Affiliation with Prof Chetan Singh Solanki IITB, Solar Man of India, Solar Gandhi Ji.

Founder Energy Swaraj Foundation (ESF)

ENERGY SWARAJ YATRA - 2020 to 30

Why I have decided to leave home for more than a decade?

Prof Chetan Singh Solanki - IIT Mumbai (IITB) Founder - Energy Swaraj Foundation (ESF)

• Hello my dear well-wishers, I have been working in the field of solar energy for many years. I did my PhD in solar energy and joined IIT Bombay in 2004. So, about 16-17 years, I have been working there. Especially during 2018-19, several things happened. That was the time, when the IPCC report was released with the tittle "Global warming of 1.5°c". That was the time, when I have travelled across the world about 30 countries. Almost every corner on the planet, I strongly feel there is a need to promote the use of solar energy!

• There was 150th birth anniversary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi and as a result, I took what is called “Global Gandhi Solar Yatra” and and went around the world. We did very good celebration with one million students. We have trained on “Gandhi Jayanti”, how to make their solar lamp? We gave them a pledge for non-violence to environment.

• When all this happened, I look at the whole world, in one go; a kind of certain feelings held and I realise that this climate change is really a serious problem. And 1.5°c, we should really can do everything possible to limit the temperature. Also what I realise, when I travel across the world is that, the governments all over the world are exactly moving, in one direction; they are just focusing on economic growth, not really worry about the natural resources, water, air, health and other things. So, there was a unidirectional dimension of growth, which I have seen all over the world. And I felt that, the governments all across the world cannot solve the problem of climate change or their actions will not be sufficient; because they are elected for a period of 4 to 5 years is too short time, as well as allocation of resources also not sufficient.

• Therefore, I thought only government efforts will not be sufficient to start or resolve the problem of climate change, and that is where I started thinking, what should we do? What can I do as an individual and as a professor? Also what can I do as a researcher? “What can I do?” - During these discussions, many thoughts were also going on. I thought that, since it is the global problem, it is the problem of the entire world; not the problem of any one country! Therefore, whatever solution we are working on, it must have a global impact! If the impact is not global, whatever I am going to do, it will not be my contribution; it will be just a feel good factor.

• How? What to do? To make things global and make an impact, which is on global scale. So, it was very clear that, small efforts are not going to work and it is not enough, just to do research. It is not good enough to do a good project, a big project. It is not going to enough, to make a policy of one country. Truly, what is required is involvement of a public, at large. Everybody, who is the user of energy, should also be the part of solution in mitigating the climate change problem! He should be the solution provider, because use of energy itself is a problem. Therefore, I thought of doing something at that scale; it is very clear that, small actions here and there, small project policies are not going to be enough.

  What can I do? Again this question came to my mind with a noble thought of action oriented!

• What if, Gandhi Ji would have been here on this planet right now? What he would have done? And one of the things that struck me that, he would have started some kind of “Yatra”. He would have marched and done some fasting. That is this idea of yatra came into my mind. That I should do yatra or journey; and that journey cannot be for one year or two years. Why because, the problem that I wanted to solve with this journey through this yatra, is the problem of climate change. Therefore, the journey has to be of that much of intensity, has to be of that much length, which has to be with that much of effort, to make really a global impact on this climate change. And that is how, my whole idea started crystallizing.

• Ok; maybe I should do this yatra for a long time. When I sit on, I realised that this was 2020; I realised that year 2030 is also the sustainable development goal’s deadline. From 2020 to 2030 becomes 11 years. So, 11 years is a good number and its long time; it is also sustainable development goal’s target. And from all that perspective, I felt that my yatra should be for 11 years from now. And is really good time to try out everything you wanted to do, put everything that you want to put, and try your best to bring the change; that what you are looking for is “Mitigation of Climate Change”!

• So, how the whole idea of this kind, slowly came in and as started thinking more about the Yatra. I am very clear that, not only it should be 11 years long yatra; but also, it should be a continuous Yatra. It cannot be done in bits and pieces, which cannot be done when you want and when you don’t want. Another thing which struck in mind is that, the kind of intensity that is required, it has to be continuous and nonstop for 11 years. And that is where; I also thought in my mind that it should like “Vanavas”, you do available for whatever time you feel. So, I thought of taking that kind of vanavas for 11 years; not to go home, stay away from family, stay focus every Sunday, Saturday, morning, evening, for the month, every week, every year ... on just one problem, and how to solve the problem "CLIMATE CHANGE".

  
  

• That is how, whole idea of this ENERGY SWARAJ YATRA came; which started in 2020 and it will continue till 2030 with the support of all walks of life, who join hands with me to save only one planet, where we are living, to save the branch where we are taking shelter! Mera Bharat Mahaan!!

Source : youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDMFqjv3Ipo by Solar News & Knowledge.

Host Yatra

The purpose of Energy Swaraj Yatra is to bring awareness about energy use/misuse among masses and its correlation with climate change. The yatra also aims to bring measurable change in energy use patterns and encourage societies into actions on shifting towards 100% solar powered living. Everyone, who uses energy, and wants to contribute and bring change in energy and contribute in climate change mitigation can invite the yatra. Following groups/organisation can become host of the yatra:

Academic Institutions - like schools, colleges, universities, ITIs, etc. Industries - any industry, big or small, service or production, etc.

Society -clubs, groups of people (colonies), NGOs, etc.

Government or representatives - Politicians, ministers, bureaucrats, district govt. bodies, district administrators.

https://energyswaraj.org/Host-Yatra

Become Volunteer of Yatra

Volunteer With Us: Donate Your Passion And Dedication

Energy Swaraj Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation. We need thousands of volunteers to make an impact on keeping the planet a liveable space for future generations. What could be better than the contribution by your passion and dedication? You can volunteer with Energy Swaraj Yatra by hosting and organising Yatra. You will be required to be with the Energy Swaraj Yatra in the place chosen for volunteering.

https://energyswaraj.org/Become-Volunteer-of-Yatra

I wish many more of you will come forward and join as Energy Swaraj Soldiers / warriors to support Yatra as a Global Movement to protect Mother Earth.

Scientific Srinivas as a coordinator of Energy Swaraj Yatra 2020-2030

Me (Srinivas SG, Founder ScientificStudents.com) as a Solar Sishya of Shri Chetan Singh Solanki always follows sir’s thoughts and actions. Like right from conducting Solar Student Study lamp making workshops, reading sir’s authored books on solar energy, as a channel partner for Energy Literacy Drive, conducting online seminars and workshops about Why Go Solar and with inspiration of sir’s Solar trainings and workshops “Learn to design own solar home system” powered my workspace totally on Solar Power.

For more… www.ScientificStudents.com/solarlab.htmlUp above all these I have coordinated Sir’s Energy Swaraj Yatra 2020 -2030 at various states wherever I can through my contacts. I feel I am really blessed to be part of such global movement for such great need of the day.

more resources, recent happenings and latest updates can be observed from the website https://energyswaraj.org/