NIF is saddened to note the demise of Shri Bachubhai Savjibhai Thesia, a grassroots innovator from Jamnagar, Gujarat.

He was a serial innovator and conferred with a National award during the 5th National Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Awards of NIF in the year 2009 for a farm implement without a steering wheel and other innovations. His portfolio of innovations also included a motorcycle operated agricultural device, sensor system for irrigating fields, a personalized bulb with an added circuit to increase life, multi-purpose machine consisting of a generator, a water lifting pump, a flour mill and an iron cutting machine, amongst others.

NIF is saddened to note the demise of Shri Bhagat Singh, a musician cum theatre artist turned grassroots innovator from Imphal, Manipur. The innovator trio which comprised of Shri Bhagat Singh along with Shri N Jilathombi Singh and Shri Kennedy Singh was conferred with an award during the 6th National Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Awards of NIF in the year 2012 for Pennao, a popular musical instruments of the Meitei community widely used in social and cultural events. He was also invited to be part of the Innovation Scholar In-Residence program.

NIF is saddened to note the demise of Padma Bhushan Prof R Kumar. He has been instrumental in leveraging NIF's role in value addition, Research & Development in herbal traditional knowledge practices. Prof Kumar chaired NIF committee's in defining criteria for gleaning technological practices and establishment of scientific protocol towards the evaluation of shortlisted indigenous practices. His vision had enlarged the scope and recognition of the non-codified system of herbal practices. NIF pays rich tribute to him.

NIF mourns the sad demise of its awardee and serial innovator, Shri Agastya Narain Shukla who succumbed to heart attack on January 13, 2022. He was always brimming with ideas and was a completely hands on person. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. He was conferred with 5th National Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge of NIF. More about him and his innovations can be read at the following link - https://nif.org.in/innovation/toothbrush/32

NIF - India mourns the demise of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India. He was known for his cultural moderation, liberalism and political reasonableness. NIF pray for his departed soul. May his soul rest in peace and God give the bereaved family, the strength to bear this loss.

Shri Anil Rashmikant Kamdar, Gujarat innovator of Buttonhole Stitching Machine passed away on 10th April, 2018. He was conferred with a consolation award during the Third National Award function for Grassroots Innovations and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge (2005). NIF-India & Honey Bee Network wishes peace for his departed soul and strength for his bereaved family.

We are extremely sad to share the demise of our innovator Shri Dadaji Ramji Khobragade, a progressive farmer and a serial innovator who had developed a series of Paddy varieties. It was an honor to have such a great innovator amongst us. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family. May god give you strength to bear this irrevocable loss and may his soul rest in peace.

Despite the loss of the physical presence of Shri Dadaji, his innovative spirit and diligence will always guide us in carrying the mission of Grassroots innovations forward.

State Award winner in NIF's First National Awards 2001, Shri Gunaram Khanikar (79 years) from Asom left for his heavenly abode on 7th January 2016. Shri Khanikar was a herbal medicinal expert, a prolific writer with over 30 books and 650 articles in different magazines. He also started a voluntary organisation named The Regional Research and Training Center on Indian Traditional Treatment.NIF family prays for the departed soul.

Shri Dodhi Pathak (62 years), innovator from Nalbari Assam passed away on August 3rd, 2015. He was a master craftsman and could develop unique articles using bamboo. He made bamboo bicycle, bamboo handpump, bamboo teeth and many other artifacts. For his ingenuity he was given a National Award in NIF's First National Awards 2001. NIF team mourns this loss and prays for the departed soul.

Team Honey Bee Network and NIF are shocked at the untimely demise of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. We celebrate the birthday of the former President of India, Bharat Ratna, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on Oct 15 as the Children's Creativity and Innovation Day. Dr Kalam was a lifelong champion of grassroots innovations. He started the tradition of honouring creative and innovative communities and individuals at the hands of the President of India in 2002. He continued to motivate the young and old alike and gave away the national IGNITE school student awards since 2008 till last year. He had promised to give away this year award too in November. Now we all will miss him. We will try to commemorate Ignite awards in his memory so that creative children continue to draw inspiration from his spirit. May his soul rest in peace, may his blessings guide our way always.

