Stay grounded and spend more time in nature.
Stay grounded and spend more time in nature.
An educator and an environment activist, Sudha Pancholi is working as an Assistant Professor at Vision Group of Colleges in Chittorgarh. She specializes in Botany and is responsible for teaching and mentoring B.Sc.-B.Ed students through various activities and programs. She always makes an extra effort to connect the students to nature.
Born and brought up in Chittorgarh, Sudha completed her graduation from Maharana Pratap Government PG College, Chittorgarh. She was greatly inspired by her guru, who is also a psychologist and spiritual healer, which motivated her to pursue botany as her field of study and career. Her healer and spiritual guru conveyed to her that nature is a powerful source of healing and growth. This inspired Sudha to incorporate nature into her teaching methods, believing that it could enhance the learning experience of the students and foster a deeper connection with them.
Sharing one of her difficult experiences, Sudha says once she was suffering from a chronic eye disease, and during her treatment, when her doctor put some drops of medicine in her eyes, for a few hours she was not able to see clearly. This made her realize the presence of a soothing breeze and the sound of birds chirping outside her window. She found solace in nature and started feeling a connection with it.
Remembering her childhood, Sudha says she had a wonderful childhood filled with beautiful memories. Since her childhood, she has had a soft corner for nature, trees, birds, and animals. She often spends time watching nature.
A devoted nature lover, Sudha gifted 10,000 plants at her sister's wedding, fostering a culture of sustainability. Her campaigns and tree-planting initiatives have garnered attention worldwide, making her an influential figure in environment activism. One of her famous tree campaigns is "April Phool," where she encourages people to plant trees during the month of April.
Also, during the monsoon season, she actively promotes the slogan "Mujhe zameen se jod do, baki sab mujh par chod do," which translates to "Connect me with the earth, and leave everything else to me." This powerful campaign is one of her proudest achievements. Through her campaigns and initiatives, she continues to inspire people not only from India but also from Germany, South Africa, and many other countries.
Drawing a comparison between education and experience, Sudha says that though both are equally important, it is experience that is an education in itself. She adds that it is your experience that gives you lessons to learn in life. “Experience is the biggest teacher”, she believes.
Encouraging people to reconnect with nature, Sudha believes that fostering a deep connection with the natural world promotes environmental understanding. She urges the youth to stay grounded, spend time in nature, and collectively work towards sustainable solutions.