In any discussion about climate change, renewable energy usually tops the list. One of the 17 goals that have been outlined by the United Nations for Sustainable Development is “Renewable and Green Energy”. Today, when the entire world is facing the harsh reality of climate change and energy scarcity, some bright, young minds are striving to make a difference. “We all are youth, we all are millennials, we are all capable of bringing a change.” says the 25-year-old mountaineer, Harshvardhan Joshi, aiming to go completely solar-fueled in his journey to conquer the highest peak on the Earth next year.
Unearthing of interest with expeditions
Beginning his mountaineering career in 2016, Harshvardhan has climbed 6 mountains of 6000 meters and above, Stok Kangri being one of them. Remembering old days, Harsh says that he always loved the greenery around him and was committed to reducing the pollution. It wasn’t just one particular spontaneous event that made him shift his track, but a long process that unfolded over the years. Having done his first hike at the age of fifteen, Harsh was not content with his college life being wasted in chasing materialistic things. He wanted to re-shape his life in his own way.
“I didn’t know exactly that the things I related to and felt for, were called sustainable goals.”, says the young man who is planning to inspire thousands through his journey to Mt. Everest. It was a friend’s picture on Facebook in the midst of beautiful mountains that gave Mr. Joshi the direction he was looking for, and he began to travel solo. Harshvardhan used to do his own research in terms of catering and residential services. As the internet and GPS services were not reliable back then, he used to carry offline maps to facilitate his journey. It was this research, planning and the efforts he put in, which later made him realize that travelling was his forte. What began as an urge to backpack and travel, ultimately took the shape of a profession.
Leaving behind a bright career in engineering just being directed by the love for travelling wasn’t that easy. Describing his circumstances, Harsh says, “I am still facing the difficulties, I am still in the process.”
Cancelling the plan of MBA meant seeing all his friends and acquaintances getting those dream jobs that he himself had aspired for. But he was chasing something bigger than that, something that had a greater meaning in this universe. “I wanted to do it mostly for learning. After spending so much time in the Himalayas, I was clear that I would not be able to do a 9 to 5 desk job.” says the man who had spent most of his time in his final year of engineering in the foothills of the mountains.
The fact that Mr. Joshi had started earning from the mere age of 15 by assembling computers made him relatively financially independent. “Age is just a number.”, says the person who used to self-finance all his trips. Today Harshvardhan Joshi is a professional mountaineer and is inspiring thousands. He says that if the carbon dioxide amount counted by a person in two months can be equivalent to planting one or two trees, his aim is to motivate that person to do the same. He goes on to elaborate that if people make better sustainable choices in their home, in 10 years it would be equivalent to planting a small forest. Such is the impact of consciously taken green energy favoring decisions and he is trying his best to turn it into a reality.
“I am enjoying the consistent training.”, says Harsh.
After utilizing his quarantine period in successfully undergoing the self-organized Ironman Triathlon, the Vasai based hillman is currently preparing for his biggest goal of acing Mt. Everest. Talking about his SANGHARSH MISSION, Mr. Joshi admits that he always had Mt. Everest in his mind, even before he had become a professional. He is already done with his courses, the technical skills and the experience required for the ultimate feat. The climb was scheduled for this year but, due to the pandemic, with all expeditions to Mt. Everest being cancelled, it has been postponed for the next year.
With a slight laugh, the mountain man says, “Nowadays everyone asks me about my current location, whether I am in Ladakh or Nepal or Kashmir?” But very few of his admirers are aware of the fact that he is focusing on his scientific endurance training around Mumbai since past one year and has not even spent more than 24 hours at a stretch outside his home. Even his Ironman Triathlon had been organized to boost up his endurance. It also served the purpose of doing an activity that would keep him and his well-wishers motivated in the tough times.
Solar Energy and Sustainable Development:
Mr. Joshi has planned to make his climb completely solar-fueled in order to raise awareness about sustainable development. Solar energy is the most abundant renewable energy source in the world. It refers to technologies that convert the sun’s heat or light to another form of energy for use. As it doesn’t release any greenhouse gasses it’s safe and environment friendly. Except for needing a source of clean water to function, it uses absolutely no other resources and is very useful for the mountaineers to power their devices on the climb.
Talking about his incentive to support the idea of solar energy, he says, “I wanted to take up a cause to support for which I really feel for and relate to.” Harsh clearly admits that he believes in “Impact tourism”: going to a place not just to boost it up economically but also to make it better sustainably. He is aware of the fact that the cause needs the attention of the general media to bring benefits at the ground level. He has planned to carry solar panels with him on his climb to power up his devices. The aim is not just to reduce his own carbon footprint, as that would be a negligible amount if compared to the one generated by the vast population on earth, but the ultimate goal is to inspire people.
If a mountaineer can go and climb the highest mountain peak on earth with his devices being completely fueled by solar energy, why couldn’t normal people do it. If he can do it in one of the most difficult terrains, everyone can do it. People can bring meaningful changes in our world at a large level by making sustainable choices that would be beneficial in the long run. Being an ardent nature lover, he says that he always had the thought in his mind that someday he would do something big for nature.
“Travel is the best teacher.”, says the wanderlust who has learnt some of the best lessons of his life through it. “While fundraising and preparing for Everest, I am learning more than I would have learnt at my dream college.”
Supporting his cause Harsh says that he owns and invests in only those things that are important for his travel. As he spends a major portion of his life outside home, he has no use of the materialistic luxuries that everyone wants to possess. This is another wise choice that he has made in order to support his cause of renewable resources.
Message for the Youth:
“Never let money stop you.”
This one sentence is strong enough to be a statement in itself. Harsh strongly believes that the youngsters should chase the dreams that make them genuinely happy.
“Happiness is not related to money. Money is important but life is much better in simplest terms. The best things in life are free.”, says the high-spirited man.
Admitting the Indian reality, he advises people to travel and learn, but be financially smart so as not to be a burden for their parents. He believes in encouraging the millennials to figure out their own path, to learn the skills of adjustment and communication. Having an open mind and positive attitude has the capability to take one on the zenith of success. Emphasizing on the importance of education, he says, “I did complete my engineering in those four years; although there is a lot of room for improvement in our system, education should not be taken for granted.” Truly emphasizing on progress and growth which should be the ultimate goal in life, Harsh concludes by saying,
“When you reach the summit of a mountain, you realize that there is a higher one somewhere else and you would go to it and thus you start working towards it.”