Shri Hazarilal Ojha, innovator of Seed cum Fertilizer Drill passed away on July 13, 2015 after prolonged illness. He has been a consolation award winner in NIF's Second National Innovation Awards (2002). NIF & Honey Bee Network wishes peace for his departed soul and strength for his bereaved family.

NIF team mourns the demise of Smt. Janaki Devi of Bihar on June 15, 2015 due to brain hemorrhage. She was awarded by NIF in its Fifth National Awards (2009) for her herbal preparation for control of sucking pests in crops. She had good agricultural knowledge and used to experiment a lot in her kitchen garden and fields. NIF team prays for her soul.

NIF and Honey Bee Network mourn the untimely demise of Mr. Lalmuanzuala Chinzah, former National Coordinator- Business Development on May 25th, 2015 at Aizawl, Mizoram. Mr. Chinzah touched everybody’s life with warmth and a noble feeling of doing good all the time. He was a very enthusiastic, active and generous individual. He will always live in the hearts of all of us at NIF, SRISTI, GIAN and other Honey Bee Network members. We pray that his family gets strength to bear this irreparable loss and his soul rests in peace.

NIF family mourns the sad demise of Sri Vikram Rathod, a brilliant grassroots innovator from Adilabad, Telangana on 24th February 2015. He died due to kidney failure. He is survived by wife, 3 daughters and a son. His innovation, cycle powered water pump had won a consolation award in NIF's Third National Biennial Award Function in 2005. May his soul rest in peace.

Shri Dhirajlal Thummar, National Awardee in NIF's Fifth National Competition 2009, left for his heavenly abode on September 5, 2014 after suffering a heart attack. He had developed an improved variety of Groundnut - Dhiraj 101 or DVT 101, which is resistant to wilt due to stem rot. NIF family prays for the departed soul.

A mechanical engineer by training and consolation award winner in NIF's Second National Innovation Awards (2002), Shri Pathak left for his heavenly abode after suffering cardiac arrest on 9th March 2013. A compassionate individual, he developed a lot of useful technologies for common people and devoted himself completely for their welfare. HBN mourns this great loss and wishes peace for the departed soul and his bereaved family.

NIF- India mourns the sudden demise of Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, Hon'ble Minister Science and Technology, Government of India who passed away on Aug 14, 2012 due to multiple organ failure. A down to earth and most humble person, Shri Deshmukh was a great visionary. The grassroots innovators and traditional knowledge holders of the country will miss his supportive and nurturant concern for their cause. NIF and entire Honey Bee Network family pray for his departed soul. May his soul rest in peace and God give the bereaved family, the strength to bear this loss.

State Award winner in NIF's Third National Biennial Awards 2005, Shri Kambel Chulai from Meghalaya left for his heavenly abode on 16th June 2012 after prolonged illness. Shri Chulai had developed a wood based low cost environment friendly crematorium, which drastically reduced the wood requirement. NIF family prays for the departed soul.

State Award winner in NIF's 6th National Biennial Competition, Shri Mangi Singh (Manipur), innovator of the Kakching Mat Weaving machine passed away on 11 April 2012. Mangi Singh was a physically challenged but resilient innovator who fought tremendous hardships to develop the machine, which was not only useful for him but for the entire community, providing them livelihood option. We pray for the departed soul and wish their family strength to bear the loss.

National Award winner in NIF's Fifth National Competition 2009 for his 'Yellow Mosaic Virus resistant white gourd variety', Shri A.S.JOY passed away on 7th April. NIF & HBN family wishes peace for his departed soul and strength for his bereaved family.

National Award winner in NIF's First National Competition 2002 for his 'Njallani' variety of cardamom, Shri Joseph passed away on 13 February, Sunday night. He was 82. With the help of his son Rejimon, Sebastian had developed a new variety of cardamom which heralded a revolution in the cardamom cultivation. On the fateful morning of Sunday itself the Spices Board had awarded him Rs 8 lakh during the inauguration of Spices Park for his outstanding contribution in cultivation of cardamom. NIF & HBN family wishes peace for his departed soul and strength for his bereaved family.