Darjeeling, India. December 2021. After leaving school, Abishek Pradhan was looking for a regular career, a regular job and a regular life as an electrical engineer in West Bengal. He grew up in the shadow of the Himalayas, and on clear day was lucky enough to see the blue hills, and even the the majestic Mt. Kanchenjunga – but also the burning landfill of Darjeeling in the distance. He looked, considered both things and carried on studying his reference books.

Following Pradhan’s early years and schooling in Darjeeling and Sikkim, both in far northern India, he took a three year diploma course at Darjeeling Polytechnic Institute, then got a job in the industry. But something was nagging at him, something maybe to do with those mountains - and that landfill.

“I wanted to go for a quick job after (my diploma),” he explains. But the world of work wasn’t what he was looking for. “I completed a three year Diploma and got a rookie position. But had to let go of it - it felt so unlively. I hated the work culture if I have to be honest.”

Abishek knew deep down his true calling was to help protect the planet, not to simply go along with existing, unsustainable ways of doing things. “I have been a vegetarian and minimalist since childhood,” he explains. ”I knew that we were hurting nature and that it was hurting us, and that it’s all linked to our consumption patterns and our desires. But back then I didn’t know of the word sustainability.”

All that changed when coronavirus hit, and India was driven into lockdown with the curtailment of ‘normal’ work patterns. “I took a certificate course in Sustainable Development during the first lockdown. That’s where I first had a clear cut idea about sustainability. It was an interesting course and got me introduced to the concepts of overshoot, sustainability and the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs),” he explains.

As a result of his involvement with the course, he was prompted to sign up for the Zero Waste Himalaya (ZWH) cleanup. It was a turning point.

“I felt that I was a part of something. I think it (was) one of the most transformative phases till now; I got shortlisted for the Zero Waste Peer Educator sessions from ZWH as part of a four month long program on the various aspects of the waste crisis.” That was, he says, “ … when I started my own zero waste journey.” He also started voicing his advocacy for Sustainable Development with more zeal. 

“I think (and it's a very personal opinion, I may be completely wrong) that most people don't think about sustainability as much as we should,” he says. “… but we are living in the decade of action against climate change, the future is at stake, everyday and with every action we are making a choice between a joyous future and dystopia.”

He is confident however that over time, people like himself who care about the environment will be able to explain the situation to those that are not yet convinced.

“Maybe 20% of people are totally indifferent about (the situation) but the rest will care if we continuously throw … information at them in ways they can't ignore. They will be interested in, will understand and will try to do something about it at their level,” he says. “I want to help people think about sustainability as they think about elections, or New Year's Eve.”

As part of this aim, he is now working with ZWH across a range of projects – an opportunity to both help spread the word on sustainability, and to gain more experience. This, he notes, puts him in the best of situations as “it is very hard to find good opportunities in our region but right now – but I'm working (with ZWH) and that supports me quite fine.”

He is also studying again, this time pursuing a distance learning graduate course in Botany and Geography. “In school I loved to study environmental science, and I love spending time in the wild and observing nature because I find our planet and the cosmos very very fascinating,” he explains.

He is certainly in the right place for that. As he notes, he was fortunate to be born “in the lap of nature in a small rural area in the vastness of the Himalaya.” This has allowed him the opportunity to stay away from the urban centres in what he calls ‘the peaceful ambience’ of the mountains. But he recognises even they may be under threat. “The Indian Himalayan Region needs special attention. Most of the (government) policies in India are drafted looking at the geographical, social and ecological features of its mainland alluvial plains,” he says.

Although he is modest about the work he has done, and the achievements so far – several ZWH events, the The Himalayan Cleanup from Home, the Zero Waste Darjeeling Hill Marathon and representing the region at the Indian Himalayan Youth Summit – he says there is still plenty to do, and learn.

“I like listening to wise people. I like to learn from everyone; inspiring teachers, social workers, spiritual leaders and many common people with a compassionate and … universal way of life. Many people have taught me many things and continue to inspire me, I'm just utterly grateful towards them,” he says.

Abishek looks set to carry on inspiring others too; as he says, his job now involves engaging with NGOs and CSOs working on social upliftment, conservation, community engagement and more. He admits he would like to touch the sea one day, but hasn’t set a date for that.

“I’d like to work in a coastal city to touch the ocean; I’ve never done that!”

“But (my work here) gives me a soothing sense of relief in my chest whenever we conduct a good Zero Waste event and it's (successfully) over.”