From weaver to engineer: Meet the Telangana man whose invention won him a Padma Shri!

Chintakindi Malleshwam's journey shows how hardship and perseverance can win you recognition and national honour.

"This is it. I never thought that a simple man like me would get such an honour," says Chintakindi Mallesham, as he shows off a medal with the words 'Padma Shri', India's fourth highest civilian award.

43-year-old Mallesham's journey has been one of hardship and perseverance, which has now gained him recognition and fame, besides a national honour.

A weaver by profession, Mallesham invented the patented Laxmi Asu Machine, which processes yarn, and has managed to reduce the time taken to weave a Pochampally sari to an hour-and-a-half, from about six hours when done manually. Read more