Changing the World; One Step at a Time

Changing the World; One Step at a Time

Mahatma Gandhi rightly said, “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” But can we really?

Let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time, there lived a young boy in the Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Since he belonged to a farmer’s family, the resources were always scant but not the determination to rise above the situation. He always believed that hard work is the key to surpass all odds. So, he concentrated his entire focus on education and gave his best despite the challenging circumstances. He studied hard and toiled to clear the
prestigious IIT (AIEEE) exam and got admission into IIT Bombay for Chemical Engineering.

Things began to take a different curve since then. It was the dawning of a new era in his life but who knew that there were still some surprising stones waiting to be unturned!

After several years of burning the midnight lamp, he went on to complete his graduation as well as postgraduation from IIT Bombay.

Later, he went on to pursue doctoral work in chemical engineering with the prime focus on Air pollution from the Hongkong University of Science and Technology and post-doctorate in ‘Air Pollution and Climate Change’ from Carnegie Mellon University in USA.

Currently, he is an Associate Professor at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

He excelled in the academic world but the quest for life was unfulfilled. And that brought him back to his roots to start a movement that is set to change the world; one step at a time.

The man is none other than DR. RAVIKANT PATHAK, an academician, a philanthropist, and a changemaker.

Early Influences

Our life is an amalgamation of the people who have inspired us.

Raja Bharthari was the ruler of Ujjain who renounced his life even after eating the fruit of immortality. Despite having all the luxuries, he found peace and satisfaction in renunciation and going deep in his soul to search for his true self.

Inspired by Raja Bharthari from an age as early as 9 years, Dr Ravikant is committed to connect and work towards his deeper purpose in life beyond the materialistic world.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life at an extremely young age of 23 years. He was a one-man army in India’s freedom struggle during British rule. His fearlessness and extreme love for the nation left everyone in awe. He possessed no trace of fear or hesitation even when he was about to be hanged to death at just the age of 23 years.

Even though Shaheed Bhagat Singh lived a small life, his contribution to our free country is immense. The same inspired Dr Pathak to work towards contributing one’s life to the service of all.

Who is not inspired by Gandhiji? He fought a mammoth battle of freedom using the power of simple living and high thinking. While Dr Pathak was working at Carnegie Mellon University, USA, his thinking underwent a
paradigm shift. Influenced by Gandhiji, he went into a very strict self-restrained lifestyle to prepare himself to go back to his roots and serve the community. So, he finally packed his bags and returned to his home country to create an sustainable ecosystem and founded SKIC in the ravines of Betwa river in Bundelkhand, UP. The efforts to restore the country, one village at a time continues since then and forever.

Dr Pathak is committed to living a simple yet impactful life. His ideologies of living life are completely inspired by Gandhiji. He loves to write stories and poems on India’s culture. Also, he prefers to wear white clothes (a symbol of peace) and sleeps on the floor, which according to him, is a very satisfying feeling for oneself.

Change Initiatives
For a country like India, villages are the lifeline. If one has to uplift the country, it has to begin at the grass-root level.With that in mind, Dr Pathak started a few initiatives to do his bit to make this world a better place.

SEED (Sustainability Education Entrepreneurship and Development) Foundation to educate, empower, and enhance the quality of life of the underprivileged and provide them genuine economic development opportunities for self-reliance and sustainment.

With an ignited mindset and a broad vision, he began working on many initiatives within the SEED Foundation such as:

● Sustainability Innovation and Knowledge Center (SIKC) for Organic Farming
One of the major contributors to society is the farmers. So, to empower them about the latest cultivation techniques and practices, food-processing technologies, packaging, and connecting with the e-retailers, the Sustainability Innovation and Knowledge Center (SIKC) is constantly working in a cluster of villages. The major motive is to promote organic farming and bridge the gap between farm to fork.

● Bharat Uday Gurukul for a value-based education system
Bharat Uday Gurukulhas been established in Ruri Para (Hamirpur-UP) to promote value-based learning by inspiring Gurus in a natural environment. Such teachings would help evolve the overall thinking ability of the students thus,building a better community. Ambitious plans to setup similar wisdom based learning centres across multiple locations are on the cards.

● Personalized training for the social workers
The underprivileged communities require the right mentorship that can guide them on the way to self-sustainability. For the same purpose, the mentors are also trained in the right direction and environment to prepare them in guiding the underprivileged communities. They can lead the revolution by being the epitome of high morals and simple living.

● Creation of a Life-catering shelter within SIKC
For a self-motivated and self-sustained community, proper maintenance of health and overall lifestyle is a must. To promote a healthy lifestyle, a Life-catering shelter is also being created within SIKC to carry out several healthcare activities and render a helping hand to the old and dependant citizens.

Dr Pathak is currently serving in the Board of Directors of the SEED foundation for the same mission.

His vision of the future
With the heartiest support and volunteering from people all across, Dr Ravikant has envisioned touching the lives of millions. Dr Pathak wants to create a self-sustainable world by creating world class citizens with high moral integrity and self-esteem through making the learning interesting, stress free, and useful for their economic selfreliance. But no mission, no goal, can be achieved alone. If we have to change the world we live, we have to come together. The most powerful strength of a country is its citizens. Our society needs young, excited, dedicated, and visionary individuals who can relate to the existing problem and strive to abolish it. The more we are able to reach every corner of the country, the more it would help to lay a strong foundation of values and traditions and eventually eradicate the numerous problems plaguing the society. Come, let’s join hands and leave a better legacy for our children.

www.foundationseed.org