A Reunion with Mr. Justin at IIT's R2D2 Lab
After over of 21 years, my daughter and I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Justin Jesudas at his IIT Research Park office recently.
I’ve always wanted my children to meet this extraordinarily resilient and accomplished individual. Mr. Justin mentored me early in my life, inspiring me to challenge conventional thinking, cultivate rational thought, and foster creativity.
I first crossed paths with Mr. Justin back in 1998 when I was a member of the college National Cadet Corps (NCC) during my college days at St. Joseph’s College, Trichy. He was my senior in the NCC. As my senior in the NCC, we built a strong camaraderie that persists to this day. I still affectionately address him as “Senior.”
To reunite with Senior Justin, my daughter and I undertook a road trip from our hometown Cuddalore to his office at the IIT Research Park, Chennai.
Mr. Justin is currently leading the Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) Lab, the wing that is recognised for their innovative contributions to assistive device technologies.
After sharing updates about our personal lives, we turned our discussion to the transformative and impactful research undertaken under Mr. Justin’s guidance.
He shared their success in engineering a highly efficient assistive device, The Standing Wheelchair, Arise. Through innovation, they’ve managed to reduce both the weight and the cost of this device in comparison to similar international market offerings.
By adopting a user-centric Design Thinking approach, the teams collaborate closely with a diverse array of stakeholders. This ensures the involvement of not only the end-users but also the manufacturers and marketing strategists.
As someone who lives with ADHD, I’ve always held a deep regard for diversity and inclusion. I believe it’s crucial to foster an environment of support and understanding, challenging the unconscious biases often overlooked by the majority. We explored these themes, the nuances between equity and equality, and the journey of parenthood.
My cousin, Immanuel Jabez, an IoT professional who accompanied us, was delighted to meet Senior Justin. He had numerous questions about IoT devices, machine learning, and data utility to advance assistive devices. Mr. Justin enthusiastically outlined the lab’s future plans and iterative innovation process.
Speaking with Mr. Justin imbues one with a surge of positivity, motivation, and confidence—we certainly got our share.
Reflecting on our visit that evening, my daughter recollected Mr. Justin’s thought-provoking conversations on topics such as equity and equality. She was particularly impressed by the team’s innovative assistive device, noting its practical design that eliminates the need for electricity.
Senior, thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to meet with us. We look forward to our next reunion.