Few days back, I addressed a group of 60 energetic and curious MBA students from the Government Post Graduate College in Dharamshala. The discussion delved into crucial topics for career preparation.
The discussion revolved around proper time management and balancing academic responsibilities with extracurricular activities and internships. Drawing from my field experience, I emphasised the critical role of internships in providing practical knowledge and real-world exposure.
We also delved into how students can take charge of their own careers. This included setting clear goals, actively seeking opportunities that align with their aspirations, and taking the initiative to transform career dreams into reality.
Strong communication skills were also a key focus, as they act as a bridge between understanding employer expectations and delivering exactly what they need.
The positive response was encouraging as 21 students expressed interest in joining us for internships. We have already hired our first intern from the MBA department, marking the beginning of a fruitful relationship with the college.
Would like to thank Dr. Naresh Sharma, Dr. Meghna Sood, and Ms. Ankita Sood, for their support in organising this session. Looking forward to continuing our support for Dharamshala’s talented youth!
Recently, I had the pleasure of being invited by the Entrepreneurship Cell at NIT Hamirpur.
The E-Cell, a student-run non-profit, pulled off a stellar three-day event from April 5th to 7th, named E-Summit 2024. During the event, I had the privilege of judging startup pitches.
We had around 15 teams pitching their startup ideas. It was inspiring to see the enthusiasm of these budding entrepreneurs, even if some ideas were still in their early stages.
A few ideas really caught our eye. Like this one app tailored for chess enthusiasts, allowing players to analyse their game moves right from their mobile device. Genius, especially considering the cost of digital chess boards! Then there was the bio-reactor concept, using algae to produce oxygen from carbon dioxide. It was about innovation with a green twist!
And then there was this foot pressure measurement idea, offering personalised solutions for knee and leg issues. A game-changer for athletes and beyond.
The campus itself was stunning, and my stay at the guest house was pleasant and the students were cordial.
Unfortunately, time flew by, and I missed out on meeting some other faculty members but I did have the chance to connect with entrepreneurs like Ankush Barjata, Iti Rawat, Devyant Bhardwaj, and Utkarsh from Mumbai.
All in all, it was a refreshing break from the routine, filled with promising ideas and warm hospitality. Until next time, NIT Hamirpur!
Himachal Pradesh is going through its driest winter in over 100 years, beating records from 1901. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) says we’re facing a massive 99.7% drop in January rainfall, way more than the 1996 record of 99.6%.
The typically snow-covered mountains and valleys have transformed into barren grasslands. Beyond the aesthetics, the absence of rain and snowfall is presenting serious challenges for the state’s agriculture, tourism, and water resources.
Apple growers, in particular, are facing the consequences, as the essential moisture provided by winter precipitation is absent. The effects of this weather anomaly are expected to stretch into the summer months, potentially leading to a drought-like situation.
Tourist spots like Manali, Dharamshala, and Shimla are losing their snowy appeal, and winter sports lovers are having a disappointing season without those snow-covered slopes.
Amidst these challenges, the state’s water resources are also under threat. The scarcity of winter rainfall raises concerns about water availability in the upcoming summer months, exacerbating the existing strain on water supplies.
But here’s a historical twist: Similar dry conditions happened back in 1901 and 1996. Now, as we connect the dots and attribute this to global warming, it makes me wonder, what was the cause back then, over 100 years ago? If anyone holds insights or knowledge about the historical backdrop, don’t hesitate to drop your thoughts below! Let’s unravel this historical puzzle together.
This was first published on my personal Instagram page.
🎙️Spoke on All India Radio’s Janvani phone in program this morning, delving into the world of artificial intelligence. A unique experience, ticking off a bucket list item! 📻
🌐 The radio’s nostalgic charm and wide reach struck a chord. Surprised to get a caller from as far as Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. The discussions centered around AI’s impacts and the need for a regulatory framework.
🤖 As someone in the tech realm, I firmly believe we can’t rewind technological progress. Instead, we must focus on education and awareness to navigate the AI landscape. Let’s empower people to discern between authentic and fake content.
📚 Advocating for large-scale programs, especially in schools, to equip both the young and the elderly with the skills needed to embrace the AI era wisely.
