14 years ago, I moved to Dharamshala.
A peaceful place, away from the chaos of cities. But even here, I saw something that needed to change.
Every year, hundreds of students join MCA, BCA, or B Tech programs in the colleges around Dharamshala. Most of them come from agricultural backgrounds, small towns, or villages. Sincere — but unaware of what the real world of tech work looks like.
They’ve never seen a startup. Never spoken to a professional. And yet, one day, they’ll be expected to work in Mohali, Delhi, or maybe even Bangalore.
So I started visiting these campuses. Talking to students. Listening to them. Telling them what life as a working professional really looks like.
No camera, no mic, no agenda. Just conversations. I’ve been doing this — quietly, informally — for 14 years.
But I wanted to do more. So we started a small initiative. Dharamshala.co
We pick students from local colleges. Mentor them for 6 to 9 months. Help them learn new skills, do small projects, work on real-world problems. Some of them even get internships and full-time jobs.
Last year, nearly 100 students came through our doors. Many of them are now working in Chandigarh, Delhi, and beyond.
It’s not massive. But it’s real. And it matters.
Because no matter how fast AI and tech evolve, the basics remain the same:
Respect time.
Find mentors.
Work hard.
Stay curious.
Keep learning.
If you’re a student, reach out. Write to us.
If you’re a professional, consider joining us as a mentor.
If you’re from a top college and want to give back — come teach, coach, share your story.
You’ll be surprised how much you learn when you start teaching.
We may be in a small town, but our dreams are big. And every student deserves a shot at flying.
Let’s help them fly.
(Earlier published on LinkedIn)
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From Observation to Action: Building Futures in a Quiet Town
