Welcome to the March edition of our newsletter!
Being an engineering student in the 1970s was vastly different from what it is today. Over the last 50 years, so much has changed. Back then, we had access to resources and practical knowledge, but everything was confined within the boundaries of our academic courses. It was rigorous, but it lacked the freedom to explore beyond textbooks and structured labs.
In 2014, a few fellow alumni and I decided to change that. We set up the first dedicated makerspace at IIT Bombay—Tinkerers’ Laboratory. It was a space designed for students, run by students, and open 24/7 to encourage hands-on learning beyond the curriculum. Little did we know that this small initiative would spark a movement.
This journey eventually led to the creation of Maker Bhavan Foundation, a mission-driven initiative to empower the next generation of engineers with the skills, mindset, and resources to build and innovate. Last month marked the 11th anniversary of Tinkerers’ Lab at IIT Bombay. We have set up over 18 such labs across the country, each fostering innovation and experiential learning.
Looking back, what started as a response to a gap in engineering education has now become a thriving network of makerspaces, shaping how students learn and create. And this is just the beginning.
Dr. Hemant Kanakia
Spotlight
“My first Visit to Tinkerers Lab was in 2015, when me and my team were participating for a competition, since then I have known TL as a Place where you can build anything and everything!
Now I run my own engineering company and I have a lot of confidence in building and delivering products. Majority of it arises out of the exposure I have gotten while working on various Projects at Tinkerers Lab”
Aniruddha Ranade
Co-Founder, Strataroh Ventures
