KTU alumnus from Bangalore: when I saw snow, I felt like I was in heaven

Darshan Puttaswamy from Bangalore, India, who has graduated with a master’s in industrial engineering and management at KTU, proposed a business solution for producing linen fabric – he suggests blending flax and hemp fibres to increase longevity and reduce production costs.

Puttasawamy says he has always been interested in sustainability. As the clothing and fashion industry is considered one of the most polluting industries, in his master’s dissertation he chose to analyse materials such as hemp fibre and linen for his master’s thesis.

“In this work, I have fully investigated the properties of these materials, such as wear and tear. The results showed that despite the complexity and higher production costs associated with flax, it remains a material that is in demand and sustainable,” says the KTU alumnus from India.

Cooperation with Kaunas textile industries

According to him, hemp fibre, previously banned because of its hemp content, has returned to the textile industry. In his study, Puttasawamy assessed hemp’s wear resistance properties and compared it with that of flax.

In cooperation with Klasikinė tekstilė, a Kaunas textile industry company, materials were purchased, and a detailed end-use assessment was carried out.

“Our work has shown that hemp is more durable than flax. To increase the durability of flax, I carried out several tests during the final project, including blending flax with hemp fabric, finishing processes and enzymatic treatments. These measures improved the end-use properties of the linen, but hemp was still superior when it came to the durability of the fabrics,” recalls the KTU alumnus from India.

His research has revealed that hemp is a viable alternative to flax, especially in terms of ecological sustainability. The results were discussed with Klasikinė tekstilė, to which Puttasawamy proposed the use of treatments to increase the longevity of flax.

“These decisions are important because of the growing demand for environmentally friendly practices. In addition, the proposed solutions were not only effective, but also environmentally friendly and cost-effective, which is particularly relevant for the textile industry,” emphasises Darshan, KTU engineering alumnus.

First from his family to study abroad

Darshan has dreamt of studying abroad for a long time, but his first thought was not about Lithuania.

“Many people are attracted to countries like the US, the UK, Australia and Germany. I was no exception, but it was all down to financial means. Therefore, I started looking at other countries and universities. That’s when I came across Lithuania and KTU. After considering the advantages and disadvantages of the country and the university, I decided that the quality of education was the most important,” says Puttasawamy.

Darshan was the first in his family to study abroad. At first, his family was not ready to send him abroad, but he managed to convince them. Today, a KTU alumnus from India is already working as an HR specialist in a company in Vilnius.

“My academic journey has given me the skills to tackle tangible engineering challenges through challenge-based learning and hands-on experience,” the man emphasises.

When asked about his studies, the KTU graduate identifies MSc Industrial Engineering and Management’s distinctive features, such as challenge-based learning, a strong theoretical foundation and practical experience, providing a deep understanding of engineering principles.

“The collaborative projects, workshops and experiments through coursework not only introduced the complexity of the industry but also problem-solving skills that are essential for tackling real-world challenges. In addition, the study focused on industry trends and new technologies, so I was able to approach challenges with a forward-looking mindset,” says Puttasawamy.

A man of many talents – a professional dancer, industrial engineer and HR specialist

Darshan is a professional contemporary dancer, although he admits that he had to give up this hobby while studying at university. In his spare time, he also paints and draws. Coming from Bangalore, located in the southern part of India, he was surprised by the climate in Lithuania.

“I moved to Lithuania during the winter season, and I was so happy to see snowflakes that I felt like I was in heaven,” says Darshan, who has been living in Lithuania for almost three years now.

Puttasawamy started working in Lithuania in the first semester of his Master’s, and in the following two years, he successfully juggled his academic duties and his work.

He is now thinking about a PhD, as he plans to publish a scientific article based on his master’s dissertation in a Web of Science journal. This would allow him to strengthen his candidacy for a PhD.

Darshan plans to pursue his PhD without interrupting his current job, as he believes that both academic and professional careers are equally important.

When asked what he thinks of Lithuania now, he immediately admits that at first, he didn’t pay attention to the opportunities that students get here, although there are plenty of them.

“I thought it would be harder to find a job in Lithuania than, for example, in the UK or the US, but that didn’t turn out to be true. I have noticed that people here really appreciate the effort candidates put in. Lithuania is a great country and there are lots of opportunities for talented people,” says a KTU alumnus from India.

Thinking about a career that would let you fulfil your dreams? It all starts with the right studies! KTU offers KTU offers 25 bachelor’s and 29 master’s study programmes in English. Choose yours and apply by June 30.

11 Jun 2024