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Mansukh Prajapati (MittiCool)

India’s Most Powerful Rural Entrepreneur

- FORBES Magazine

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Mansukh Prajapati

Date of Birth : 19 October 1965

Nationality : Indian

Famous As : Mitticool Innovator

Born In : Nichimandal, Morbi

www.mansukhprajapati.com

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CHILDHOOD

Born in the Prajapati family, originally

belonging to the village Nichimandal of

Morbi, Rajkot, Mansukhbhai had

exposure to the clay tradition since

childhood, as this was his family’s

traditional profession. Being the only son

and the eldest child, though he helped

his father in his work, he was more

interested in cricket and other games.

He used to load clay from the ponds

and fields on the donkey and ferry it to

his place. Other than this, his

contribution was limited as he was not

much interested in the pottery work.

After the breakdown of Machhu dam of

Morbi in 1979, his family lost everything

and they had to migrate to Wankaner, where

his father took the job of a mason to support

the family. It was here that his journey as a

worker in a small rooftop tile manufacturing

unit started, which today has reached a point

where he is recognized as a successful

entrepreneur.

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STRUGGLE

Though his family was struggling

with finances, his parents motivated

him to study up to class ten. He

then left studies to provide a helping

hand in augmenting family’s resources.

He started to work in a small factory.

But, in the very first month, while

working inside a chimney, his left eye

got injured because of which he had to

quit work for over eight months. Once

his sight improved, in 1984, he started

his tea lorry near the highway but

somehow due to the persistent

comments of some of his acquaintance

he closed it down within six months.

Earlier, one of his uncles had

Visited him at the tea lorry inquiring

about a person who would be interested

to work in a rooftop tile manufacturing

unit. He had shown his interest then and after closing the tea lorry

joined the unit, Jagdamba Potteries, as a trainee at Rs. 300 per

month in 1985. He worked hard for three years and learned all the

related works of the unit. During this time, he also helped his parents

marry off his younger sisters.

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JOURNEY OF “MITTICOOL”

Introducing the great story of a company and company products

which were not having any identity before few days but now it is a

big brand.

The owner of the company Mr. MansukhBhai was making and

selling the ‘MITTI TAWA’ in market for full fill his daily

requirement but He was struggling to earn enough money and at the

same time he was observing that many people are losing their hope in

this high input and low output business.

That was the first thought which help to make the base of this

company “MITTICOOL”. Mr. Mansukhbhai analyzed the

opportunity of this Mitti product in the market and generate the small

machine to produce many Tawa in less time with less effort and good

product quality and start earning more .

It was the starting of era of new business, people start look at

this as business opportunity and they come with Mr. Mansukhbhai.

After that he got the success to make one product, two product and

many more awarded products.

In this story of Mitticool to most important picking points are:

• First, Mr. Mansukhbhai has given the life of a

traditional potter work which was on death bed.

• Second, the products of Mitti Cool which prepared by

Mitti are safe for human health, eco-friendly and

environment friendly awarded by Prime minister of

India and many other awards which told the importance

of the innovation for creation of god.

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BRAND-MITTICOOL

In the fateful earthquake of January 2001, Mansukhbhai

suffered huge loss, as most of his stock got broken. He distributed the

stock that escaped the quake to the quake affected people of Kutch. In

February 2001, Sandesh Gujarati Daily had a photo feature on the

earthquake where at one place it showed a broken water filter of

Mansukhbhai with the caption ‘the broken fridge of poor’.

This caption ignited a thought in

him to work on a rural fridge

that did not need electricity and

could be used by masses. Though he

started thinking about it after the Gujarat

earthquake of 2001, it was 2002 when he actually started his work.

Almost the same time, Mansukhbhai came into the contact of

Gujarat Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network (GIAN),

Ahmedabad. After a painstaking journey of three years during which

he tested all sorts of soils and fridge designs, he finally came out with

Mitticool fridge in 2005. A civil engineer saw the fridge and looking

at its applications gave him the order of 100 pieces and an advance of

Rs. 2 lakh. This news was also covered by local dailies.

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INVENTION

1988 FIRST INNOVATION, INDIA’S FIRST CLAY PANS

MANUFACTURING MACHINE.

1995 SECOND INNOVATION, INDIA’S FIRST CLAY WATER

FILTER WITH 0.9 MICRON

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INVENTION

2001-2004 THIRD INNOVATION, INDIA’S FIRST CLAY

ELECTRICITY FREE MITTI COOL REFRIGERATOR

2005 FOURTH INNOVATION, INDIA’S FIRST CLAY NON-

STICK PAN WITH HANDLE (FOOD GRADE)

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INVENTION

2009 FIFTH INNOVATION, INDIA’S FIRST CLAY PRESSURE

COOKER WITH WHISTLE.

