Old Skates, a Dash of Jugaad (On-the-fly innovation), and My Trip to Prayagraj

Recently, I witnessed one of the most extraordinary phenomena of life: the Mahakumbh. This post is not about the Mahakumbh experience, nor the sheer scale—a once-in-144-year event where 45 crore people gather behind a single philosophy, let alone about the cultural or spiritual dimensions. Instead, it’s about a moment of jugaad that turned a logistical challenge into a fun, innovative adventure.

Amidst this massive assembly, I was faced with a unique logistical challenge. With rickshaws sidelined on super-crowded days, a typical four-day trip meant walking 20–30 km daily.

So, how does an engineer tackle such challenges? Enter my old quad skates from 6th grade—treasured relics my mother had kept safe under the bed. (While inline skates excel on smooth surfaces, they don’t quite offer the balance needed on the rough, uneven paths I'd be traversing.)

The straightforward solution would have been to visit a sports store and swap out the size 6 boots and mounts for size 9’s. But where’s the fun (and innovation) in that?

Instead, I went to the cobbler near IIT Bombay’s YP Gate. After a some convincing that after 22 years of tinkering I am handy with tools hence won’t hurt myself—and a small payment for the privilege of using his tools—I set up my portable workshop right in front of his, a foldable lawn chair (or sometimes just on the footpath, kneeling beside an anvil). Some sweat, a lot of laughs with the locals and 20 minutes later I had transformed those non-fitting skates into a custom, secure ride for my size 9 feet.

An added layer to this jugaad was my Late Grandmothers walking stick, being from the south she had never seen the ganga, her stick bathed in it. What the stick did for me now is what my grandmother did for me as an adolescent, provide mental security, all through the sprints I kept putting the stick down to provide stability often when the roads were weathered.

Before I knew it, I was zooming past 1.44 crore people—many of whom were trekking 30 km on foot—drawing smiles, curious glances, hoots, praises and even photo requests along the way. Not only did this ingenious tweak make my trip more comfortable and efficient, it also added a memorable layer of fun and spontaneity to the experience.

Embracing a bit of jugaad not only saves time and effort but also enriches the journey with stories worth sharing.

Plus, after the trip, these modified skates opened up an unexpected new adventure. I used them to hitch a ride on my friend’s scooter—latching my leather belt onto its back for propulsion. As he drove, I enjoyed a mind-blowingly fun joyride all across the institute.

Note: For those in my college who have been wondering for a week or two about why some fourthie has been skating up and down the institute everywhere, inside the hostel, outside the hostel, to class, to Old SAC(AIDS Practice) and wherever else he wanted to go: I had to get used to skating again before I did it in Prayagraj in a much more dynamic environment.

A Quick Note: I have trained in roller skating and rollerblading for years, so I felt confident in my ability to navigate safely. I think this is a strict no for anyone with any second thought about their ability.

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