From selling clay pots on a bicycle to an owner of Rs 3 crore revenue firm

• 187
• 0

It's a narrative of dedication, passion, and perseverance. Mansukhbhai Prajapati, the inventor of the eco-friendly low-cost 'MittiCool' refrigerator, has offered India a cooling system that can be utilized even without electricity. Mansukhbhai has come a very long way from peddling handmade clay pots and pans in rural areas on an old bicycle to developing Mitticool Private Limited, a Rs 3 crore revenue firm. 

Mansukhbhai is a Class 10 dropout from the village of Nichimandal in Gujarat's Morbi region, where his father used it to create clay pots for a livelihood as just a family tradition. With a network of 150 dealers, and over 60 distributors, and nine showrooms from across the country, Mansukhbhai's brand Mitticool now sells a wide range of clay items, including in far-flung regions like Ernakulam and Thrissur in Kerala and Bengaluru in Karnataka.

His Mitticool refrigerator, about which he holds a trademark, is his most remarkable invention. The fridge is made of clay and operates on the simple principle of 'cooling by evaporation.' It is low-maintenance and does not require electricity to operate. 

For Rs 8,000, you can acquire a 50-liter refrigerator that can keep fruits and vegetables fresh for 5-7 days and milk fresh for 24 hours. Under the supervision of the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, the very first model of the refrigerator was updated to make it much more user-friendly.

 

 

Tawa is the most popular 'Mitticool' item. Nonstick mitti Tawas, handis (pots), pressure cookers, water bottles, dining sets, and water filters are among the most popular creative goods. Mansukhbhai was aware of the needs of those around him and sought to create items that met those requirements. When he discovered that the water from village ponds had a foul odor and that people were sick, he set out to create mud water filters.

 

He created spoon and bowl-making devices. In 2004, he also created a non-stick clay Tawa, which was popular at the time. 

Mansukhbhai always desired to start his own business after seeing his poor potter father acquire wheat in exchange for pots and later working as a mason after his family was relocated from Morbi to Wankaner after the Machhu dam broke in 1979. 

He remembers working at a plant in Wankaner (28 kilometers from Morbi) where soot from the chimney got into his eyes, forcing him to stay at home for six months.

He then opened a tea shop but felt embarrassed when his friends passed by on the other side. He worked at a ceramics tile manufacturing facility from 1983 to 1988, putting in about 12-14 hours per day. He contributed to the company's growth by dramatically increasing tile manufacturing in just one year. He had the idea of building a machine to create clay Tawa (pan) after five years and borrowed Rs 30,000 from a moneylender known to the factory owners. 

In 1995, he received his first large order for earthen water filters from Kenya. He registered the brand 'Mitticool' in 2001.

The Mitticool factory outlet in Wankaner serves as both a workshop and a museum, with over 150 clay goods on display. Clay murals can be found, as well as intricately made chairs and tables. 

 

Mitticool goods are available for purchase at mitticool.com. Tawas and non-stick Tawas (Rs 299-Rs 549), cooker (3 liters capacity at Rs 1459), refrigerator, water cooler (Rs 2222), wate

If you enjoyed reading this article and wish to support us by making a contribution or a small donation click on Razor Pay IIB Donation