Long before phrases like Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and import substitution became part of everyday conversations, two engineers working from Bengaluru’s industrial hub were quietly solving problems that many believed could only be solved overseas.Their story isn’t found in most textbooks.It wasn’t celebrated with awards or television appearances.Instead, it resurfaced in an unexpected place: a railway station in Germany.Shared by Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Manjit Singh Mogewala in a heartfelt post on X, the story offers students an important lesson about engineering, innovation and the power of believing in local talent.
A chance meeting in Germany brought back a remarkable memory
In September 2017, Manjit and his wife, Preeti, were waiting for a train in Hannover, Germany, when three Indian travellers approached them for directions.After a brief conversation, one of the men asked a surprising question:“Dashmesh Engineering? Pritam ji? Your neighbour Jain Saab?”The couple was stunned.How could a stranger in Germany know the names of two Bengaluru-based engineers?The answer took them back more than 30 years.
When Hero Honda needed a solution that ‘couldn’t be made in India’
According to the story shared by Manjit, the incident dates back to 1984-85, when Hero Honda was setting up its manufacturing plant in Haryana.The company had ordered special-purpose machines from Bengaluru-based BFW. However, one critical fixture presented a major challenge.Engineers from Honda reportedly believed the component couldn’t be manufactured in India and recommended importing it from Japan.The issue eventually reached BFW.According to the account shared on X, the response was simple:“Take this concept to Pritam ji. If he says yes, he will make it. If he says no, import it from Japan.”The drawings were taken to Dashmesh Engineering.Pritam Singh Mogewala studied engineering at BMS College in Bengaluru after moving from Moga, Punjab. He later founded Dashmesh Engineering in 1979 before shifting operations to the Peenya Industrial Area in 1981.After examining the drawings, he gave his answer:“Yes, it is possible. Give me 15-20 days.”
The friendship that built more than machines
The visitors remained in Bengaluru while the component was being developed.During those 15 days, they visited the factory every day.But what they remembered most wasn’t just the engineering challenge.It was the friendship.Pritam Singh and his close friend and fellow industrialist, B. K. Jain of Accuspirals, used to have lunch together every day. Eventually, they started packing extra meals for their visitors.The conversations around those lunch breaks revolved around machine building, engineering challenges, manufacturing and finding Indian solutions to seemingly impossible problems.One came from Moga in Punjab.The other came from Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh.Neither had access to the internet, smartphones or today’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem.They simply kept building.
A lesson for engineering students today
Pritam Singh passed away in December 2015. B. K. Jain passed away recently.Yet their story continues to inspire.For engineering students, this isn’t just a nostalgic account from the 1980s.It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t always begin inside multinational corporations or research laboratories.Sometimes, it starts inside a small workshop, with two engineers willing to challenge the idea that something cannot be done.Today’s students grow up hearing about startups, artificial intelligence and global technology companies.But stories like this remind us that India’s industrial growth was built by countless unsung engineers who solved real-world problems with limited resources, extraordinary determination and an unwavering belief in indigenous innovation.Some stories deserve to be remembered.This is undoubtedly one of them.Disclaimer: This article was prepared by TOI Education using publicly available information and social media posts shared by Manjit Singh Mogewala. It is intended for educational and informational purposes only.