2010 SIXTH INNOVATION, INDIA’S FIRST COLORFUL WHITE

CLAY WATER POT.

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INVENTION

2014 SEVENTH INNOVATION, INDIA’S FIRST CLAY ECO-

FRIENDLY KITCHEN WARE PRODUCT’S.

(RANGE FROM SPOON TO REFRIGERATOR)

2015 EIGHTH INNOVATION, INDIA’S FIRST COW DUNG TO

WOOD MAKING MACHINE.

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ACHIEVEMENT

• In 2003, Certificate by

“Gujarat MatiKam Kalakari

Board-Gandhinagar”.

• In 2004, Certificate by Collector of Rajkot.

• In 2004, State Award by “Kutir and Gramodhyog Division,

Government of Gujarat”.

• In 2005, National Award for Most innovative products by

“Ministry of Rural Development”.

• In 2007, as True Scientist by the president of India, Dr. A.P.J.

Abdul Kalam in “4th National Award Function, Delhi”.

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ACHIEVEMENT

• On 8 August, 2007 Certificate by “Society for Research and

Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions” at

Ahmedabad.

• In 2008, Certificate by “Central Glass & Ceramic Research

Institute” Ahmedabad.

• In 2008, Certificate for most innovative products by “Ministry

of Rural Development”.

• In 2008, Certificate for Innovative product in “SARAS Mela”

held at Lal Bahadur Shastri Ground, Rajkot (9th-20th October

2008).

• In 2009, Award of Best product Design By “Brands Of India

2009-Baroda Event, DRDA”.

• In 2009, National award

by President of India

Smt. Pratibha Patil in

5th National Biennial

Award Function, Delhi.

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ACHIEVEMENT

• In 2009, National award by NID (National Institute of Design)

in the category of Innovative products for earthenware cooker

and water filter.

• In 26th January, 2009 State

Level award given by Amit shah

at Wankaner.

• In 2010, State Award by

Mr.Narendra Modi ,

Chief Minister of Gujarat.

• In 2010, International award

Net Geo Eco Hero by

National Geo Graphic channel,

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ACHIEVEMENT

• In 2010, National award by Pitch Magazine in the bottom of

pyramid category 4th place in India’s Top 50 Marketer’s Award

2010, New Delhi.

• In 2010, International innovations covered by Forbes Magazine

as a “India’s most powerful rural entrepreneur”.

• In 2010 Invited in INK conference in Lavasa as speaker.

• In 2010 Invited in Delhi,

Mumbai and Ahmedabad

as speaker.

• ISO certification to Mitticool Clay Creation – First Grassroots

Innovator who received this recognition.

• In 2010 Award by TITAN in Bangalore.

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ACHIEVEMENT

• In 2010 Award by Variya Prajapati samaj in

Wankaner,Rajkot,Than And Morbi.

• In 2010 Certificate by Discovery channel.

• In 2011 Award by Rotary International, in Mumbai.

• In 2011 Award by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan college of Business

Management & a honorable Speaker for there “1st National

Seminar" The Seminar theme was “The impact of changing

trends on Indian economy”.

• In 2011, Invitation at IIM-Kozikode-investment summit as

speaker.

• In 2011, Invitation at Essar-Meet on innovation in Jamnagar as

speaker.

• In 2011, Invitation at Teerthanker Mahaveer University,

Moradabad-Chief guest to motivate students to Innovate as

speaker.

• In 2011, Invitation at Rajiv Gandhi college of engineering &

research-INTELLIGENZIA EVENT in Nagpur as speaker.

• In 2011, Villgro Award By IIT Madras-Grassroots Innovator.

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ACHIEVEMENT

• In 2012, Symbiosis institute of Management-Ted Talk in

Bangalore.

• In 2012 Invited in TED salon event “TED Worldwide Talent

Search (New York)” at Bangalore as speaker.

• In 2012, Invited in “KYOORIUS DESIGNYATRA” at Goa

as speaker.

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ACHIEVEMENT

• In 2012, Invitation in CONCOURSE 2012 “Rural

Development – A Must for Inclusive Economic Growth in

India” at Ahmedabad as special guest.

• In 2012 Economic times ranked Mitticool third in the world

for innovative clay products.

• On 2013 The event – Jugaad - …Ho Jayega you could be one

of the panelist and judge for the competition.

• On 25th march 2013, the degree of professor given by Gujarat

Technological University in IIM Ahmedabad.

• On 17th April, 2013 Chetan bhagat was Came to mittcool clay

creation for Shooting for Blue Mango Films.

