In 2021, Prem Ningombam, a young man from Heirok, Manipur, left social media awestruck with his ability to turn scrap into wonderful creations. His latest one has been a Marvel-inspired, fully functional ‘Iron Man’ suit — a creation that caught Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra’s attention. Ever since then, there has been no turning back for him. He is now studying Mechanical Engineering at Mahindra University on a full scholarship.

Prem’s story in his words

“Coming from a humble family of four, with a food stall that runs the household, the only way I could satiate my passion for engineering was by using scrap to create something new every other day. While my interest in art and craft led me to believe in the infinite world of possibilities, science-fiction and fantasy movies were my sources of inspiration. The desire to recreate my on-screen idols made me dive into robotics. A life-like R2D2 from Star Wars, Dum-E from the movie Iron Man and a couple of other utilitarian gadgets are some of my absolute cherished creations.

When I saw Anand Mahindra’s tweet, in which he offered to support my education, I couldn’t believe it! Watching my work circulated everywhere on social media left me overwhelmed with so many emotions. I was happy, excited but also nervous. I could hardly believe my luck when the Mahindra Foundation contacted me. Today, I am a Mechanical Engineering student at Mahindra University on a full scholarship. It is my honour to receive knowledge from some of the best mentors in the industry with an incredible group of peers who call me ‘Tony Stark/ Iron Man’. Not only am I truly enjoying myself but also super excited for the next step, a summer internship at Mahindra Automobile.

My dream is to design innovative solutions that can simplify people’s lives. I want to be someone no one would have ever imagined to become. I owe a lot to my mother and would love to do something special for her one day. While I can barely contain my excitement regarding what I have in mind, I would like to keep it a surprise until ready. You will have to stay tuned to find out!”

At the Mahindra Group, we are proud of Prem and salute his skill. His innocence warms our hearts and fills us with a renewed sense of hope to rise against the odds, no matter what.

Source: https://www.mahindra.com/blogs