 Hello and welcome everyone to another chat with Entrepreneur India. I am Kavya Pillai and with me is someone who would like to introduce himself So, Namaste everyone and thank you for having me here my name is Aakash Rani Singh and In very simplest possible way. I'm a happy guy. You're a happy person. That's it That's my introduction cause anything which makes me happy and do not cause cause any harm to anyone else I do it. So it's making me feel happy travel. I travel. It's making me feel happy being a documentary filmmaker I do it. It's making me happy working for climate change for nature. I'm doing it art and solution I'm doing it writing. I'm doing it So I can do anything in everything but putting so many tags is really confusing out there to understand me hence I'm just simply a happy guy. All right So, but when we do look you up, there are terms like climate enthusiast and environmentalist So, what could you say which one are we going with? So see there was this quotation Jack of all master of none. It's a old quotation. The new quotation is Jack of all master of one. Okay, right? So for me that master of one thing can be climate change and I'm Jack of all I do everything and everything anything possible on the ground I just try and do it whenever I feel like not that I have to do it every day But then I've made a table by myself. So I'm a carpenter as well Or I may I produce music sometimes as well. So I'm a music producer as well, but nobody knows out there, right? I just do it because I feel like nobody knew that I made a table as well But then people do know that I'm a photographer or I'm a traveler. So yeah Interesting all right with that Could you tell me your journey on social media because you're known prominently on social media So I just want to know how did that happen? so Unknowingly because of my mom my mom is this person who always wants me to do everything like in alignment proper Like for example shoes yankyur ake sayi jagya pe rako. So this started as a childhood But unknowingly this became a part of my brain how it functioned that I want to do everything in improper alignment in a proper way So when I started traveling back in 2012 time With God's blessing I had a phone which has a decent camera So I was taking pictures while I was traveling whenever I would see a good sunset on a road or sunrise or whatever it is I will take a picture all I would try to do is just simply unknowingly in my brain. I will align everything properly, right? I got decent pictures. I put it on social media people started appreciating and I was traveling anyway So I started eating more photos Right and I was going good places with my own will wherever I want I can go So I would go to let's say Taj Mahal or mountains or wherever I want to go People appreciated the photo unknowingly It gathered more followers and people started telling me that hey, you are such a good photographer I'm like hey, I'm a photographer. Oh cool. I am a photographer. So I started Accepting it that I am and I can be better So from there first of all social media became a thing that I have a relationship with right from there I kept putting on my travel a lot slowly I got into videos as well that have when I'm doing photography and people are appreciating You feel like doing more like if I appreciate you every day that hey, let's say you're very good How you communicate you'll put more efforts and be more or do more of it similarly photography to videography and then a time came when I started focusing on climate change and I feel that to most of the people science is very boring subject They don't want to learn more about it. What what sense does it make to them? So what I thought that hey How do we feed food to children's like playing with them and just suddenly in between give them the spoon of food or Medicine whatever it is. That's what I started doing with social media. They put up first for very good travel content So that people are engaging with it then put up very good high-quality cinematic content of Travel so people like hey This is not only travel but good visuals as well and in between that content a little bit of climate change Right, so that I'm not boring people and I'm giving them a chance to slowly shift to something rather than 100% Climate change otherwise people will like it suddenly Akash went from photography to videography in travel and suddenly he's a Physics or a chemistry or science teacher. We want to unfollow him, right? Because nobody's coming on Instagram to learn physics today, right? So that's how I use social media to put things out And that's the reason on my profile You'll see all of these three things are visible travel cinematic good quality content and climate change because I want to keep it easy for people So I'm a climate optimist the idea is very simple earlier the book was called. I'm an optimist That's it But then we thought hey let people know that what are we really talking about so it's my perspective in life I want to see positive in everything because as I said like what you tell me my brain will accept and do more of it Unknowingly if you appreciate me for something So I really want to see positive things in as in positive angle in everything whatever happens because it has happened I can't control it. It's not in my control and also that in a day there are thousand things are gonna come up Where do I want to invest my time and energy to write Happen something wrong happen. It's okay. Can I decide I want to invest my energy on something good? That's how my brain functions and even with climate change. Yes, the problem is there and there has been time back in let's say From 27 2017 2018 all of these times I was to cry almost every other day because I would read more and more about climate change Okay, this is going wrong that is going wrong and we