Breaking barriers and defying odds, a school dropout woman has innovated and transformed the traditional ‘Samovar’ typically used by Kashmiri households to boil tea, using electricity and LPG as fuel, aside from coal.
The innovation simplifies the preparation of Kashmiri ‘Noon Chai’ (salt tea), making it easier, faster and cleaner, while preserving its traditional cultural importance.
Hailing from the Chek-i-Badwani village of Qazigund in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Shazia Jan, 30, said she studied up to Class 12 but had to stop due to her family’s financial difficulties.
Shazia said, “A few years ago, I got the idea to improve the Samovar. It is an important part of our culture and we use it a lot at home. One day, when guests came and our gas ran out, we tried making tea with the Samovar, but it was slow. That got me thinking why not make a Samovar that can use different types of energy.”
Shazia then upgraded the ‘Samovar’ by adding a curved gas burner and adjusting the regulator for small gas cylinders. She said her father played a crucial role in fine-tuning the idea and together they revamped its burner. Faced with the unavailability of transformation materials in the market, they improvised using household items, crafting a prototype that proved to be a resounding success.
“This new Kashmiri gas Samovar functions like the traditional one but reduces the labour of handling coal and shortens tea preparation time significantly. It can serve 25 cups in just 10 to 15 minutes compared to the traditional 40-45 minutes, saving both time and effort without creating ash,” she explained. “The extra heat, which was wasted in the traditional samovar, can now be utilised for cooking.”
After introducing the gas-powered Samovar, Shazia didn’t stop innovating. “I have also developed an electric version of the Samovar which has a timer for swift tea preparation. It prioritises user safety by preventing over-boiling,” she said.
Shazia has received many awards for her innovations, including recognition at a festival of the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. She has now established her own startup, and there is growing demand for her Samovars.
Shazia has appealed to the government to support her in further developing her startup, which could also generate employment opportunities. “Women have the potential, within the framework of Islamic teachings, to start their own businesses and contribute to transforming society,” she said.
