Growing up in a small village in Sikkim, Mehar Raj Pradhan's curiosity and passion for robotics shaped his remarkable journey. "From a young age, I was fascinated by disassembling gadgets and building Lego bots," he recalls. His innovative streak shone during the Covid pandemic when he converted a broken hot water dispenser into a hand sanitizer dispenser.

In 2021, Mehar's project "Army Safety Gate" inspired by the 2019 terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir, won first division at Innvo Fest. "This project aimed to improve safety measures for the armed forces," he explains. That same year, he was a top participant at Youth Ideathon at IIT Delhi, earning the "State Award Winner" title.

"Receiving the CSIR Innovation Award for School Students 2022 for my project 'Mission Protector with Raj Feature' was a highlight," Mehar shares. Representing St. Augustine's School, Kalimpong, he was among the top 14 innovative projects in India.

Mehar is passionate about sharing his knowledge through Cobotics workshops, inspiring rural youth to pursue robotics. "Empowering others and making a positive impact is what truly matters," he says. As a Youth Ideathon Ambassador, he inspired young minds in North East India, fostering their creativity and innovation.

His accomplishments have been widely recognized, including features in CSIR's yearly article and various news outlets like Sikkim Express and North East Today. Mehar is also proud to be the first student from North East India to publish a research article in the International Journal of Scientific Research, titled "SAFE HARBOUR" which investigates the devastating landslide in Sikkim.

"Learning is a lifelong journey," Mehar reflects. "Growing up in Sikkim with limited exposure to the world, I still pursued my passion for innovation. Giving back to my community through knowledge sharing is essential to me.”