Madan Jhanvi, Class of 2024, MSc in Industrial Chemistry
Madan Jhanvi grew up seeing how her grandfather and father scratched out their success in the world of chemicals. Recognising the potential of India’s nascent agricultural sector, her grandfather sought to harness his engineering knowledge to put his company in a competitive position different from the rest of the agricultural companies in India. His vision of making an impact on the agricultural sector was eventually manifested in HCM Agro Products Pvt Ltd in New Delhi, which continues to thrive in fertiliser and agro-based chemicals today.
“It’s amazing how they never had any proper chemical major background, and they learned everything through reading, books and all,” laughed Madan.
Her father and grandfather’s continued efforts in bringing HCM Agro Products to full flower created a snowball of legacy—one that Madan is determined to continue.
As Madan grew up, the epic figures in Madan’s life who built HCM Agro Product out of a tough era were not shadows that Madan lived under and kept her confined. They were her constant companion for inspiration and strength to bring the HCM Agro Products to its fullest potential, which followed her to Singapore, where she pursued her master’s degree studies.
She kept her face to the sunshine even as she encountered one of the most harrowing events that could happen to a foreigner.
“We were unfortunately scammed and had to squeeze in a hotel room doing our online lessons as the world was not entirely out of the woods from the pandemic yet. We were living in a hotel room for two months as it was hard to find rent then,” explained Madan.
Despite the fish-out-of-water experience, she knew she was in the right place.
“What attracted me most was the perfect combination of chemistry and engineering that allows me to further my knowledge in Chemistry yet apply the knowledge I acquire to my family business. I didn’t want to limit myself to just one aspect of Chemistry; I wanted to see how I could apply them in a real-world setting and push our family business to greater growth,” Madan shared.
To her pleasant surprise, she gleaned more than just the technical knowledge of Chemistry. She learned how to transform the knowledge into innovation and eventually real impact.
“What attracted me most was the perfect combination of chemistry and engineering that allows me to further my knowledge in Chemistry yet apply the knowledge I acquire to my family business. I didn’t want to limit myself to just one aspect of Chemistry; I wanted to see how I could apply them in a real-world setting and push our family business to greater growth,” Madan shared.“The one module that truly blew my mind was the Innovation and Technology module taught by Prof. Krubasik from TUM, where we learned to apply for our own patent to protect our invention or innovation. It was one of the most eye-opening experiences,” Madan said.
“The one module that truly blew my mind was the Innovation and Technology module taught by Prof. Krubasik from TUM, where we learned to apply for our own patent to protect our invention or innovation. It was one of the most eye-opening experiences,” Madan said.
“I don’t think any of the postgraduate chemistry programmes ever encompass such an enlightening experience touching on the business side. Within me, I always wanted to grow the business, so the knowledge on intellectual property comes in handy by providing a well-rounded learning experience across the science and technology ecosystem,” Madan elaborated.