Month: April 2025

Some days are made of unexpected calls and even more unexpected bonds.
A childhood friend rang me up out of nowhere — he was visiting Dharamshala after years. We decided to meet at the War Memorial, a place that was once our free hangout spot. Dharamshala’s changed — it’s busier, shinier, a little less wild — but some corners still whisper the past.

While we were walking and talking about how the city has grown up just like we did, we bumped into this little soul. A cat — curious, fearless, and strangely friendly. I joked that it looked like it understood humans a little too well. We kept walking, and it kept following, like it had chosen us for a bit of its journey.

We sat down, and without hesitation, it jumped up beside me — nudging, trusting, just being there. No walls, no fear — just a quiet little bond that formed without trying.
Maybe that’s all it ever takes — a little trust, a little surrender, and suddenly, you’re not strangers anymore.

After a while, we got up to leave. I said a quiet goodbye to the cat, wishing her well — hoping that somewhere down the road, either in this life or the next, our paths cross again.
I’ve lived in Dharamshala for years now — but days like these remind me, it still has a way of surprising you when you least expect it.

(Earlier published on Instagram)

#DharamshalaDiaries#SimpleJoys#MountainLife#cattales

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)

hashtag#Mentorship hashtag#Students hashtag#CareerDevelopment hashtag#TechForGood hashtag#GiveBack hashtag#Dharamshala hashtag#MCA hashtag#Education hashtag#AI hashtag#Careers hashtag#LearningByDoing