16-year-old Jai Rattan on mission to build viable future

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Amritsar, February 1

Leading by example, Jai Rattan Mehra, a Class XI student of Modern School, Delhi, whose family traces its roots to Amritsar, has been working on a project to develop and introduce myco-material based design concepts that can be used in construction and architecture and also promote innovative design-based learning concepts through his initiative Vidyadhara.

At 16, Jai who aspires to continue his family’s line of work in the field of architecture and interior design, is also conducting workshops based on the concept of Innovative Design Thinking, a curriculum that promotes learning and innovation through creative exploration, problem solving and critical thinking.

“The concept is widely being applied in several prestigious institutions of higher education across the world, to promote application-based learning among students. I believe that to empower through education and knowledge, you need to introduce interactive classroom experience and as a student myself, I can understand when there is a challenge to apply the textbook concepts in real life,” shared Jai.

Through his community outreach project, Vidyadhara, he recently conducted a two-day workshop with students of a school run by Missiondeep Education Trust, for students from the under-privileged families. “I feel that every child has the right to learn and prepare for the future world. Through Vidyadhara, I am trying to popularise the idea that learning can be fun, engaging and productive even without the conventional approach,” he shared. His parents, Rathika and Iqbal Rattan Mehra, are professionals in the field of architecture and interior design.

Jai, who has also interned with a team of conservators at the Golden Temple during his school break last year, is keen on working to find sustainable solutions in architecture. Gaining insights on how the natural wear and tear, environmental concerns and related factors have had an impact on the original architecture and design of Golden Temple, Jai is currently working on ideas to develop sustainable construction material through mycelium.

Replacement for plastic

Mycelium-based materials are carbon-negative and compostable grown by combining mycelium and organic by-products. While myco-materials are now globally being endorsed as the future of sustainable architecture, Jai feels that they can also be a healthy replacement for plastic in the packaging industry and even in fashion, through promoting mycelium-based leather that Jai proposes. “Mycomaterial is vegan, highly durable and offers solution with minimal environmental impact as it utilises upcycled agricultural waste like straw, wheat, starch and rice husks. It needs to be promoted and more awareness must be created for it to be adopted in various industries to create an impact,” he says.