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ACHIEVEMENT

• On 4th June, 2013 Best JUGAADU of India by EXCEL

ENTERTAINMENT (for Fukrey films promotion, producer:

Farhan Akhtar).

• On 5th July, 2013 awarded by Rural World Entrepreneurship

Forum Baramati, Pune.

• On 23rd August, 2013 awarded by Nirma Institute of

Management, Ahmedabad & invitation for Lecturer.

• On 19th October 2013, Invitation in EO Raipur Event as a

speaker.

• On 6th December 2013, Invitation in Sanmarg, Kolkata.

• On 6 February 2014, awarded by Amazing Indian show, Times

Now at Delhi.

• On 8-15 march 2014,

Invitation for Exhibition at

Rastrapati Bhavan, Delhi.

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ACHIEVEMENT

• On 17-18 May 2014, Invitation for Conference TiECon Hubli

at Deshpande Foundation .

• On 15 June 2014, Invitation as a speaker at the Edutainment

Awards, 2014 in Delhi.

• On 16 June 2014, Invitation for Sustainia 100 award at

Norwey.

• On 19 June 2014 Invitation for Dr. Shirin Gadhia

Sustainability Award at Baroda.

• On 21 June 2014 Invitation for 18th The INDIAN ICON (TII)

Of The Year Award at Delhi.

• In 2014 Awarded by India Book Of Records “Innovator of the

Year”.

• On 19th September 2014 was awarded by Shamengo(Paris) as

one of the 1000 Pioneers of the World for the invention of

Refrigerator which works without electricity.

• In June-2015 “BEST CITIZEN OF INDIA” Awarded By

International Publishing House.

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ACHIEVEMENT

• 03 October 2015 Indo-Vietnam Health Award (International)

by New Delhi.

• 05 October 2015 Invitation for BABA RAMDEV Patanjali

(Haridwar).

• In 28 January 2016 Invitation for the innovation Conclave at

Entrepreneurship Submit 2016 IIT Bombey.

• In 19 & 20 February 2016 invitation for national

conference on “Entrepreneurship Development” A Road

map to make in India At Nashik.

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ACHIEVEMENT

• In 1st April 2016 Award of “Makers of India” by Handed

Irfan Khan an Invited by India mart at Delhi.

• In 23 July 2016 Award of “The Education Show 2016” an

Invited by The Times of India At Mumbai.

• In 6th-10th OCT 2016 “SWITCH-2016 Exhibition” an Invited

by Goverment of Gujarat At Vadodara.

• In 18th December 2016 Awarded “Inspire Award” in Surat by

BWW Foundation.

• In 4 – 18 March 2017, Innovation for Exhibition At

Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi for 4th batch innovation Scholars

Programme-2017.

• On 5th june 2017,World Environment Day 2017

“Achievers’ Award “ in Delhi by INDIA EYE I H R O .

• On September 2017, “ IDA Design Awards”.

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ACHIEVEMENT

Mansukh Prajapati feel really honored that Indian CBSE

schools added the chapter in the syllabus of higher secondary

education i.e. in Std. 11th as the 1st session of ‘Entrepreneurship’

which is based on Mansukh Prajapati. The most important

milestone of success of Mansukh Prajapati’s life is; the award of

Professor Degree (Doctoral Degree) by Gujarat Technological

University from Gujarat state. IIM, IIT and many other

universities often invite Mansukh Prajapati as an expert lecturer

and motivational speaker for the topic Entrepreneurship Business.

U.S. (Howard), Cambridge (Paris) and Japan B Schools have

done case studies on MansukhBhai Business & ‘Mitti Cool’ up

till now.

In ‘2017 Global Event’, Mansukh Prajapati was invited as an

Entrepreneur and it was in the year 2007 Forbe’s Magazine

published an article on MansukhBhai and ‘Mitti Cool’, with the

heading “Indian Inspirational Businessman”.

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NEWS AND PRINT MEDIA

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PERSONAL LIFE & LEGACY

Mansukhbhai’s father Raghavbhai and mother Labhuben

help him in his work of designing and making potteries. His younger

son is in school while the elder one is completing his diploma in

ceramic technology. He always had the support of his father who used

to give him tips from time to time based on his own experiences.

His wife was another pillar of strength, always co-operative

and understanding, helping him during odd hours and motivating him

in times of failures. She is always at his side whenever he goes for an

exhibition and takes care of the sales. Apart from the family, he got

support from others too. He used to take his inventions to his friends

and other ‘more educated people’ (as he puts it) for suggestions and

criticisms. Their feedback has resulted in making Mitticool and other

products, a success story, as we see it today.

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Thank You

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