As a child growing up in India, I was always curious about how things worked. I’d open up radios, tinker with battery-operated toys, and even do basic repairs on our tape recorders and VCRs whenever they stopped working. I loved figuring things out, but looking back, that’s where my curiosity hit a dead end. There wasn’t any clear path to explore these interests further—no structured way for me to channel that fascination into something deeper. I didn’t even know what I had missed out on until I started living abroad. There, I saw people routinely fixing and building things themselves. It opened my eyes to a world of practical skills that I so wish I had had access to when I was growing up!
Discovering What We Didn’t Learn in India
When I lived in the US and Europe, one of the first things I noticed was how people seemed to just "get" how machines worked. I remember visiting places like Home Depot and Lowe’s, huge hardware stores where people would talk knowledgeably about fixing things around the house—whether it was plumbing, electrical work, or assembling furniture. People were walking around with lists, confidently choosing materials and tools. This was a world completely unfamiliar to me.
In India, things are different. We outsource almost everything. If there’s a leak, we call the plumber. If a light goes out, we call the electrician. If something breaks, we’d rather replace it or call a handyman to fix it than attempt to fix it ourselves. The idea of "Do It Yourself" (DIY) wasn’t really part of our culture growing up. The truth is, most of us don’t know how to build or fix things—and that’s because we were never taught how.
The Eye-Opener: Shop Classes and Hands-On Learning Abroad
The turning point for me came when I learned about shop classes—something I’d never encountered in India. In the US and Europe, students often have the opportunity to take classes in school where they learn woodworking, metalworking, mechanics, and other practical skills. These classes are a part of the school curriculum, and by the time kids graduate, they know how to use tools, build simple machines, and understand how things work.
It blew my mind. In my Indian education, we were so focused on theory, exams, and rote learning that we rarely got the chance to engage in hands-on activities that teach problem-solving and creativity. Sure, we had science labs, but they were largely demonstrations rather than experiences where we could tinker, experiment, and build.
Bringing Hands-On Learning to India Through MakersLoft
That gap in my education stayed with me. When I returned to India, I realized that I wasn’t the only one who felt this way—there was a whole generation of children who were growing up without these essential life skills. And that’s how the idea for MakersLoft was born.
At MakersLoft, I wanted to give kids the hands-on, experiential learning that I never had. I didn’t want them to grow up only knowing theory and textbooks. I wanted them to build things, take things apart, understand mechanisms, and solve real-world problems. Robotics, coding, STEM, and LEGO activities became the backbone of our curriculum, not just because they’re fun, but because they equip children with tangible skills that they’ll carry with them for life.
That gap in my education stayed with me. When I returned to India, I realized that I wasn’t the only one who felt this way—there was a whole generation of children who were growing up without these essential life skills. And that’s how the idea for MakersLoft was born.
At MakersLoft, I wanted to give kids the hands-on, experiential learning that I never had. I didn’t want them to grow up only knowing theory and textbooks. I wanted them to build things, take things apart, understand mechanisms, and solve real-world problems. Robotics, coding, STEM, and LEGO activities became the backbone of our curriculum, not just because they’re fun, but because they equip children with tangible skills that they’ll carry with them for life.
Why It Matters: Skills for Life, Not Just for Engineers
You don’t have to be a mechanical engineer or a product designer to benefit from knowing how things work. Learning about machines and mechanisms isn’t just for those who want to build the next robot. These skills are practical, everyday tools that make us more independent and resourceful. Whether it’s assembling a piece of furniture, fixing a broken appliance, or simply understanding how your car works, hands-on knowledge empowers us.
At MakersLoft, we’re giving children the opportunity I never had — to embrace their curiosity and use it as a powerful tool to drive their learning forward.
You don’t have to be a mechanical engineer or a product designer to benefit from knowing how things work. Learning about machines and mechanisms isn’t just for those who want to build the next robot. These skills are practical, everyday tools that make us more independent and resourceful. Whether it’s assembling a piece of furniture, fixing a broken appliance, or simply understanding how your car works, hands-on knowledge empowers us.
At MakersLoft, we’re giving children the opportunity I never had — to embrace their curiosity and use it as a powerful tool to drive their learning forward.
Changing the Culture of Learning
Through MakersLoft, my goal is to shift the focus of education in India towards a more hands-on approach. It’s about teaching children that they can figure things out, that they can solve problems with their own hands, and that learning isn’t just about what’s written in a textbook. By including these practical skills in the curriculum, we’re not just teaching kids about machines; we’re teaching them how to think.
Because in the end, learning to build, fix, and understand isn’t just about machines—it’s about empowering the next generation with skills for life.
Through MakersLoft, my goal is to shift the focus of education in India towards a more hands-on approach. It’s about teaching children that they can figure things out, that they can solve problems with their own hands, and that learning isn’t just about what’s written in a textbook. By including these practical skills in the curriculum, we’re not just teaching kids about machines; we’re teaching them how to think.
Because in the end, learning to build, fix, and understand isn’t just about machines—it’s about empowering the next generation with skills for life.