This was first published on my personal Instagram page.
Last month, I attended the Himalayan Startup Trek 2023, organised by The Catalyst at IIT Mandi, an event focused on encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, especially in Himachal Pradesh. I’ve been actively involved with Catalyst in various roles, such as selecting and mentoring startups.
This year’s event was a landmark, with over 500 startup applications competing for cash prizes. I had the honour of being a jury member for the “Build for the Himalayas” track, where we evaluated around 20 startups. Eventually, we recognised three exceptional startups with cash prizes for their innovative ideas.
What stood out were the startups I encountered during the event. They offered a wide range of innovations, from eco-friendly initiatives to D2C brands promoting Himalayan recipes. For instance, one startup was working on sustainable solutions using hemp plastics, while another, located in Siachen, promoted Ladakhi cuisine directly to consumers, helping local entrepreneurship. We also discovered a simple yet impactful product created by a Kashmiri entrepreneur from Anantnag, designed to aid apple tree growth, showcasing the practicality and creativity promoted by this event.
Catalyst is now considered one of India’s top incubators, providing essential mentorship covering various aspects, from technology and finances to business strategies and investor connections. Interactions with stakeholders, experts, investors, faculty members, and students provided valuable insights and connections, further enhancing the experience.
Reconnecting with old regular friends at HST led to meaningful conversations and exchanging valuable insights and ideas. Overall, the Himalayan Startup Trek is a significant platform for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Himalayan region, emphasising connections and supporting promising startups.
This was first published on my personal Instagram page.
Adipurush received a lot of negative reviews and criticism, but my experience with the film was quite different. Last weekend, I was looking for a kids-friendly film for my kids when Adipurush came to mind. My elder son, on the other hand, had already been influenced by the prevalent hatred surrounding the film. The film received negative reviews on social media, the news, and newspapers. Dialogues, Lord Ram’s portrayal, Lanka’s dark colours instead of gold, and Hanuman ji’s portrayal were all criticised.
Though we had our doubts, my family and I ultimately decided to give Adipurush a shot. Instead of going along with the prevalent opinion, we decided to approach it with an open mind. As we settled down to watch the film on OTT, we had a delightful surprise. Adipurush proved to be an engrossing and entertaining film experience.
I was especially amazed by how my kids, who had watched Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana on TV during the Covid lockdown, became absorbed in the film. The music fascinated them, and their questions about the characters led to lively conversations. Having one’s interest ignited in the tale and its characters is in my opinion, the film’s primary goal.
Adipurush, I believe, was created particularly for a younger audience rather than adults. It bridges the gap between the generations by presenting our age-old myths and legends in a modern, relatable language.
This year’s monsoon season hit Himachal Pradesh hard, leaving a trail of devastation in our beloved state. Destroyed homes, washed-out roads, and tragic loss of life have marred our picturesque mountains and natural beauty. This crisis forces us to rethink our approach to development, safety, and the immense power of nature.
In urban areas like Shimla, things are complicated. Overpopulation and unchecked construction have made us vulnerable to disasters. We must reconsider our development strategies and prioritise safety.
Structural engineering is crucial. Properly assessing a building’s load-bearing capacity is essential for safety. Holding individuals and organisations accountable for safety lapses is necessary.
Policy-wise, the legalisation of illegal structures through fines sets a dangerous precedent. We need to rethink these policies and encourage rule compliance.
The shortage of manpower in government departments leads to inadequate oversight, not just in Shimla but across the state.
New townships must be planned responsibly, considering safety and sustainability. The example of New Shimla, with just one entry/exit road, is concerning.
It’s not just cities; rural areas also suffer from landslides and devastation. This raises questions about larger issues like climate change. For many, mountains have always seemed invincible, but recent events remind us of nature’s power. We’re small and vulnerable in the face of natural forces.
As the season changes, we must not forget those who lost everything. It’s time for accountability and positive change. Together, we can create a safer, more sustainable Himachal Pradesh. The Aapda Raahat Kosh 2023 is here to assist in the recovery efforts after the devastating monsoon rains.
I urge everyone to join hands and support the victims as they try to rebuild their lives.
This was first published on my personal Instagram page.
