Click here to go to the main page of People.
Please send your opinions, feedbacks, articles to shshenoy at yahoo.com

Although this kind of electricity can be generated by employing camel, buffalo. Horse (real “horse power”), mule, yak or any other pack animal depending on the region, bullocks are the most commonly available animals for the purpose and therefore, this form of energy could rightly be called bovine electricity or “BovinEl,” in line with “hydel” for hydroelectric power.

Down-to-earth principle:
The concept of generating BovinEl power is downright simple and is based on India’s age-old technology of animal – driven oil mills or oil presses (called “gaaNa,” “gaaNamu,” “gaaNi,” “kolhu,” “chekku,” etc., in different parts of India). The original, country – made oil mill consisted of a wooden mortar and a pestle. The mortar used to be fixed to the ground and the pestle, with oilseeds compressed under it, used to be rotated by one bullock or a pair attached to it by a yoke. The seeds would thus be crushed by the friction and pressure generated.

Obviously, there will sill be “juicy” in the sense that electric current is called juice in technical lingo. What actually happens here is that the muscular (calorie) power of the draught animals gets converted into mechanical power and eventually into electrical power.

Sophisticated and animal – friendly equipment:
The standard BovinEl consists of 4 bullocks, a yoke, a gear box and a generator (dynamo), and the entire apparatus is made of a certain special – grade steel strong in terms of effect and durability, but light on the animals. The apparatus has been so innovatively designed that there will be a “push” force at one end of facilitates effortless “pull” by the animals at the other end. And, by extending the length of the yoke, more animals can be harnessed to minimize the burden on weaker animals, to derive improved yield and to train the young ones in a playful way.

It is estimated that with 4 bullocks and a 40’ x 40’ dedicated site, 15 hp (about 11 kW) of BovinEl power could be easily generated. It is also estimated that the standard model, involving 88 components, would cost about 3.5 lakh rupees, if produced on a large scale.

Small Cost – Huge Benefits:
This appropriate technology is developed to bring multifarious benefits, especially to users in agricultural and rural settings:

• Most user – friendly I terms of capital, maintenance and operating skills
• Tailor – made for farmer’s domestic use (running submersible pumps, household gadgets, home lights, etc.), and scalable for use at street and community levels
• Cheap and uninterrupted power and total relief from power bills
• No transmission cost or loss, as it is produced and consumed on – site / on – farm
• Power can be stored for future use and even integrated into the main grid
• Cattle outputs can be put to agricultural, medicinal and several other uses
• Cattle can be productively but humanely engaged during off – season / off – time
• Virtually independent enterprise (dependent only on cattle and fodder)
• Environment – friendly (alla – green current), animal – friendly and absolutely safe
• Generates local employment and encourages local skills
• Helps conservation of native breeds of cattle
• Builds cooperative spirit and fosters Grama Swarajya

Concept and technology promoters:
Prof. Siddharth Vyas of IIT – Delhi has become famous for successful, small – scale adoption of this technology, and Mr. B. M. T. Murthy of Bangalore, who is well – known for designing gearbox assemblies for giant windmills, has already designed the gearbox for a typical “BovinEl power station”. Further, Mr. C. S. Ramaswamy, an industrialist of Mysore, has made several improvements in the working models, and Mr. Jadhav Krishna of Davanagere is designing the latest version of a pilot BovinEl power plant.

Part of Amrita Mahal Redevelopment Centre:
Gurukula Yogashrama of Mysore is one of the institutions promoting the BovinEl concept and technology under its Amrita Mahal Redevelopment Centre for conservation and promotion of the endangered native Indian cow “Amrita Mahal” – one of the finest pedigree cows in the world.

The centre includes “Amritadhaara Goshaala,” a cow care home; and Panchagavya Ayurveda Vaidyashaala, a facility comprising a hospital for inpatient and outpatient care using Panchagavya and other native and natural methods and medications of India; a diagnostic unit; a manufacturing unit based on the outputs of native Indian cows; and a centre for studies and research in different areas of Panchagavya.

Those willing to donate for this noble cause may send cheques or Demand Drafts in favour of

“Gurukula Yogashrama Trust”
Sai Saraswathi Vidyakendra
Bogadi
Mysore – 570026
Karnataka
Ph: 0821 – 2598668, Cell: 9449886108

Savings Bank Account Number: 54037556179
Bank Name: State Bank of Mysore, Mysore
E-mail: narayanswamiji@gmail.com