Teenager invents cow dung bricks
Setting an example that age has nothing to do with doing your bit for the environment, 16-year-old Shashank Agarwal, a Class 11 student of Amity International School, Noida, while chatting with his grandparents got an insight on his rustic roots and how people in villages survive different weathers, and got an idea to do something different.
“During a chat with my grandparents, they told me that in their villages the houses were coated with cow dung. It was done for a cooling effect and the cow dung also acted as mosquito repellant. It also has anti-bacterial qualities and serves as disinfectant. It is also believed to be an excellent and inexpensive insulator,” says Shashank, who was fascinated with the idea of using cow dung.
He wondered for some days if cow dung can still be used in a better way. And then got down to getting his hands dirty. “I thought we have so many resources like cow dung that are available in India. They either come free or are very cheap. I thought I could utilise them. Taking help from my grandparents, I started experimenting. I mixed water and straw dust in cow dung, gave it the shape of bricks and let it dry for a few days. Even I was surprised at the outcome. I got bricks that were light and easy to use,” says Shashank.
He produced more bricks and developed a house “Mera Ghar” in a nearby area in Noida. “The real surprise was that even after the rainy season the house stood straight. The cow dung bricks didn’t melt or become soft,” says Shashank.
The idea seems revolutionary, as the final bricks have only been sun dried. “We didn’t have to waste any sort of energy for drying the bricks. It’s sun-dried. However, depending on the weather it can be a little time-taking,” says Shashank.
The 16-year-old isn’t only thinking of utilising readily available material, but is also thinking about the pollution due to industrial waste that can be controlled.
“The amount of carbon and nitrogen residue is already very high. Cow dung bricks will help the society ecologically as well,” he says and adds that he is working more on the idea to make the bricks better. With the help of a family friend who is also a civil engineer, Shashank is trying to produce bricks that are more reliable.
“For building the small house, I used bricks that comprised cow dung and straw dust in the ratio of 20:1. Now, I am experimenting more. I have changed the ratios this time to make the bricks stronger and reliable. I’m just hoping it results in something better,” he says.
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