Recently, I had the joy of attending the long-awaited Summer Festival, now known as the Kangra Valley Karnival, in Dharamshala. After the challenges of the pandemic, the atmosphere was delightful, and this time, the talent level surprised us, featuring both local gems and popular stars!
But what truly stole the show was the mesmerising performance by the Indian Ocean Band. Their soul-stirring mix of modern and classical music left the audience in awe. With every note they played, meaningful lyrics evoked a wave of emotions and wonderful memories.
The Indian Ocean Band, famous for their special mix of modern and classical music, was a big deal during my college days. I cherish the unforgettable memory of sitting down with them when they visited IRMA campus for a performance.
Over the years, the band has seen some members leave and new people join. However their music continues to be enduring, captivating audiences with soul-stirring music that bridges the old and the new.
Here is my recommendation for those who haven’t listened to their songs. Go check out “Ma rewa tharo paani nirmal” on Youtube/ Spotify.
This was first published on my personal Instagram page.
Recently, during my visit to Bir with a few friends, we found ourselves captivated by the awe-inspiring para-gliding site of Billing. As we watched the paragliders gracefully soar into the sunset, our eyes wandered towards the nearby pastoral land, where sheep grazed peacefully. Intrigued by the scenic beauty, we decided to hike towards a higher spot offering a better view of the magnificent Dhauladhar mountain ranges behind.
Upon reaching the vantage point, we discovered a quaint bench to rest upon. The sky was full of Paragliders, the last bunch taking off for that day as dusk began to settle, casting a warm glow over the landscape. Then, an old man, a shepherd, appeared before us. He wore a coat and a traditional Pahari topi, and his face bore the signs of life under the sun. With a warm smile, he initiated the conversation, asking us where we were from. One of my friends, Amit, replied, “We are from Dharamshala.” The old man responded, stating that we had travelled from a far-off place.
The shepherd delved further. “What do you do?” he asked. Amit replied, “I am in the army.” The Shephard astutely remarked, “You must be a Subedar by now.” Amit corrected him, stating that he held the rank of Colonel. The old man’s eyes widened, realizing that Amit had a significant post as an officer. The Shephard continued the conversation, asking about Amit’s posting location. Amit mentioned being stationed in Assam, to which Chatru Ram Ji exclaimed, “Ah, they have tea gardens there. I hear they are much larger than the ones in Bir.”
Intrigued by this shepherd’s knowledge of faraway lands, I took the opportunity to engage him in conversation. I inquired about his name, to which he humbly responded, “I am Chatru Ram.” I then asked him about his age, and with a playful smile, he suggested that I subtract two from eighty. He was 78, and he affirmed with a warm expression. Eager to learn more, I asked him about his travels. As a shepherd, he had traversed the entire Himachal region, parts of Punjab, and the bordering areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan with his flock of sheep. Travelling and herding were his way of life.
Perplexed by his extensive knowledge of Assam, I questioned Chatru Ram Ji’s source of information. He replied, “Wherever I go, I meet new people and engage in conversations. It is through these interactions that I learn.” This struck a chord within me—learning does not solely occur within the confines of classrooms; it is omnipresent, awaiting discovery through everyday experiences. Chatru Ram Ji, with his weathered face and innocent eyes, became a living testament to this profound life lesson.
Curiosity still burning, I inquired about the size of his flock. With a sense of pride, Chatru Ram Ji revealed that he owned approximately 300 sheep. Astonished, my friend Amit couldn’t resist asking about their market value. Chatru Ram Ji calmly replied, “Around Rs. 15,000 each.” Quick mental calculations revealed that his flock was worth a staggering Rs. 45 lakhs.
However, as we bid farewell to Chatru Ram Ji and began our journey back to Bir, we couldn’t help but acknowledge that the richness of his knowledge and warm-hearted nature made him a truly wealthy man.
Reflecting upon our encounter with Chatru Ram Ji, we couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the depth of wisdom we had unexpectedly encountered in a chance meeting. This humble shepherd, who roamed the forests and valleys, possessed a wealth far more significant than material possessions—knowledge and a genuine, kind spirit.
Chatru Ram Ji left an indelible impression on us, reminding us that learning is an ever-present opportunity waiting to be embraced in the most unexpected places.
