Introducing young Naga inventor Zenwang Konyak
Vibi Yhokha
Kohima | May 26
20 year old Zenwang Konyak from Tizit village, Mon, a 2nd year B.Sc student (Botany) at Kohima Science College, Jotsoma (KSCJ) was recently adjudged as an ‘Ashoka Youth Venturer’ alongside 15 young social innovators across India at the Ashoka Youth Venture Program, Bangalore.
Zenwang was selected for his book ‘Grow Your Plants’ (Team Echo Inspiro) a guidebook for children on how to grow indigenous plants at their homes and backyards to generate interest in botanical sciences and indigenous practises. However, the ‘Grow Your Plants’ is just one among the many innovations and achievements of the young Naga scientist from the back of beyond. Zenwang has initiated several innovations such as the Hydrowingen, UHarvest and most significantly the Tea Leaf Cutting Machine.
“I find inspirations every day, in the problems that I see,” says the young scientist who believes that Nagaland is a place of potentials and opportunities to create something new. “They say Nagaland is a remote place but a remote place is the best place where we can create something new. And I keep saying that nothing is the best way to start something,” states Zenwang, who grew up in Tizit village where his school did not have a Science Teacher.
Switching schools in pursuit of a Science Teacher, and having developed a passion for Science, Zenwang’s childhood was spent dissecting frogs and operating used electronics with the boys in his village. He matriculated at Holy Angels School, Tizit and further completed his higher secondary from GHSS Mon both in first division.
“In Tizit, you don’t have any opportunities. There are no science exhibitions where we can display our innovations. In Mon, we don’t even get information on such exhibitions. It was very hard,” says Zenwang, who particularly remembers a poignant moment in high school when he was nominated to participate in the district level science exhibition but was never selected.
“I was so frustrated and angry at that time because I was so excited that it would be my first. I really wanted to exhibit my works,” he recalls. Zenwang however kept hope alive.
Back in his village, parents could rarely afford education for their children, so Zenwang sold betel leaves to support his education. He would often visit his grandfather’s betel field, far from his village, stay for two to three nights, pluck the betel leaves and sell them in Mon. “That was how I could afford my education,” he recalls.
Till today, Zenwang rarely seeks financial assistance from his parents, managing his expenses from the money he earns from winning in competitions. “Throughout the competitions whatever I earned, I save it to cover my expenses. I don’t take financial help from my parents,” he remarks.
The Tea Leaf Cutting Machine (TLCM)
At Zenwang’s village Tizit, most villagers are engaged in tea gardening, including school children who cannot afford their education.
“I used to watch my parent cutting the tea leaves which was rather a difficult task. What inspired me was my mom. I would see her pluck the leaves with much pain and I thought I must try creating a machine which would be efficient and make her task easier. So, I designed it,” says Zenwang.
He designed the Tea Leaf Cutting Machine (TLCM) while studying class-11 at the Government Higher Secondary School, Mon. It took him two years to design the machine.
After joining Kohima Science College, Jotsoma (KSCJ), he got the opportunity to create a better version of the machine through financial assistance. He exhibited the TLCM at the TechExpo IIT Guwahati 2016 which ranked at the Top -5.
“The first design was a primitive one, so now our team is working on an updated version. The team plans to finish the project by June. We will have to sacrifice our vacation to complete the project,” says Zenwang, while mentioning that the Science and Technology Department is currently funding them to upgrade the machine.
From selling betel leaves to ZENTECH
Today, Zenwang heads a team called ZENTECH at Kohima Science College along with five other students namely Ketouneikho (Botany), Kevisede Savino (Chemistry), Daniel K Konyak (Chemistry), Zulo (Physics) and Kelethenuo (Botany). Some of their ongoing projects include a rain water harvesting technology called UHarvest; a thermoelectric form fireplace; and the Hydrowingen. The Hydrowingen is a water pump cum electric generator that pumps water without using electricity and at the same time generates electricity by using the force of water.
Zenwang was shortlisted at the Ideathon Nobel Prize series India for his project on ‘Enhancement of secondary growth in dicotyledonous stem.’ He was selected in the Top 3000 start up at Smart Fifty India, New Delhi 2018 for his project on Bioinsecticide and Biopesticide; and he was also placed 2nd at the Nagaland Innovation Expo 2018 for his work on ‘Water absorbent tendency of moss for agriculture and hydroponic techniques.’
Zenwang wishes to pursue research and continue innovating. “I believe there is a wide scope in this field and that we can contribute to the society through research and innovation. It is not just about benefiting oneself and making a career out of it, we must contribute to one’s society,” says Zenwang.
