Student Achiever: ‘Money multiplies when philanthropy strives’

His core belief in aiming for rewards rather than awards places him out of the crowd. Meet Nalin Agarwal who is studying in class X at Apeejay School, Kharghar. In a candid interview, he shares his latest innovative idea that earned him a second position at a Science Exhibition. 

Tell us about your recent achievements.

Irecently participated in the Anvikshiki Science Exhibition organised by the Ramsheth Thakur Group, where we presented our project, EyeWay. It’s an AI-powered assistive device for visually impaired individuals, designed to be affordable and user-friendly. Competing against several innovative ideas, we were thrilled to win second place overall. It was an incredible experience showcasing our work and seeing its potential recognised on such a platform. This achievement motivates us to push forward and make EyeWay even better.

How did you come up with the idea?

The idea for EyeWay came from observing the challenges visually impaired individuals face, especially in low-income areas. India has over 8.8 million visually impaired, and many cannot afford high-end assistive devices like OrCam MyEye or Envision Glasses. This made me think, “Why can’t we create something more affordable but equally effective?” With that thought, I started working on EyeWay, combining technologies like YOLO object detection and text-to-speech conversion. I also spoke to visually impaired individuals to better understand their needs, which shaped EyeWay into what it is today.

How did Apeejay School support your journey?

The school has been a huge support throughout this journey. My teachers encouraged us to pursue this project and helped us access our needed resources. The school provided a platform to explore and experiment with our ideas, which was critical for developing EyeWay. Participating in exhibitions like Anvikshiki was possible because of the school’s constant encouragement and belief in our potential. The focus on practical learning and innovation helped us bring our ideas to life.

What are your plans?

Our ultimate goal is to make a positive impact through technology. With EyeWay, we want to empower visually impaired individuals to lead more independent lives. Looking ahead, we aim to refine EyeWay further and expand its reach. On a personal level, we’re passionate about technology and innovation and hope to pursue careers where we can develop solutions that make life easier and more inclusive for everyone.

What are your favourite subjects and why?

I love Science because it allows me to be creative while solving real-world problems. Computer Science is a favourite as it lets me code, innovate, and build tools like EyeWay. Physics is fascinating because it explains how the world works and ties directly to engineering. Lastly, Math is appealing because of its logical structure, which plays a key role in programming and algorithms. These subjects are not just academic interests but also align with our vision of building impactful solutions through innovation.