I remember that day in the winter of 2011 when a truck carrying our belongings reached Dharamshala. It was the end of January, that time of the year when days are short. It’s a long way from Shimla to Dharamshala, and it was dark by the time we started unloading the truck. Thankfully, it was not raining – quite unlikely for a place like Dharamshala where it rains almost every other day.
For me, a long journey had come to an end – a journey which had started thirteen years back and had taken me to various parts of India for education and work. Along this journey, I have made many friends, acquaintances and gathered wonderful experiences. However, there was always this thought in the back of my mind that one day, the circle will be complete and I will be back in my hometown.
While my old journey was now complete, here I was – embarking on a brand new one. Unlike the previous one, where the path was clearly laid out, this one was full of uncertainties. It required me to chart my own course from scratch. Thankfully, I had a partner with me – my wife Shilpa. Even though she had lived all her life in a city, she supported the idea of following an entrepreneurial path in the mountains.
View of Dhauladhar mountains from NIFT Kangra campus.
GreenKrafts – Experiment with a Bamboo Handicrafts Venture
The first idea that we dabbled in was a bamboo handicraft venture. The Kangra region in Himachal Pradesh has an abundant supply of high-quality bamboo, cane and natural fibers. However, creating items that earned an attractive premium required highly skilled workers. To bridge the skill gap, we set up workshops for local artisans and hired design professionals and trainers.
But mobilizing the local workforce turned out to be a challenge. Even after several months, our workshops were largely empty. We also realized that to succeed in this market, we would need to have a deep pocket to invest generously in marketing and branding – clearly not something we could afford at that stage.
This way, the first year of our stay in Dharamshala went by, without much financial success coming our way. However, we refused to give up. We truly believed that better days were ahead of us, and as they say – where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Master artisans at Greenkrafts workshop.
Origami workshop with Jagori team.
Tea light holders with a motif of Kangra paintings.
Collaboration with Srijan
Around the beginning of the 2012, I reconnected with an old friend, Rahul Dewan. Rahul is a technology enthusiast and a passionate entrepreneur spearheading Srijan Technologies, a thriving IT firm in New Delhi.
Though I didn’t have a background in tech, Rahul and I seemed to connect and began to toy with the idea of setting up a software development centre in Dharamshala. The idea of delivering IT from the mountains (where even basic internet connectivity was a challenge) seemed like an exciting prospect, especially since this was happening way back in 2012.
Simultaneously, we also began to look for a senior IT Lead who would spearhead the tech side of things. As luck would have it, I chanced upon Krishnan, an IT veteran with over two decades of experience. An avid mountaineer, he had moved here from Bangalore to live in the mountains. All three of us felt the synergy brewing between us. One thing led to another, and we soon set up a partnership.
In the initial days, Srijan Technologies provided us with clients as well as 4 Engineers from their team in New Delhi. Within three years, we grew the business and employed a team of 20+ Engineers. Most of them were local hires, who were brought in as interns and groomed them to become world class engineers. While we didn’t clock the kind of exponential growth that is typically sought-after in IT, we fared well considering the lack of talent and resources in a Tier III hill-town like Dharamshala.
Meanwhile, like me, Shilpa too made a small breakthrough in her career. Her newfound job as a faculty member at a local institute was somewhat engaging, if not financially rewarding. She soon became the institute’s administrator. It helped her to cope with loneliness as well, since friends and socializing were still largely absent from our lives.
In hindsight, those years were a crucial stepping stone for us. By dabbling in these initiatives, we were building a community of like-minded professionals along the way. We were also getting a pulse of the place and the people, which came in handy later on.
First office space in Dharamshala.
Evangelising technology in the community. One of the many such camps we have been organising.
Student outreach – Introducing them to the careers of the the future.
Having tasted success with Srijan, I was eager to channelize myself in more avenues by joining hands with local organizations and initiatives. Somehow I was not able to find that space in Srijan. After several conversations with the firm’s leadership, I decided to step back from the engagement in mid of 2014. This time, Shilpa and I decided to come together as co-founders instead.
