🌾 From Silicon Dreams to Soil-Rooted Purpose
I never imagined I’d live in a remote village of Bihar—especially not the one my family left behind three generations ago. For 35 years, I never stayed there for more than a day. Like many in the IT sector, I dreamt of settling abroad, in a clean, planned, and less populated society. My aspirations were global, my career urban, and my life was moving steadily toward the polished corridors of corporate success.
But destiny had other plans.
🦠 The Pandemic That Rewired My Soul
When the pandemic struck, the world paused. For me, it was more than a disruption—it was a divine intervention. In that stillness, a thought emerged, uninvited yet powerful: What if I returned to my roots? I can’t explain it logically. It felt like a message from the Almighty, a calling I couldn’t ignore.
I had no land demarcated, no house to return to. It took a full year to trace my family’s property records and another year to construct a modest home. My mother and close relatives were skeptical. Some assumed I had lost my job and was retreating in defeat. I had to show them my system access and ID card to prove I was still working full-time in IT.
🏡 A Foreigner in My Own Land
When I arrived, villagers saw me as an outsider—almost like a foreigner who had come to claim something. But slowly, the bond began to form. My grandparents’ names carried weight, and that legacy helped bridge the gap. I enrolled as a voter in Bihar for the first time. I got my first electricity connection in my name. Every small milestone felt monumental—like rediscovering life after a two-generation gap.
👨🏫 From Corporate Cubicles to Village Classrooms
I began inviting children from the village to learn science and hear stories from the corporate world. Many came, though some hesitated, fearing I might charge fees. I reassured them: this was about sharing, not selling. Slowly, trust grew.
I started participating in local festivals, celebrations, and even mourning rituals. These moments were unlike anything I’d experienced in city life. Here, people are deeply connected. They feel your joy, your pain, and they stand by you—without agenda.
🌱 Reconnecting with Nature, Rebuilding Purpose
As I spent more time in the village, I found myself connecting not just with people, but with the soil, the trees, the rhythm of rural life. My purpose began to shift. My emotions deepened. I wasn’t just breathing—I was living.
That’s when I founded Piplad Welfare Foundation.
Our mission is simple yet profound: to serve the community through education, healthcare, environmental stewardship, agriculture, and anything else that touches life in rural India. It’s not charity—it’s responsibility.
💻 Balancing Two Worlds
My IT job continues, with mounting pressure to return to Hyderabad. Ironically, the city I once longed for now feels distant. I’ve transitioned from a city lover to a village believer. Here, I feel whole.
I don’t know what destiny holds next. But I know I’m on the right path.
❤️ Gratitude and Transformation
I owe immense gratitude to my life partner, who stood by me through every decision. It wasn’t easy—especially for someone who didn’t share the same emotional pull toward village life. Yet, out of respect for my priorities, she embraced the journey. Together, we’ve even transitioned from a seven-day non-vegetarian lifestyle to vegetarianism—another quiet but meaningful shift.
🌟 Final Thoughts
This journey—from dreaming of skyscrapers to building a foundation in the soil—isn’t just mine. It’s a reminder that purpose often lies where we least expect it. The village didn’t just change my address—it changed my soul.
If you feel the stirrings of a deeper calling, listen. Sometimes, the most powerful revolutions begin with a return.
