Manipur’s first robot model maker student Thiyam Nandalal was felicitated in a function here on Thursday. Nandalal is a student of prestigious Johnstone Higher Secondary School located in the heart of Imphal town.
The felicitation function which was jointly organised by the school authorities and Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM) was attended by Director of State Education (schools) department Th Kiran Kumar and ICHAM chief advisor Kangujam Modhumangol.
Thiyam Nandalal, a Class XI student (science stream) of Johnstone Higher Secondary School, who bagged the first position in the state level science exhibition 2017 for robot model making, will be participating in the upcoming zonal science exhibition on January 19 this month.
Nandalal, the second son of Thiyam Ishorechand and Thiyam (O) Chaobi among six siblings of Nambol Balaram Khun Maning Leikai in Bishnupur district, also displayed his robot called JON 17 during the day’s gathering. The literal meaning of JON 17 is ‘JO’ for Johnstone and ‘N’ for Nandalal and 17 signifies 2017.
It took almost 15 to 20 days in developing the robot which was made by waste materials particularly the discarded syringe, Horlicks bottle, electronic items, mobile phone parts, LED lamp and others.
“I started developing this robot after watching an English (science related) movie as I wish to used robots in collecting garbage etc to clean our surroundings,” says Nandalal. “Initially my parents scolded me a lot,” he said.
Appreciating Nandalal’s effort, Director of Education (schools) Th Kirankumar said that the innovative idea created by Nandalal is praiseworthy but the department cannot concentrate only on Nandalal but to a number of Nandalal in the schools.
So our teachers should come out with new innovative ideas to develop more Nandalals, he said.
Earlier, Director Kirankumar extended financial assistance to Nandalal. Others dignitaries who attended the function as presidium members also spoke on the occasion.
M Jadumani Mangang, Principal of Johnstone Higher Secondary School, President Thongam Phulchand of Thongam Angouba Singh Memorial Trust, ICHAM Advisors Khelen Thokchom, Khogendra Khomdram, Brozendra Ningomba and former ICHAAM president N Rejandro (Boy) also attended the function.