Earlier, Shilpa and I had not considered becoming partners in any professional initiative. This was largely because we didn’t want to bring work to our home. But here in Dharamshala, senior workforce with leadership qualities are hard to come by. Bridging this capability gap required us to join hands.
Our first business opportunity came when Vishal Sood, a close friend of mine, offered us business to setup a chat support team. Slowly over the years, we have built expertise in field of web development and digital marketing. We now offer product development and staffing services in IT.
Currently, we are offering IT services to clients in the U.S., Ireland, Australia, and India. In 2018, we setup a firm in the US to offer IT services. The firm was started with a Scott Allen, an American friend who lives in Dharamshala. The US firm started acquiring customers in early 2018. We have been successful in rolling out an enterprise-grade product in the VOIP domain over the last 3 years. Couple of months back we started a dealership with a large US telecom company, which took almost a year and half to formalise.
The second business we took forward was Vayudoot, an internet service. With this our vision was to bring high-speed, low-cost, and uninterrupted Internet connectivity to remote areas. In Dec 2015 we got a license to run Internet Services from Department of Telecom. Initially, we procured Internet bandwidth from upstream telecom operators and distributed it to the last mile network. In 2019, we partnered with BSNL, a government run utility to provide high speed internet over fiber.
Today, from powering schools and financial institutions in remote areas to facilitating e-governance in villages, Vayudoot has grown steadily despite the challenges in the Telecom industry. Our fiber network is spread over a radius of 40 KM. My furthest customer is a bank branch which has no other ways of communication. An hydel power project depends on our network to send real time data about power generation to its HQ.
In these Covid times, while employees of many businesses are working remotely, the Internet services team has always been on the ground. Many colleagues contracted COVID, yet nobody left the post. Everybody realises that the Internet is an essential service today – especially so when we are extending coverage to hospitals and vaccination centres. Supporting people working from home or students taking classes.
How internet works? The science and physics behind it. Exposure visit for school kids.
Search for internet. A colleague from Vayudoot team, locating signal on roof top at a distant village.
The pandemic turned out to be a major stumbling block for the surge in growth that we were aiming at. Acquiring B2B clients in the tech space requires spending significant face-time. Many of the networking events that I had attended in India and abroad in the past had translated into a real business. But this option got closed after the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
By God’s grace, the technology-services sector is not among the worst affected by COVID-19. We are immensely grateful to have retained all our clients through these tough times, along with a few new projects coming to us along the way. Some of our clients have been working with us for the past 7 years.
YoastCon 2019 in Netherlands.
Entrepreneur of the year award from Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
Baby’s day out.
Team dinner. Missing all this amidst the Covid pandemic.
Movie night. Uri it was.
Speaking at the Global Investors Summit held in Dharamshala.
Beyond Work and Business – Co-developing the Community
With all the ups and downs at the work front, our hearts have always been set on being enablers and change agents for the community around us. We are fortunate to have been able to manifest this in various ways.
Kangra Arts Promotion Society
One of the earliest community initiatives that we worked on was the Kangra Arts Promotion Society (KAPS). The society was setup by Mr B K Agarwal, a senior IAS officer and Dr Akshai Runchal.
KAPS is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the local artwork of the greater Kangra region in Himachal Pradesh. This is achieved through galleries and exhibitions as well as commissioned work. Over the last few years, we have worked with the KAPS team to improve the model by introducing high-quality training workshops for next generation of artists.
Our focus has been to ensure that the paintings retain the unique local flavour but are also of top-notch quality that gains acceptance in domestic and export markets. We have further pushed for a change in the compensation model for artists so that along with earning a fixed income, they are able to charge a higher premium as well on their art pieces.
Exhibition hosted by KAPS, inaugurated by Ms Poornina Chauhan, Secretary, LAC Himachal Govt and Ms Ritu Sarin, Director at Dharamashala International Film Festival.
Speaking at an event about Kangra paintings at Rakh resort.
Monu, our master artist at the gallery in Mcleodgunj.
Kangra paintings gallery in Mcleodgunj, Dharamshala.
Kangra paintings exhibition inaugurated by the then governor Smt Urmila Singh.
Kangra Paintings exhibition inaugurated by Mr Sudhir Sharma, then minister for Urban Development, Himachal Pradesh.
