This illustrates the characteristically Indian trait of mindless hero worship. Our media has a tendency to blow such things out of proportion, even if it's immediately apparent to anyone even slightly technically competent that they are definitely not original, or as revolutionary as they are claimed to be.
More examples:
Recent coverage (in one of India's largest newspapers): http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Guwahati-te...
Thoroughly debunked: http://technofaq.org/posts/2014/02/unmasked-afreed-islam-rev...
or
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/enterprise-it/securi... ("Hacks")
The point is not to invent shoes to charge mobile phones. But to do something to break out opportunity famine, difficult economic situations and social inertia that prevents progress by doing things like this.
Like you mentioned 'Indian Crowd'. Bulk of the 'Indian Crowd' on forums like these probably don't even have the same scenarios or circumstances in life to understand why stuff like this matters to the other people to whom it matters.
Now bollywood movies on the other hand........
India has considerably more impressive achievements to be proud of.
>> I fail to see how this is "mindless hero worship"
Of course it is. Some kid does something entirely ordinary (and probably realises that is the case), and the media treats it like the next big thing and calls him a prodigy. (For examples, look at the links I posted.)
>> rather than a means to push India into the spotlight for their 15 minutes of fame, granted the story makes international headlines.
Better unknown than famous like this.
How is it dubious, or how is it dubious as "usual"? He is a student in 12th grade, he tried to make sth and then he dreams to make sth more, sth better. Maybe he will fail or maybe he'll succeed but what is dubious here?
Good on him for attacking a problem, and for having the wherewithal to attempt more advanced prototypes.
What?
But i would rather find solution or imlement solution why power is getting cut even famous places ulike Chennai/Bangalore on regular basis. I know one reason which poor labor work.
Also, I would like the title of the article to be changed. IMO, whatever achieved, according to the article, is not an invention. It is just another usage of a dynamo.
This achievement is largely forgettable to our population, but when Indians read this they feel a sense of pride for their fellow people's achievements. I think the Indian media is just exploiting this Indian trait to get more views.