While I was growing up in India, nature was everywhere. I didn’t have to look for it. Additionally, my dog, Jespa (whom I wrote about in Stillborn), helped me stay connected to the natural world around us. In fact, he sparked my passion for wildlife conservation. When I was 12 years old, I joined the boy Scouts through my school St Vincents, and continued to volunteer as a Scout Master after. The Scouts continued to fuel my passion for nature, brought a variety of skills into my comfort zone including hiking, knots, fire-building, stargazing, and surviving in wild natural habitats.
When backpacking, I naturally gravitate towards exploring nature habitats around the world – forests, jungles, national parks, reserves, botanical gardens, you name it. My love and fascination for nature is also what motivated me to learn diving so that I could explore the other 70% of the world. Check out my instagram for some of this footage!
In these endeavours, my daily inspiration comes from nature itself. I’ve lived right next to Mont Royal for the last 7 years. In the summers, I spend most of my active alone time exploring its landscape. When I’m not outdoors, I bring the nature to me. I take care of about 30 houseplants in my home in Canada. Most of them are named after close friends who gave them to me. They keep me calm, guide my meditation, promote healing, remind me of the value of slowing down, and help me live in a perpetual rainforest.
Considering the accelerated pace at which nature has been dying, in the last few years, I’ve pivoted my career towards conservation and sustainability. My Ph.D. enabled me to figure out how to harvest solar energy using only light. My start-up, Stocate, is helping consumers buy sustainably. I’m also writing a book that explores how to find our own resonance by living sustainably.
The solarpunk movement believes that both society and nature can mutually support each other to flourish. To realize such a positive feedback loop, we need to innovate ways to improve how we treat our planet and its inhabitants. So, I’m conducting research, creating strategies, designing technologies, and building sustainable solutions. Imagine living in a circular economy with equal opportunity – where all forms of Life thrive and pollution is obsolete. If you’re interested in socio-economic, environmental, and technological development, I would love to hear from you!