Workshop of Geographical Indicators. KAPS was successful in registering Kangra Paintings with GI registry.
Dharamshala International Film Festival
Another initiative that I have been volunteering for since long, is the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF). Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam – who are filmmakers and longtime residents of Dharamshala – had come to our office back in 2012 with the idea of giving the Himachali community a taste of alternative world cinema. Their idea instantly resonated with us and since then, there has been no looking back.
Today, DIFF is one of India’s leading independent film festivals that draw in celebrities from the film ecosystem in India and beyond. Our association has grown from strength to strength over the years. My team and I contribute voluntarily during the festival.
A makeshift movie theatre at DIFF 2019. This is at TCV ground in Naddi.
Opening ceremony of DIFF.
Huge fan moment. With Manoj Vajpayee, chief guest at DIFF 2019.
Global Shapers Community
When the World Economic Forum reached out to me to help set up the Dharamshala Chapter of their Global Shapers initiative, it was like a dream come true. The Global Shapers Community is a network of young people driving dialogue, action and change. For me, this was an excellent opportunity to enable and empower the change-makers of today and tomorrow.
I have been helping Global Shapers to identify local youth and foster leadership skills to prepare them for contributing to public good and welfare services. It has been a great experience through and through. It helped me to connect with the younger generation and form lasting friendships with like-minded people.
Cyber Security workshop with senior citizens.
Distributing warm clothing to students as part of Warm Up campaign.
Cleaning drive near Indrunag with Dhauladhar Cleaners
Warm campaign at Surya Uday foundation running a school for Specially Abled children.
Global Shapers – Annual Curators Meetings at Geneva.
Catalyst – IIT Mandi Tech Incubator
As a technology business incubator started in 2016, Catalyst has emerged as one of the leading incubators in Himachal Pradesh and in the Himalayan region within merely 5 years of its existence. It is also among the more active incubators in the country. Through the visionary leadership provided by IIT Mandi, Catalyst has created a startup-friendly support system to ensure that the ideas of tomorrow don’t die. I have been associated with it as a member of the Board of Governors. Meeting budding entrepreneurs and listening to their stories, helps me to remain motivated and to keep moving on this journey.
Workshop on system driven approach to new startups being incubated at Catalyst.
Moderating a panel discussion.
NIFT – Kangra
Sometime in 2018, I got a call from NIFT Kangra to take up a course in Personality Development. Someone close had recommended my name. Initially, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take up a teaching position. However, I was keen on getting this experience as well. Somehow I felt this was an opportunity to not just teach but to learn.
First batch of students at NIFT Kangra
Overcoming Challenges: The Best View Comes After the Hardest Climb
All of this is not to say that life here has been a bed of roses. If anything, it has been the opposite.
At a time when people were flocking to the cities where opportunities, technology, and networking thrive, we had decided to go backwards. A missing entrepreneurial ecosystem, a sub-par workforce, and the sheer lack of opportunities in Dharamshala made our journey particularly difficult. We had to pave the way for things to happen and take shape – often one brick at a time.
In the early years, for example, we invested significantly in training the local youth only to be disappointed time and again. Dharamshala is not perceived to be an IT hub, and fades in comparison to Bangalore or New Delhi. We had to compensate for it by doubling down on our marketing efforts and keeping our operations lean. We consciously avoided taking the typical startup route of securing funding. Instead, we bootstrapped our way through the journey. This slowed our growth to some extent. But then again, not having investors breathing down on our neck has been a blessing during the pandemic year. In addition, we don’t have any business debt so that’s an added bonus as well.
Our biggest challenge continues to be sales. The second biggest challenge is finding the right people. While we are able to hire people at junior levels. We haven’t been able to find senior talent, especially for the consulting business. If you or someone in your network is looking for IT services, please do connect with me.
The ISP business has seen huge changes. The big telecom companies are fighting a price war, therefore the margins have squeezed a lot.
Despite this, what makes me proud still is that we have managed to create employment in this area and beyond in the tech domain. We have survived this journey with support from our friends and well-wishers. The road ahead is not easy. However, we will continue to move forward. After all, the best view comes after the hardest climb, and we have miles to go before we sleep.
