“Creative solutions and passionate ideas”
In the bustling world of social change and the buzzword of sustainability, individuals like Raghu, Founder of the Marpu Foundation, stand out as true ambassadors of sustainability. Like most of us, his journey began during college when he discovered his passion for creating meaningful change through Rubaroo. Reflecting on his journey, Raghu shares critical insights into tackling issues on sustainability and finding novel solutions.
The Beginnings: Finding Your Purpose
Raghu reminisces about his early days with Rubaroo as a college student with a zeal for change. He vividly recalls submitting the Changemaker – Changeloomer 2020 application to understand more about change-making and learn from the organization. Having cleared the interview, Raghu found a platform that resonated with his aspirations for social incubation and community-driven change. And this journey wasn’t free of challenges – but it set him up for bigger things, Raghu shares.
“I was in a phase where I wanted to do something during my undergraduate graduation. It was a blurry time, and joining Rubaroo was the best decision as I instantly got involved in activities. I’ve always been part of something – to build something. Hence, I’m currently travelling the journey to become something.”
Raghu immersed himself in several activities for his project and his fellow changemakers throughout the Changemaker fellowship. When asked where he draws inspiration, he takes us back to his childhood and the realization of becoming a responsible citizen from an early age.
“With my father in the army, I lived my childhood in cantonment areas, and that journey taught me how to be responsible and work towards preserving nature. I envision a world where everybody volunteers and participates in social activities, such as cleanliness drives and picking up trash. I’ve realized that sometimes, the methods we use for solving problems must change. The problem would have been solved if our methods had worked. But it hasn’t. And that’s why we need newer and better approaches.”
Nurtured through Nature
Raghu’s Baby Trees project was conceived after observing the difference in tree growth in forest areas and cities. He enquired with people to understand the reasoning but wanted more than the answers. However, his search ended as he observed hoardings and nails on the college trees. That led him to engage in extensive research to find the impact of iron nails on tree growth, and he found that it led to abnormal development and had detrimental effects on the tree. And that was his problem statement.
“Every week, we used to remove hoardings at different places and get people on board by spreading awareness. The sad part is that it’s still happening, and it’s a journey you go on to keep going. I’ve learned that there is no singular causality for problems; multiple factors are involved. For instance, I used to complain about the drainage system and blame the government for its condition. But then, I tried to understand the underlying issues, exposing me to various contributing factors. Thereby making me non-judgmental and seeing the bigger picture.”
The project addressed environmental concerns and showcased Raghu’s dedication to innovative solutions. From leading the Baby Trees project to becoming the founder of the Marpu Foundation, Raghu has had a long journey, which signifies his courage and resilience, enabling him to navigate challenges and be nurtured through nature.
The Journey within a Journey
“Through the fellowship, I gathered the courage to do something, apply the ideas, and see how it goes – to get the experience rather than worrying about the results. The small things, such as learning to be with your parents, matter greatly. As someone from the development sector, I’m doing something close to my heart, following my passion – and it’s giving me time to do more.”
While undergoing a journey of change within, Raghu faced challenges on the outside with a disconnection in the mentorship. In hindsight, he felt his hesitancy came in the way of seeking help. Once he realized it, there was no looking back. As Raghu remains steadfast in his commitment to creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable world, his journey inspires us to keep pushing ourselves and believe that change is possible.
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