Stories
The story begins not in a bustling city or a famed university lecture hall, but in a remote corner of India. Paul recalls, “I grew up surrounded by stillness. It wasn’t loneliness, really, but there weren’t many friends or people around to share ideas with. That space—both physical and mental—gave me room to think, to imagine.”
As the only child in a nuclear family, Paul spent much of his early childhood tinkering alone with objects around the house. His father, a self-taught technician and trader, became an unlikely source of inspiration. “If the fan wasn’t working, my dad would fix it. If the fridge broke down, he’d find a way to get it running again. Watching him gave me this unspoken belief: if you understand how something works, you can fix it—or maybe even make it better.”
But the magic didn’t stop there. Paul’s mother, a quiet yet profoundly intelligent woman with a degree in Physics, added her own influence. “She never made a big deal of her education. In fact, I didn’t even know she had a degree until one day when I casually asked her if she’d gone to college. She replied, ‘Yes, Physics,’ like it was nothing. That was the first time I thought, ‘Wow, there’s more to her than meets the eye.’”
Paul’s fascination with science began early. “I wanted to be a scientist when I was just a kid,” he says. “But not because I fully understood what that meant. It was more about the way science could explain things I saw every day. I remember learning about leaves in school—how to tell trees apart by the shape of their leaves. That’s when I realized science wasn’t just facts; it was a way of seeing the world.”
A significant influence on young Paul’s imagination was television. “Discovery Channel was like my secret mentor. One episode might dive into the vastness of space; the next might show the mechanics of a car engine. And then there was Dexter’s Laboratory,” he laughs, “a cartoon about a boy scientist with a hidden lab. That show made me believe that even I could have a secret world where I built amazing things.”
But Paul’s journey wasn’t without struggles. “I was terrible at memorizing things,” he admits. “Subjects like social studies—dates, places, and names—I just couldn’t retain them. But science was different. It was logical, something I could relate to. I didn’t just read about it; I experienced it.”
Paul’s early experiments with circuits became defining moments. “One day, I stumbled upon this random book in the school library. It had all these diagrams of electronic circuits. I didn’t even know what half the symbols meant, but I knew I wanted to make those circuits.”
With no formal training or tools, Paul improvised. “I used wires from my dad’s repair kit, stripped them with a blade, and connected them to small LEDs. I didn’t even have soldering tools, so I twisted the wires together. When the circuit worked, and the LED lit up for the first time, I felt this surge of energy. That moment stayed with me.”
Paul’s passion for science collided with the practicality of family expectations. “I told my mom I wanted to study Physics, but she was adamant. She said, ‘Look at me. I studied Physics, and I never got a proper job. Go for a professional course.’ I understood where she was coming from, but it was still hard to let go of my dream.”
Eventually, Paul chose mechatronics engineering. “It felt like a compromise that worked. Mechatronics combined mechanical, electrical, and robotics engineering, so I wasn’t giving up on what I loved—it was just a different path.”
College became Paul’s playground for discovery. “The first year was a shock. I realized that not everyone had the same curiosity I did. Many of my classmates were just studying to get jobs. For me, it was never about marks—it was about figuring out how things worked.”
Paul quickly gained a reputation for being the guy who “made things happen.” “If someone needed help with a project, they’d come to me. I’d stay up late building circuits, fixing motors, or even designing CAD models. It wasn’t work; it was play.”
But Paul wasn’t all science and engineering. “My friends once pranked me by signing me up for a singing competition. I didn’t even know until the day of the event! Instead of singing, I ended up fixing the microphone equipment. That’s how I became the unofficial sound guy for our college band. And somehow, I even ended up playing guitar for them at one point.”
Paul’s love for building things extended beyond academics. “I started creating hobby projects—simple things like circuits that could light up LEDs in patterns. I remember building a small generator using a fan and a motor. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked. Those projects taught me that failure isn’t the end; it’s part of the process.”
These creations eventually became a small business. “I started selling my projects to other students. I’d charge them for the materials and a little extra for the effort. It wasn’t a lot of money, but it felt amazing to see people using something I’d built.”
As Paul’s college years came to a close, he began to realize his passion for teaching. “It started naturally—I’d explain concepts to my classmates and juniors. I’d break down complex ideas into simple, relatable terms. When I saw their faces light up, it was like I’d found a new purpose.”
After graduation, Paul joined an educational organization. “We taught kids science through hands-on experiments and storytelling. I wasn’t just teaching them; I was reigniting their curiosity. It was about showing them that science isn’t something you memorize—it’s something you live.”
Teaching became an integral part of Paul’s journey. Even after he moved into technical roles, the desire to inspire and mentor others remained a core part of his identity. “Teaching isn’t just about transferring knowledge; it’s about lighting a spark in someone else.”
aul’s technical foundation in mechatronics paved the way for his role as a robotics engineer. “Robotics was the perfect blend of all my passions—mechanics, electronics, and problem-solving. It wasn’t just about building robots; it was about teaching machines to think and act in ways that could help humans.”
In his role, Paul worked on designing and programming automation systems, creating robotic arms, and developing innovative prototypes. “The thrill of watching something you’ve designed come to life—whether it’s a robotic arm assembling parts or a system that simplifies human tasks—is indescribable.”
In 2022, Paul joined NewSpace Research and Technologies, an aerospace company in Bangalore. “It was surreal,” he says. “From watching shows about space and robotics as a kid to actually working in the field—it felt like everything had come full circle.”
Even as he worked on cutting-edge technology, Paul never stopped reflecting on the importance of curiosity. “I realized that a lot of people in the industry lacked the foundational understanding of how things worked. They were great at using tools but didn’t question why those tools existed in the first place. That’s when I knew I wanted to do more than just work; I wanted to teach.”
Paul’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and resilience. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned,” he says, “it’s that you have to chase your questions. Don’t settle for easy answers. Dive deep, get lost, and let your curiosity guide you.”
His vision for the future? “I want to create a platform that bridges the gap between theory and practice, where students and professionals can learn by doing. I want to bring back the wonder—the spark that makes you say, ‘I want to know more.’”
Paul’s story isn’t just about career milestones; it’s about the journey of a mind that refuses to stop questioning. From his childhood experiments to his professional achievements, Paul reminds us that the most profound discoveries often come from the simplest of questions: What if?
“People think success is about finding answers,” he says with a knowing smile. “But for me, it’s always been about asking the right questions.”