From Code to Community: Unlearning Success to Build Sneha Van | Ashok Deshmane | TEDxIIMRohtak

The speaker, an ordinary boy from a farmer family in a backward district of Maharashtra, shares his life journey and the inspiration behind his social work. Growing up in poverty, where his mother worked in fields for meager wages and his father sewed clothes, he understood that education was the only way to escape their circumstances and overcome societal discrimination. Despite the financial hardships, his parents instilled in him the passion to study and move forward. His early education was in a government school in his village until the seventh standard. For further schooling, he commuted to a neighboring village, often hanging onto or sitting on top of a Commander jeep because he could only afford a fraction of the bus fare. He completed his 10th standard with the guidance of good teachers who encouraged him to excel. For his 11th and 12th standards, he moved to the district level, working odd jobs in garages, on trucks, and even in hospitals to support himself, as the money his parents could send was insufficient for living expenses. He was the first in his family to complete a Master's in Computer Science. His parents were overjoyed when he secured a well-paying job as a software engineer in Pune in 2012. However, upon moving to a metro city, he observed a stark contrast: while people in his village struggled for basic education and livelihood, those in the city spent thousands in a single night. This realization sparked a profound shift in his perspective. He felt that his personal progress alone couldn't bring about societal change. He recognized that his education and success were due to the support he received from society at every stage, making it his social responsibility, not just service, to give back. He decided to support society by focusing on education, as it had transformed his own life. He believed that if basic needs remained unfulfilled after 75-80 years of independence, people should first judge themselves before judging the system. He chose to spread love and happiness rather than hate or judgment. He began by supporting 101 children monthly from his salary. The severe droughts between 2013 and 2015, which led to farmer suicides in his village, deeply affected him. He witnessed a young man of 30-35 years taking his own life and pondered the fate of the man's young child, who would lose parental protection and potentially fall into bad company. He realized that it was crucial to bring these children into the mainstream. Instead of blaming others, he decided to be the change he wished to see. This led to the establishment of Sneh Van, an initiative to provide education and a better future for children who lacked homes, education, and basic necessities. His parents, who had encouraged him to pursue a good job and earn money, initially questioned his decision to leave a lucrative career that could have easily fetched him a 50-60 lakh package. But he countered with the idea that it's better to light a lamp than curse the darkness. He explained that his education should serve society, not just his personal comfort. He rejected the notion of an education that only fills one's stomach and creates a comfort zone, emphasizing that true education benefits society. At 25, unmarried and without a girlfriend, he started Sneh Van with 20 children in two 10x10 rooms. He realized that once life's purpose is clear, material comforts lose their significance. His life's motive, which was once solely focused on getting a good job, now shifted. The suicide of his neighbor's friend made him realize the temporary nature of all materialistic pursuits and the importance of finding an eternal truth. He concluded that true peace comes from good deeds and living for others, rather than chasing money, power, or position. He continued working his night shift job for nine months, caring for the children during the day, and surviving on just three hours of sleep. This period, though exhausting, brought him a sense of peace that no financial package could offer. He realized that bringing about societal change requires personal transformation and the courage to challenge one's comfort zone and surroundings. Learning is easy, but unlearning old habits and embracing new, difficult ones is the greatest challenge. As thoughts of marriage arose, he decided to solidify his commitment to his passion before marrying. He wanted a peaceful sleep and to enjoy his work, living life on his own terms. He left his job before marriage, which initially led to a decline in marriage proposals. He then married Archana, who was 19 at the time and embraced his mission, becoming a mother figure to 20 children. Her sacrifice and dedication, preparing food for everyone in their small living space, exemplified the idea that living by an ideal requires a lifetime of commitment. Sneh Van gained recognition, receiving invitations from institutions like the University of Washington and features in publications like Yahoo and USA. Despite the accolades, he emphasized that one must do the work oneself, as yesterday's virtues don't suffice for today's challenges. A personal tragedy, his wife's miscarriage, coincided with a positive turning point: Dr. Ravindra Kulkarni donated two acres of land to Sneh Van. On this land, they built a school designed to encourage children to follow their passions and develop their inner qualities. The school operates without electricity, milk, water, or gas from external sources; children learn to produce these themselves. It boasts 17 different types of labs, a library of 15,000 books, and serves as a living and learning space for 70-80 children aged six to twenty. The core teaching there is to ignore societal judgments and pursue one's true calling. The speaker concludes by thanking everyone and reinforcing the message of following one's passion.