Appar Lakshmanan is not just a carpenter

Appar Lakshmanan just loves wood. Being a carpenter, he has probably no other option as well. But his passion for wood has encouraged him to try differently. Now he makes a car, a Bike, a Fan and what not with wood; and all are functioning effectively.

A carpenter from Moulivakkam near Chennai, Appar tells TSI about his inventions:

Being a carpenter, Appar's father used to make bullock carts. That is where from Appar got the inspiration. "I first made a bicycle completely with wood. People liked it. Next I made a bike in wood. It gave a mileage of 40-50 kilometers per liter of fuel. This encouraged me," he says.

Last week in the auto expo at Trade center at Nandamapakkam, Chennai, Appar participated with his wooden vehicles. His stall fetched the best Stall award in the EXPO apart from lot of publicity.

Lakshmanan is just passed seventh standard. With this little educational background, he has written Seven books about Carpentry. ''Now good carpenters are becoming less in number. Traditional carpenters don't make their children work in the same field. But in my case, though I send my children to School, I am now training 42 persons in carpentry," he says.

The car that was made by lakshmanan has everything wooden except Engine. He used Babool tree which can withstand heat and rain. But the production was rejected by government authorities as wood is not safe. "It costs me five lakh to make a wooden car. I have even made silencer with wood. Babool wood is very safe and long-lasting. Till now there is no problem. Wherever I go people will come see my car and they will take photos. It is very encouraging," says Lakshmanan. "Next I am going to make a Jeep in wood".

The Wooden lamp he designed has been already rewarded with a State award. He wants that the wooden car be plied in the ecological parks by the authorities.

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