In his Deccan Herald piece, Ishaan Patel offers a warm tribute to India’s “frugal genius” — a cultural legacy of inventiveness that predates the eco-buzzwords of today. Long before climate change became a global concern, ordinary Indians have been reusing, repairing, and innovating — driven not by profit, but by necessity, thrift, and a love for community. Patel connects this mindset to jugaad or frugal innovation: the art of doing more with less, rooted in flexibility and resourcefulness.

He highlights how this frugality isn’t just an economic choice — it’s a moral and ecological ethic. Whether it’s low-cost medical devices, biodegradable cooling systems, or grassroots solar solutions, these homegrown innovations solve real problems without damaging the planet. This is not about cheap fixes: it's serious design thinking under constraints.

Patel argues thatIndia’s frugal innovation could guide global sustainability. What the world needs now isn’t always high-tech extravagance, but humble, smart solutions that are inclusive, scalable, and deeply human.