HOMETOWN HEROES

We often hear tales of legendary innovation born from scarcity. Consider Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, a clandestine operation famed for crafting groundbreaking aircraft like the U-2 spy plane and F-117 stealth fighter with famously tight budgets and resources.

- ADITYA UPADHYAULA @heelntoe

Legend has it that the initial budget for the U-2 was so tight that the engineers had to scrounge for parts, even repurposing landing gear from a discarded fighter jet. Reading about their feats, I can’t help but draw parallels to the ingenuity of our very own Indian automotive industry.

While we might not be building stealth jets (that we know of!), the ingenuity born from constraint is a hallmark of Indian automakers. Much like the problem-solvers at Skunk Works, our manufacturers have consistently innovated with fewer resources than their global counterparts, fueled by the quintessential Indian art of jugaad. It’s our unique brand of low-budget brilliance.