A man is said to be a product of his times. If we explore further into this saying, then we infer that the “times” I am referring to here constitute of a variety of influences that shape the thought process of man. These influences include the values of the society in which he lives, the economic class, the cultural context in which he was brought up and, of course, the sort of education he received. These shaping factors define the moral fabric in which he conducts himself. The reason I am exploring into this is because these are the same influences that ultimately shape the physical space around man, which in a collective sense constitutes the city. As an environmental planner, I am interested in this web of influences that shape the character of man and, consequently, the city. In this context, I feel that now is the time to reflect and dissect my own nature so that I can infer what influences have shaped my whole persona and how I relate to the city that has shaped me.

Having lived the last twenty two years of my life in the city of Ahmedabad, I have seen it evolve; for cities are living creatures like men, they too have a character and soul that seem to have changed dramatically in these last two decades of my existence here. Ahmedabad has expanded, the city has become prosperous and the people are livelier than ever. Looking at it from a planner’s point of view, the city has witnessed novel ideas such as the creation of a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and river front development. These two projects are just a few of many examples that the present civic administration has undertaken. To give mobility to the common man and to give him space for recreation revitalizes the city, giving it the character it strongly needs to develop. On the other hand, problems have also multiplied. Ground water depletion and provision of basic amenities to the people have become huge challenges for civic administration.

Returning to the idea of introspection, I would like to recall the journey I made professionally after graduating from the Faculty of Planning and Public Policy in 2007. I joined Gujarat Urban Development Mission as an Assistant Manager, working first on the novel concept of “Nirmal Gujarat” that aims to provide a clean environment to the people living in the State. Directly reporting to the Mission Director, I was responsible for coordinating the activities of various Government departments in their efforts to clean up their respective departments and led measures to achieve the objectives of the “Nirmal Gujarat” mission. After that I was given charge of IHSDP, Integrated Housing and Slum Development Program, an initiative under the JnNURM, a nationwide mission for urban renewal in select cities of India. Having worked on these two important projects, I discovered how Government functions, how the Government makes decisions, how funds are disbursed and utilized, how the State government coordinates with local urban bodies and what problems occur at the grass roots. Working in the Government for two and a half years was a great lesson for me.  Despite the lack of skilled manpower, I learnt how to manage people and how to handle work pressure.

After my stint in the urban development department, I joined ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) Delhi office, an international NGO working on environmental issues around the world. In this position I was responsible for the SLB (Service Level Benchmarking Project). This Ministry of Urban Development project develops service level benchmarks for services like water supply, sewerage, storm water drainage and solid waste management. I did data collection for the cities of Bokaro in Jharkhand and Surat in Gujarat. Both the cities were poles apart: Bokaro a steel city in eastern Indiaand Surat a dynamic commercial hub in the fast developing state of Gujarat. Once again, the lack of skilled manpower in Bokaro city hindered its planned development. While in the city of Surat, I observed that the city managers were proactive and totally devoted to its development. The only things the urban managers of Surat required were technical expertise and a vision to implement.

After ICLEI, I moved back to Gujarat and joined TARU Leading Edge in Gandhinagar. Working there mainly in the capacity of a technical writer, I was involved in the ACCRN (Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network) project where I was exposed to the threat of climate change in the Indian context. I learned a lot of climate change concepts and theories ranging from sea level rise to temperature changes. This helped me develop my perspective about the solutions cities are creating to counter the threat of climate change. Then I moved to Kadam Environmental Consultants based in the city of Vadodara. Here I did the work of Building EIA and processed environmental clearances for various projects based in Delhi. Learning how an environmental impact assessment is completed and the sort of environmental law framework that exists for development of various kinds of projects in India enriched my knowledge and helped me broaden my horizons.

In addition, I  worked as a senior content writer for Ganeshaspeaks.com. Before shifting my career path so dramatically, I thought over the change carefully and was strongly influenced by the need to devote more time to my first passion, writing. I was also attracted to this vocation by the chance of working in the education sector during my stint in Dharti Infotech Private Limited. This career gives me immense satisfaction working on something I am passionate about, gives me a chance to work under able hands to polish my writing skills and gives vent to my creativity. Being an engineer planner, I have experienced various influences that have shaped me into who I am today. From the hustle and bustle of a construction site to the sedentary job of a content writer, I have seen it all. I have gained valuable experience and knowledge working in such diverse fields and I am still learning.

Now I want to be associated with your esteemed organization as a freelance content writer and I hope to contribute to various subjects being assigned to me. I would like to have an experience of working with you which would help my further evolution as a writer and would enhance my skills, giving a new dimension to my experience in the writing field. I would like to explore further, gaining new exposure in the course and enrich myself as well as the articles I write for you. I hope you give me a chance to prove my worth so that we can both benefit in this creative exchange.