Month: January 2011

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Want to move to the mountains? Lets talk!

I made a decision to work in the mountains when I was 18.  Since then have been trying to find some relevant work which could help me fulfill this dream.  Voice of Himachal, the non-profit which I helped setup in 2003  did help me in moving back with a purpose.

Now that I am here and have lived for more than 3 years high up in the mountains I look forward to networking with like minded people who share similar beliefs such as mine.

Over these years have gained some insights about living in the mountains and I hope to connect / network / team-up with people sharing the following traits:

  • You should be thoroughly bored of staying in cities like Delhi / Chandigarh / Bangalore / Pune / Mumbai / Chennai / Kolkata / Hyderabad.
  • Should be a nature lover and a greenie.
  • Should have love for the mountains, its ecology and people.
  • Willingness to walk in wilderness for long distances is a must. (To catch up with the team when not working).
  • Understands and values the importance of start-up/entrepreneurship/bootstrapping etc.
  • You are comfortable working from an office little larger than a car garage but with amazing views of mountains and river flowing by.
  • Once in a while be ready to cook meals for self and office colleagues.
  • Should be comfortable watching the latest flick on a pirated CD and not in a multiplex.
  • Seeking spirituality yet enough money to lead a comfortable and stress free life.
  • Looking forward to adapting to a slower pace of life and slow not because of traffic jams.
  • You should be ready to teach the skills honed over the years with the local community & freshers.
  • Willing to learn some life skills from the community in return.
  • Would like to spend Saturday evenings gazing at stars with family and friends.
  • Enjoy the bluest of the blue sky which is free of dust and pollution.
  • Sees the next one to two years as a journey and not the end in itself.

Well if you think you are so desperate that you would like to hitch the next bus/tempo or even bailgari up the serpentine roads then lets talks.  Maybe this helps you exercise a choice which you always wanted to.

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New year and new pursuits

With the beginning of 2011, life has come full circle for me. A journey which started in 1998 of growing out has moved to be of growing within. Back then I was a teenager raring to go out and explore new territories. Leaving behind high mountains and a doting family to find out what I wanted to be.

The journey has been long and eventful. In this period I did loose some loved ones and met some many more loving and affectionate people. No doubt that I can now claim of have friends sitting in every nook and corner of this world. Be it micro finance practitioner in Kenya to a techie in New york or a Doodhwala in AMUL.

Over the years I had dreamt of moving back to Himachal and so I did with a IL&FS in 2007. But it is only now that I have truly started exploring my real dreams of being an entrepreneur. Last few months have been quite exciting and at the same time have tested me as well. From managing HimVani.com,one of the largest read news portals about Himachal to hosting the toughest Mountain Biking Challenge in India and helping start GreenKrafts, a handicrafts based social venture near Dharamshala. Have tried my little bit of contributing to the society in a positive manner.

More recently have been involved with few like minded entrepreneurs to start an IT initiative in Himachal Pradesh. We have some interesting plans for up-skilling the youth in the region and hope to generate employment for many. In the process we probably will end up guiding few youngsters in setting up similar initiatives.

So the task is cut out in front of us and we shall use every second of this year working towards fulfilling our dreams.

Ending this piece on a rather selfish note, I seek your blessings, support and guidance throughout the year.

So wish us luck ! Bon Voyage !