quirky yet powerful reminder of the ingenuity that marked the early days of India’s space missions.
Another sculpture was a flamingo built from old bike wheels. Then we saw a frog origami made from stainless steel, followed by an ant made from wire mesh, which beautifully displayed the value of π (pi). The π symbol stretched across the entire building, visually representing its infinite decimal journey. It was not just art—it was immersive learning.
I also noticed architectural innovation: bar reinforcements used as railing, bamboo roofs, and more. It was a perfect fusion of traditional and modern engineering.
9. Planetarium: The outer structure of the planetarium is designed to represent the Sun, and planetary positions are laid across the campus in proportional sizes.
Inside, there’s a steel structure installation that demonstrates planetary motions—rotation, revolution, and more. You can even climb up to watch space-related films.
For me, it felt like “Din mein taare dekhne ka mauka mil gaya.”
On our way back, we made a short stop at KGF to talk to locals and learn about the now-defunct gold mines. This entire journey left me with several profound takeaways:
“Slow is fast.”: Taking the bike instead of a car let me observe, reflect, and absorb far more.
“Failure leads to clarity.”: I’m glad I didn’t launch the “School of the Future” back in 2021. My own perspective, synthesis, and understanding of design have matured since then.
“Discover. Design. Document (3D).”: This trip reaffirmed the 3D philosophy I’ve been working on since 2020—and even before that, starting with IPSFRI (International Public School for Rural Innovation) in 2015.
And finally, I’m thankful for companions like Prashant, who made the journey even more enriching.
This journey was more than a visit—it was an awakening. It was about understanding how education, if rooted in observation, creation, and empathy, can truly change the world.