The Spark of Electronics: A Journey of Discovery

It all began when I was 14 years old. Like many children, I was curious and always eager to understand how things worked. But while most of my friends were busy with games or outdoor sports, my playground was something entirely different. I was fascinated by dismantled toy motors, LEDs, and old batteries that lay scattered around. The thrill of putting things together and seeing them work was exhilarating, but little did I know this would become the foundation of my lifelong passion.

One day, while helping my dad clear out old papers from the store, something caught my eye. Among a pile of discarded items lay an old electronic magazine. I remember that moment vividly—it was like discovering a treasure hidden in plain sight. I picked it up, started flipping through the pages, and was immediately captivated by an article about building your own robot. I didn’t understand much of the technical jargon, but the diagrams were simple, inviting even. They whispered to me, you can do this.

The magazine was part of a bundle, a couple of years' worth of issues all tied together. Without hesitation, I asked my dad to buy it for me. Over the next few weeks, I pored over those pages, learning about the basics of electronics—circuits, resistors, transistors, breadboards, and capacitors. It was challenging, often overwhelming, but thrilling all the same. The concepts felt like a maze, but the sense of discovery that followed each breakthrough kept me going.

Eventually, I convinced my dad to get me my first electronics kit. It came with built-in components, wires, a battery, and a guidebook with 35 different circuits. My excitement was through the roof. I still remember my very first project: a potentiometer-controlled “disco light.” It was simple but magical—seeing something I built with my own hands come to life.

That was the tipping point. From that day on, my passion for electronics only grew. I graduated from kits to breadboards and began experimenting with more advanced components like photovoltaic diodes, IC 555 timers, and operational amplifiers (IC 741). At home, I was known as the quiet kid, but in my mind, I was constantly buzzing with new ideas, and projects waiting to be built.

The first circuit I soldered was an audio amplifier, using a preset kit from the famous Visha and Vega stores on Lamington Road. It felt like a rite of passage, holding the soldering iron in one hand and a dream in the other. With each successful project, my confidence grew, and so did the complexity of my builds. One of my most memorable projects was an electronic touch piano, for which I designed the circuit diagram myself, fabricated the PCB at home, and assembled it from scratch. That piano wasn’t just a gadget—it was a testament to my growing skills, a tangible product of my curiosity and dedication.

As I continued building, I started to make small profits by selling my gadgets—tape players, amplifiers, speaker systems—to local customers. It was my first taste of entrepreneurship, and it taught me invaluable lessons. I learned to balance creativity with practicality and to understand the importance of customer satisfaction. My friends would often invite me over to fix their electronics, recommending my products to others in return. I wasn’t just building devices; I was building a reputation.

But the electronics world was changing rapidly. Soon, I noticed that the complexity of devices was shrinking as integrated circuits (ICs) became more prevalent. Where once a circuit would require multiple components, now a single chip could replace them all, making my carefully assembled gadgets feel outdated. It was a turning point for me. I realized that the future of electronics was shifting towards pre-fabricated, more efficient designs, and it made me question whether this was the right path for me. In India, foreign brands started dominating the market, and consumer preferences shifted towards imported products. The landscape was changing, and I had to adapt.

Today, when I look at engineering students using pre-built boards like Arduino and Raspberry Pi, it feels like they’ve bypassed a generation of learning. Building from scratch, as I had done, is no longer a necessity. These boards encapsulate all the basic circuits, making it easier for students to focus on higher-level programming and design. I get it—the convenience is undeniable, and the possibilities are endless. But part of me misses the tactile experience of working with individual components, the joy of solving problems piece by piece.

However, I’ve come to appreciate that each generation brings its own innovations. While I may have started with the basics, today’s students are diving straight into complex, cutting-edge projects. And that’s a good thing—progress is inevitable, and embracing change is crucial. Yet, my love for the fundamentals of electronics hasn’t waned. In fact, it’s deepened.

Now, I find immense joy in passing on this knowledge to the next generation. I love teaching kids how to build their own circuits from scratch, watching their eyes light up with the same excitement I felt years ago. It’s a full-circle moment for me—a reminder that while the tools may evolve, the spirit of invention remains timeless.

Electronics, to me, is more than just a career or a hobby. It’s a connection to my younger self, the quiet boy who found a spark of wonder in a pile of discarded magazines. It’s a way of thinking, of problem-solving, and of creating something meaningful from nothing. And while technology continues to evolve at breakneck speed, my passion for electronics remains firmly grounded in those early days, when I first discovered the magic of circuits and the joy of building something with my own two hands.