Zoho Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu urged India to invest in grassroots engineering and hands-on manufacturing after visiting the workshop of Japanese electric motor designer Morihiro Saito. Vembu said the visit highlighted how decades of practical expertise drive innovation outside large corporate research centres, noting that Saito continues developing advanced motor designs into his eighties. Vembu argued that Japan's manufacturing strength is rooted in a culture valuing technical mastery and lifelong learning. He called for India to encourage neighbourhood workshops where young engineers, artisans and entrepreneurs can build, test and improve products, and to revive the Tamil word *pattarai*, which represents a place of learning through making and repairing. Vembu added that manufacturing competitiveness cannot rely solely on large factories or advanced technology, and that building a strong base of skilled makers locally is essential for India's long-term industrial capabilities.