Mumbai: 21^st January,2019: - Maker Mela 2019, an initiative of Somaiya Vidyavihar showcased projects from more than 100 makers from across India and outside India. From USA to Japan and from Gurgaon to Ahmedabad, innovators showed their out of the box thinking to tens of thousands of visitors in the two-day exhibition.  8 years old Veer Bavishi was the star of the show, by getting so much love from visitors as he showcased his low cost home security system.  While a physical rehabilitation device Robo-Rehab was loved by many, the Multipurpose Food Processing Machine received a great response as Dharambir Ji, its maker distributed pure juices to them.

Innovations and artists go together – so from skilling the plastic bags to make exotic bags to shoes made using recycled shoes, that’s right! Maker Mela 2019 was an explosion of ideas. To add to the excitement was the sessions by eminent speakers including Capt. Raghu Raman, Group President-Risk, Security & New Ventures, Reliance Industries Ltd. He spoke to students and makers about his own experiences in life. He focused on having a disciplined life along with curiosity and imaginations. He spoke about how the coming generation would be shaped by contradictions. He also explained that the coming generation would face even stiffer challenges than the previous generation. His key message was "Whenever you fail, don't get discouraged. Always remember that someone took a punt on you, invested in you".

The Kids' Panel Discussion attracted a huge crowd. The participants were Akshat Singh (1st Indian kid to be invited on Ellen DeGeneres, Parth Saindane (International Olympiad Master and scored 99.66 percentile at NAO NASA), Truptraj Pandya (Youngest Tabla Player from India and Guiness Book of World Record holder), and Shrishti Sharma (Limca Book of World Record Holder for Lowest Limbo Skating under 6.5 inch). Kids focused on discussing about daily activities that may affect their studies and how people & friends treated them after they came into limelight. They also shared their views on what they wished to change in curriculum of schools and the subjects they liked or disliked.

Maker Mela also witnessed a Bio-Fashion Show where the clothes made of bio-polymers received a great round of applause. Youtubers' Panel discussion was yet another interesting event hosted by Bhumit Shah, a musician, content creator. Melvinn Louis (Celebrity Dancer), Rob (MAD stuff artist), Kiran J (Choreographer), Rawknee from The Rawknee Show and Slayy Point artists were the panelists in this discussion.

Winners were announced on the last day of the event. There was a tie between VeltorX and U-Farm. The prize was divided between them. While the youngest and the oldest makers got the Metro Couponz worth Rs.75,000 as accolade.

Maker Mela by Somaiya Vidyavihar is the premier event for grass root Innovations in India. It is the celebration of arts, crafts, engineering, science, the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and Do-It-With-Others (DIWO) mindset, and the Maker Movement. Maker Movement is a global social movement, where individuals who invent things informally, gets a chance to showcase, collaborate, and form communities.

With a motto of Knowledge alone liberates, Somaiya Vidyavihar undertakes various initiatives in encouraging knowledge sharing as part of its commitment to the community. It hosts various national conferences to support learning in various fields.

About Somaiya Vidyavihar: (www.somaiya.edu)

Somaiya Vidyavihar, an education trust, founded by the Padmashree Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya in 1959, to provide quality holistic education, encompasses 34 institutions, with 39,000 students and 1,400 faculties. Somaiya Vidyavihar has campuses in Mumbai, and rural areas of Maharashtra Karnataka and Gujarat.

Somaiya Vidyavihar, Mumbai has always been a place with a purpose - making a positive difference in quality of life of its students and the community. It is known as much for its Science, Technology, Engineering, Management, Social Sciences and Commerce programs, as for its programs for academic studies in various faiths and cultures of India.