To Spread Dr. APJ Kalam's Message, This 63-Year-Old Man Has Travelled 3000 km In His Solar Car

Source: indianexpress | Image:thehindu Syed Sajjad Ahmed's Timeline

An inspired human being is no less than an unstoppable force of nature. Syed Sajjad Ahmed is a living testimony to that. Aged 63, he has no advantage of finances or even youth,

He started his journey on 1st of November, this year in his self-designed solar car with the motive of raising awareness on environmental protection.

Born in an ordinary background, Syed was compelled to drop out of school at the age of 15 to earn for his family. He ran a fruit shop in Bengaluru, and gradually progressed towards repairing electronics, learning on the way. Soon, he was fixing television sets and two-wheelers. He has two sons, whom he has educated well, and a daughter who is physically disabled.

However, inadequate finances and education were not going to stand between Syed and his passion for bringing some good to society.

At 50, before he could succumb to old age and infirmity, he decided to design his own vehicle, a solar car. It took him four long years, and a significant cost of Rs 50,000 to conceptualise and build his car. His car has five solar panels, with power supplied from six storage batteries, and reaches a maximum speed of 30 kmph. His innovation won him the award for environment protection from the Karnataka state government.

Determined to promote the use of renewable alternative sources of energy and environmental protection, Syed drove his car all the way to New Delhi to attend the India International Science Fair. Inspired by our late President, Dr. APJ Kalam, he wants to help realise his vision of a pollution free India.

This is not the first time he has undertaken a journey to raise a public issue. He covered 1,000 km over the south of India in 2012, in support of Anna Hazare, to raise awareness against corruption.

Syed serves as a source of inspiration to us all, proving that passion, perseverance, motivation and an innovative mind stand victorious against all odds.