An inspiring story of Lab Assistant Mr Sanjay Tikaria from Jalna.

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On the third floor of
Jalna’s CTMK Gujarati School
is the school’s science lab where
many science projects are on
display. While many of the
school’s students have created
the projects placed near the lab’s
entrance, there is another strange
yet amazing contraption made
of distinctly familiar objects
on the table of the school’s lab
assistant, Sanjay Tikariya. On
closer inspection, you see a
wire-stemmed, upward-facing
pinwheel magically gyrat-
ing atop a water-
filled bot-
tle complemented by a swirling water
vortex whose tail end barely
lashes at a couple of sunken,
wooden marbles. A small
rectangular piece of wood
has been attached to the lower
end of the wire immersed in
the water. Inside the bottle is
actually an emulsion, which is
evident from the blue-dyed kero-
sene that struggles to stay above the
water while being frantically stirred
by the vortex. If the experiment’s
scientific principles are still unclear,
it is best to approach Sanjay Tikariya.
He explains, ‘What you see before you
20 Practical
Magic
Sanjay Tikariya
Sanjay Tikariya is unlike
the typical lab assistants
who lackadaisically fol-
low their work routine
and keep watching the
time. He has surpassed the
bounds of his job descrip-
tion to take up the mantle
of a science educator. His
creativity speaks for itself
through his projects that
have helped foster scientific
curiosity among children as
well as adults.

2. Jalna Icons / 131
are four projects based on scientific principles. The first experiment
involves the water and kerosene emulsion. Because the density of
kerosene is less than that of water, the kerosene floats to the top.
In the second experiment is the spinning pinwheel. The ceiling fan
increases the airflow thereby rotating the pinwheel. In the third ex-
periment, the pinwheel’s rotation causes the wooden piece to act like
a stirrer, and the resulting vortex makes the pinwheel rotate more
rapidly. The fourth experiment involves the wooden marbles. When
water replaces the air in the pores of the marbles, they sink to the
bottom having attained a density greater than water and kerosene.
With a motley collection of disposable or ordinary objects, Sanjay
has created a fun-filled yet educationally valuable resource that can
help any child to remember the four experiments for a lifetime.
Every person who works in an educational institution such as
a school has an important role to play. While the progress of the
school’s students greatly depends on their teachers’ teaching skills,
work integrity, and ability to bond with the students, the teacher’s
subordinates too can actively contribute to the teaching process. A
person aware of this fact is Sanjay Tikariya, who has set very high
standards even in his ordinary role of a lab assistant. His name truly
deserves a place in the annals of education.
Sanjay was born on 19 December 1967 in Jalna. His father was
then a headmaster of CTMK School. In 1984, Sanjay passed his
class 10 exams. Sanjay was an average student, but he was an in-
dustrious person. After matriculation, he set up a small Kirana store
in his home. In 1987, a family crisis had forced the Tikariyas to
move to Chikli. In 1991, they returned to Jalna. This was the most
challenging period for the Tikariyas. In 1992, Sanjay applied for
the position of a lab assistant at CTMK School. After attending the
interview and duly following the recruitment process, Sanjay got the
job. Thereafter, Sanjay took the exams as a private candidate and
obtained a degree in BA and MA.
Sanjay did not draw much attention while he worked as a lab
assistant from 1992–2006. However, during the academic year of
2006–07, his life took a new turn. His achievements were highly
appreciated, and his work received countrywide recognition. The
science faculty presented their science projects at the annual science

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exhibition. For the first time, lab assistants were given a chance to
present their science projects in the 2006 science exhibition. Sanjay
participated in the science exhibition and gave a demonstration of his
projects titled ‘Majhi Chotishi Prayogshala’ (My Mini-laboratory)
for which he was awarded the first prize. After receiving this news,
the chief officer of Jalna’s Zilla Parishad, Dr Nipun Vinayak im-
mediately wrote a congratulatory letter to Sanjay and expressed his
interest to view Sanjay’s projects. Sanjay responded to Dr Nipun’s
request and showed him the projects at his Zilla Parishad office.
Thoroughly impressed with Sanjay’s wonderful projects, Dr Nipun
promptly organised a training programme for all science teachers
and issued an ordinance that all schools should set up a model
laboratory similar to the one set up by Sanjay. None other than lab
assistant Sanjay Tikariya was supposed to train the teachers! This
was a thrilling experience for Sanjay. Soon, Sanjay became the most
talked-about person in Jalna City for his achievements.
Sanjay’s portable mini-lab was actually a compact kit consist-
ing of apparatuses and materials to set up hundred different science
projects. The most striking feature of this kit was it consisted of
everyday, throwaway household objects and did not use anything
expensive. Sanjay’s inventiveness can be judged from one of his
experiences. The school’s science teacher, Shri Vidyasagar once in-
structed Sanjay to arrange the separation funnel experiment. Sanjay
inadvertently broke the funnel. He walked over to Shri Vidyasagar’s
class to inform him about the mishap.
However, before Sanjay could utter
a word, Shri Vidyasagar assumed
that Sanjay had set up the apparatus.
Sanjay did not want to disappoint
Shri Vidyasagar and left without
saying a word. While he sat on
the school’s staircase, he thought
over the problem. Soon, he came
up with an idea. Without wasting
more time, he rushed towards the
laboratory and rummaged the fa-
cility until he found an old saline
container. He shaped a funnel

