The cynical product

My grand father happens to be a researcher. As a person he's your typical science guy. Cynical, witty, absent minded at times and you'll always catch him talking to himself. At his bed side, you'll find spare transformer parts, batteries, wires and yeah a motor at times! didn't have much of an education. One of those lucky guys who always knew what they wanted to do. A natural with circuits and anything to do with electronics.

Last summer he designed an electronic stethoscope and gave me a prototype. It was special for me.The sound intensity was three times that of a normal stethoscope, Could be connected to headphones,earphones or even speakers for a whole class of medical students to listen and learn.It made great market sense too. The cost we agreed on was 70% less than that of american electronic stethoscopes which were being sold in India.He asked me to try and market it. Apart from writing that was the first thing ever that got me really excited.I jumped on it. Met doctors,medical students,Interns, made a few visits to purchase departments.But things didn't really work out.

I ask myself time and again if i gave it my best shot. The answer is a dismal no. apart from that there were a few other problems with the product. According to doctors it failed to measure some crucial heart beats .It was better for use as a respiratory stethoscope rather than a cardio device and It had to be charged every now and then which really was a pain.The biggest problem of them all, The small company where my grandfather worked as a researcher didn't have enough capital to manufacture the product even if we did manage to get an order!

I left it then and there. The stethoscope is locked in my grand fathers cupboard but it crosses my mind time and again.Can i still sell it? I occasionally ask him this question and he always gives me the same cynical reply " rehne de,yahan sab bekaar hain,is desh ka kuch nahi ho sakta" But i'm an optimist. always will be.