When Less Becomes More: Documentary on Frugal Innovation Sparks Deep Dialogue at TISS – A Mahabahu Climate Forum Initiative
CLIMATE CHANGE / Environment / Food/ Nature
When Less Becomes More: Documentary on Frugal Innovation Sparks Deep Dialogue at TISS – A Mahabahu Climate Forum Initiative
ANJAN SARMA
On the afternoon of March 16, 2026, a lecture hall at the campus of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati, transformed into a space of reflection, debate, and inspiration as students gathered to watch the documentary Think Like an Astronaut, a Cinematic Seconds production.
The screening was organized by the International Centre for Frugal Innovation (ICFI) and the Transdisciplinary Research Cluster on Frugality Studies, in collaboration with the Mahabahu Climate Forum (MCF).
What began as a modest academic event soon evolved into an engaging and thought-provoking dialogue about sustainability, innovation, and the future of humanity on a resource-constrained planet. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from students belonging to diverse disciplines, including ecology, public policy, development studies, peace and conflict studies and social entrepreneurship. Their curiosity and engagement were so intense that the interactive discussion continued well beyond the scheduled time, leaving organizers wishing there had been more time to accommodate the many questions and reflections from the audience.
The session opened with a contextual introduction by Dr.Abhinandan Saikia of TISS, who framed the documentary within the broader global debate on resource scarcity and environmental sustainability. He reminded the students that humanity today faces an unprecedented dilemma: the demand for development continues to grow, yet the planet’s resources remain finite.
In that context, he explained, the documentary invites viewers to imagine a scenario similar to that faced by astronauts in space – a situation where survival depends on the careful management of limited resources. Such a perspective encourages individuals to rethink innovation, not as an exercise in technological extravagance, but as a creative response to constraints.
The documentary explores the philosophy of frugality and frugal innovation, a concept that seeks to “do more with less.” Unlike conventional innovation models, which often rely on expensive technologies and abundant resources, frugal innovation focuses on simple, affordable, and context-specific solutions designed to address real-world challenges.
The event itself was largely made possible througha collaborative initiative of all three organizations and was mobilized by Padmaza Talukdar, research scholar at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and executive member of the Mahabahu Climate Forum, who played the central role in conceptualizing and organizing the programme. Having been engaged in scholarship on frugality studies as part of her doctoral research and recently returned from the International Centre for Frugal Innovation in the Netherlands, where she was exposed to latest discussions and research on frugal innovation, she envisioned bringing the documentary to audiences in Northeast India. Motivated by the relevance of its message for this region, she took the initiative to organize the screening and hoped to spread the documentary’s ideas more widely among students, researchers, and practitioners.
Moderating the discussion that followed the screening, she encouraged students to critically examine how society perceives technology. Too often, she noted, technological progress is associated with highly sophisticated and expensive systems. However, in a world facing climate emergencies and widening inequalities, sustainable solutions must often emerge from local knowledge and practical ingenuity.
She explained that frugal innovation emerges from the idea of frugality itself – the ability to achieve meaningful results with limited resources. In South Asia, this approach is often reflected in the widely known concept of jugaad, a form of creative improvisation that allows individuals and communities to solve problems using whatever resources are available. While the term jugaad sometimes carries negative connotations of makeshift or temporary solutions, the discussion highlighted its positive dimension as a form of grassroots creativity and resilience.
Adding another dimension to the conversation, climate activist RiturajPhukan of the Mahabahu Climate Forum reflected on the broader implications of sustainability and climate action. Drawing from his years of engagement with environmental advocacy, he observed that the fight against climate change is not simply about saving the planet. The planet, he remarked, will continue to exist in one form or another; the real challenge is ensuring that humanity itself has a viable future.
He emphasized that every individual has a stake in this future. Responsible consumption, mindful innovation, and respect for natural limits are not abstract ideals but practical necessities for the survival of future generations.
During the interaction, Anjan Sarma, President of the Mahabahu Climate Forum and Editor of Mahabahu, briefly introduced the work and vision of the organization. He explained that the Mahabahu Climate Forum has been actively engaged in promoting climate awareness, environmental research, and public dialogue in Assam and the wider Northeast region. Reflecting on the documentary, he noted that its message resonates strongly with the realities of regions like the Brahmaputra Valley, where communities have historically learned to live with nature’s uncertainties through adaptation, ingenuity, and restraint. He observed that the philosophy of frugal innovation is not new to many indigenous and rural societies of the region, which have long practiced sustainable ways of living out of necessity as well as cultural wisdom.
The event also featured national and international academics and experts associated with the development of the documentary, who joined the session online. Among them was Peter Knorringa, Director of the International Centre for Frugal Innovation. Reflecting on the documentary and the discussion, he noted that many communities across the Global South have long practiced forms of frugal innovation without necessarily using that terminology. Local farmers, artisans, and communities often devise ingenious solutions to everyday challenges using limited resources. These grassroots innovations, he suggested, represent a valuable reservoir of knowledge that mainstream development discourse frequently overlooks.
Similarly, Saradindu Bhaduri, founder coordinator of the Transdisciplinary Research Cluster on frugality Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University emphasized that frugal innovation is not confined to rural contexts or informal practices. It can emerge in universities, research laboratories, community spaces, and industries alike. What matters most is the ability to understand the local context in which a problem arises and to design solutions that respond directly to that reality.
The interaction session soon became the most dynamic part of the event, as students began sharing their own reflections and experiences. One student observed that effective frugal innovation often requires deep knowledge of the surrounding environment and local culture. Without such contextual understanding, even the most sophisticated technological solutions may fail.
Examples from the northeastern region of India enriched the discussion further. Students pointed out that many indigenous communities in Assam have long developed adaptive strategies to live with natural challenges such as flooding. Houses built on raised platforms by communities living along the banks of the Brahmaputra River were cited as a striking example of locally evolved innovation.Such structures allow families to continue their daily lives even during seasonal floods, demonstrating how traditional knowledge and environmental awareness can create resilient solutions.
Another participant raised an important question: in a world where population and consumption are rapidly increasing, how realistic is it to expect societies to slow down and adopt more restrained patterns of resource use?
The experts acknowledged the complexity of this challenge. They argued that the goal of frugal innovation is not necessarily to scale every solution to a global level, but to develop technologies and practices that remain appropriate to specific contexts. In many cases, small-scale local innovations may prove more sustainable and effective than large-scale technological interventions.
As the conversation drew to a close, participants reflected on the deeper message of the documentary: sustainability is not merely a technological issue but also a question of mindset. Societies must move beyond the culture of excessive consumption and rediscover values of balance, responsibility, and creativity.
Educational institutions, the speakers noted, have a crucial role to play in nurturing this transformation. By exposing students to new ideas and encouraging critical thinking about development and sustainability, universities can help cultivate the next generation of innovators and change-makers.
By the end of the programme, it was clear that the documentary had done more than simply introduce a concept. It had opened a window into a different way of thinking about innovation – one where creativity grows not from abundance, but from necessity, awareness, and respect for the limits of our shared planet.
The overwhelming response from the students made the event both inspiring and impactful. For many who attended, the message was clear: in a rapidly changing world facing ecological and social uncertainties, the future may depend not on having more resources, but on learning how to use less – wisely, creatively, and responsibly.
Mahabahu.com is an Online Magazine with collection of premium Assamese and English articles and posts with cultural base and modern thinking. You can send your articles to editor@mahabahu.com / editor@mahabahoo.com (For Assamese article, Unicode font is necessary) Images from different sources.
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