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from the container by carefully cutting it and arranged the project.
Shri Vidyasagar managed to demonstrate the experiment with an ef-
fective, albeit crude, apparatus. From this episode, Sanjay came up
with the novel idea of a ‘Khatpat Peti’ – a utility box that contained
many different objects and resources that students could use for cre-
ating their own science projects. For this unique initiative, Sanjay
gives the credit to Shri Vidyasagar who inspired him.
Sanjay tells that anyone can create interesting science projects
on shoestring budgets. This had always been the basic premise for
all his projects. Winning the first prize at Yavatmal’s science exhi-
bition greatly boosted his confidence. After revealing the secrets of
his lab to the teachers of Jalna District at the behest of Dr Nipun,
Sanjay was invited to Satara to conduct his lab workshop for nearly
1200 teachers! There he met Bharat Jagtap, who was fascinated by
Sanjay’s ideas. Shri Jagtap advised Sanjay to meet Pune’s NCERT
director Shri Anil Bedge. After Sanjay arrived at Pune’s NCERT for
his scheduled appointment with Shri Bedge, he managed to impress
Shri Bedge with his ideas to such an extent that their two-minute
meeting stretched for more than two hours. Shri Bedge straight
away called Aurangabad’s deputy director Laxmikant Pandey and
immediately handed over the appointment letter for an ‘Expert
Guide’ to Sanjay. Accordingly, he was invited as an expert guide for
a teacher-training programme organized by NCERT. Thereafter, on
Sundays, he imparted free training to teachers by traveling to nearly
twenty-six districts of Maharashtra.
In the following year, Sanjay displayed his science projects at
Akkalkuwa’s science exhibition and won the second prize. In 2009,
Sanjay got the rare honour of conducting training at Mumbai’s
Homi Bhabha National Institute that is affiliated with Bhabha
Atomic Research Centre. Sanjay was also given the opportunity
to attend an international seminar at Singapore by the secretary of
CASTME (Commonwealth Association of Science, Technology,
and Mathematics Educators) Dr Agarkar. This seven-day Singapore
tour, which kicked off on 16 November 2010, was granted to Sanjay
for his contribution to the academic field.
Sanjay often experimented and came up with fresh ideas and pre-
sented his new projects at various exhibitions. At Parbhani’s science

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fair, he presented one of his most innovative creations¬–the ‘Prayog
Manav’. In this robotic kit, he compiled all the necessary apparatuses
and material to set up 200 different geography-related projects! The
unique feature of this kit was that it included the audio recordings
of the procedures for all the projects, which could be played at the
touch of a button. The recordings could accurately guide children
to set up the projects on their own. Another of his creations is the
‘Jadooee Ganiti Fala’ (Magic Maths Board) – a small box kit that
cleared all the mathematical concepts from class 1 to class 4. Sanjay
has created this activity-oriented educational kit based on his deep
understanding of child psychology.
Sanjay’s innovativeness is not limited simply to competition-
related projects. He has also set up several interesting projects in
the school’s lab. In an airtight container, he and some students had
planted a small sapling, which has grown and survived without air or
water over the past four months. Tiny insects have made the jar their
home. His other science project includes filtered water mixed with
a drop of gutter water, which is now full of algae. This is the result
of many stages of an organic cycle. Although Sanjay does not have
in-depth scientific knowledge about it, this project is very relevant
for students to study. There is also a real human skull in the school’s
lab. The school’s speciality is that it allows students to enter the lab
during recess after taking permission from their teachers. Sanjay ex-
presses his heartfelt gratitude to the co-operation received from the
school’s administration for all his endeavours. Sanjay unfailingly
mentions the great confidence that the school’s administration has
shown in him. In fact, he was given the responsibility to finalize the
lab’s interior design and setup.
The students here regularly perform new experiments. They
have complete access to the lab. The projects, models, drawings,
and charts developed by the students are visibly displayed. Some
fundamental science projects are permanently displayed so that
teachers can promptly demonstrate them to the students. Sanjay
Tikariya’s efforts and his commitment to work are praiseworthy.
More information of this prodigy and his projects can be found on
his website.
In the near future, Sanjay plans to set up a Tikariya Science Vi-

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sion Centre (TSV). Sanjay plans to install many exhibits, which will
cover all scientific concepts, at his proposed TSV Centre. Krishi
Vigyan Kendra’s Shri Vijayanna Borade has allocated a two-acre
plot at Kharpudi for Sanjay’s TSV Centre. Sanjay also has the solid
support of Shri Sunil Raithata for his ambitious project. Nearly 300
people have extended their co-operation to Sanjay for his project.
Once Sanjay’s dream project is realized, it will be the epitome of
Sanjay’s contribution to the academic world and inevitably, a major
source of pride for Jalna!
Sanjay Tikariya
CTMK Gujarati School, Bus Stand Rows, Jalna
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