Design Feature > Mitti Cool

15Jul11

*An Indian By Design Exclusive*

Basic living, in urban and rural areas, has expanded from food, clothing, shelter to include tv, mobile phone, laptop, washing machine, fridge, water heater, ac, car and more. All of which are dependent on fuel/electricity to make them work. The key to living in the future might just depend on how we are able to gain independence from the circle of resources – by building our own homes, growing our own food, even creating our own energy. It is perhaps a way to ensure equitable distribution, responsibly. But for now, these uber basics are vital in our lives, and we must navigate them as best we can. Until an uber cool alternative shows up at our doorstep.

Introducing the MittiCool Fridge.

I’d previously read about ChotuKool, the Godrej fridge that ran on batteries, but this was even better. Purvi Sanghvi, from The Other Side, travelled to Gujarat to take pictures and chat with Shri Mansuk Lal Raghavji Bhai Prajapati from village Wankaner in Gujarat on his invention – a clay fridge that keeps food fresh and cool, without electricity.

MittiCool Refrigerator

This is how it works. There are two parts to the fridge. A small tank on top to hold water. A bottom half that acts as the fridge. The water tank seems to be what keeps it cool along with the special clay that the fridge is made of.

Mansukh Bhai says: “This refrigerator keeps vegetables fresh for 4-5 days. It can also keep milk and buttermilk fresh for 24 hours. You can also get cold water. It keeps the original taste of food intact.”

It takes 7 days to make one MittiCool Fridge and he offers very precise instructions on its maintenance. At Rs 2500 (P&P extra), it’s extremely affordable and since it doesn’t use electricity, rural areas can benefit immensely from it.

Mansukh Bhai says: “My aim is to come out with products which are affordable for a poor person and do not harm anyone’s health.”

Mansukh Bhai with MittiCool

Mitticool is not his only creation. Mansukh Bhai also makes a Non-Stick Clay Tawa/skillet (Rs 75 – Rs 200), MittiCool Water-Filter (Rs 450), a Clay Pressure Cooker (Rs 350) and a dinner set.

Clay Pressure Cooker

MittiCool Water Filters

Handmade designs being painted on the MittiCool Water Filters

Clay Tawa

Clay Tawas being fired

Food Plate, Water Glass and bowls

Mansukh Bhai has sold over 3500 refrigerators so far. In the last five years, the only major complaint he says he had was that the magnet on the fridge door gave way. He has orders from all over the world and was presented an award by the President of India. He has received an ISO cerification and his Tavas have been approved as having a food grade quality coating. His future plans include starting a factory with the aid of IIM and NID Ahmedabad and making a MittiCool house. Indian By Design looks forward to it.

< More on Mansukh bhai and the MittiCool fridge on his website. Pictures courtesy Purvi Sanghvi and the MittiCool website.>

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Filed under: Indian Product Design   |  28 Comments
Tags: Clay pressure cooker, Fridge without electricity, Indian Product Design, Mitti Cool, No electricity fridge, Purvi Sanghvi, Shri Manshuk Lal Raghavji Bhai Prajapati, Wakaner