are not taking action Human species it's a climate change is a threat for human species and all those things and I would just cry So am I really in a position to take action? No because I'm busy crying and I'm losing out energy on it And I'm not really in a press. I'm really not living a day in with a perspective where I can make the change Right, so less of a doer. I was more of a just a victim But then as a victim, I'm not really able to get to the solution. Do you want to just keep crying? that's when the thing came to me that I want to start focusing on being happy and See what can be done now? Okay, there's a problem. It's okay accepted now. Let's focus to the solution That's where this thing came now the book The book talks about different different industries food and beverages are industry Cosmetics is an industry Tourism is an industry plastic Beauty all of these industry has a one chapter in the book overall There are 10 chapters in each of the chapter I talk about let's say how I got to learn about me being a vegetarian My diet is also impacting climate change. Right? What can I do? What is the solution? Right? then The chapter flows like this how I found it the problem the solution and then I also have a Resource section because if I tell you that hey, you can be a plant base and you say hey, Akash I want to be how to do be how to do that. I'm like, oh, I Don't know that you can just be that's it So I'm leaving you in between but the book doesn't leave you there the book comes with a resource section where I give you Let's say three for option. Do you want to read more books about this specific subject to learn more? You say no Akash. I'm not a book person. I'm like, hey, you want to watch documentaries easy I used to learn no documentaries too long. I'm like hey 18 minute Ted talk like no 18 minutes It's still too long and Ted talks are way too serious I'm like hey content creators on YouTube and on Instagram specifically for food and Sustainability like okay cool, but hey, can you just tell me the action? I want to take you right now, okay? Here are the online shops you can buy your Grocery from in a sustainable way for plant-based food Like Akasha. I don't want to make I want to go out right now. Here are the cafes here are the restaurant go eat Okay, good to everyone. Yeah, so starting from top you want to learn the deepest thing about the food and sustainability Here are the books. No, I just want to take the action don't want to learn go right now eat at this cafe I can name right now here wherever we are sitting I can tell you cafes in this local area itself where you can go and eat So you're like easy. Hey, this helps and even online platforms Which are like aggregators, right? So where you can go and you can choose which company do you want to buy from? They are filtering it out for you Cruelty-free plant-based whatever so this is just just the food chapter. That's how we go for each and every chapter You want to buy beauty products? There you go. These are the brands buy it from we have done the scrutiny on them We have used them personally. We have spoken to the company We have tried to investigate in them as much as we can right so to filter it out for you because I know that you Won't go out there and start doing a Investigation on the brand that hey, is it really a good one or not, right? So that's how the book flows few good things about the book We have used a vegetable ink to print the book right to make it more sustainable because it's not that I want to write Everything with the chemicals and then preach to you that hey, but you will do good do the good thing So we use a vegetable ink then it's on FSC environment-friendly paper the most friendliest Which I could find here in India and when it comes to this much of a bulk printing And also the sustainability of the book itself that how long will it last once we print it? And then on the top of it all hundred percent of my earning is an author all of my royalty Go to a charity called greener earth foundation where the money will be used to offset the carbon footprint of the project itself Making it India's first carbon neutral book So use the word sustainability so my next question is on that the word sustainability is used widely and do speak your thoughts on the word and how brands are Including this word in the advertising and company structure so Lot of people first of all do not really understand the meaning of sustainability Sustainability is so it's like a ladder. It's not a final stage. You reach on it and now you're sustainable No, it's a ladder you keep climbing you be more sustainable more sustainable more sustainable Because obviously everything we do has some of the other impact on environment because we are borrowing natural resources We are in meeting different gases which has to be processed in the environment But eventually again bring it back to the neutral right neutral like simple a car being on a neutral gear so Sustainability people first of all, they don't understand brands largely like when we really look at the If if in case like a larger brands have a team which sits out in their headquarters and study over there They would understand sustainability, but mostly sustainability go out to people in terms of PR or in a Let's say media section of the brand PR section of the brand or the what we call Which are very like event organizing part of the brand They are the one majorly who are speaking out the word to people, but they don't really understand it Right and every time they don't really go out there to cross check it with the people who sit over there with a degree Which can really help them understand that okay, what exactly sustainability is so a lot of miscommunication is there But also I feel that It's okay it's all about balance when there are a lot of brands who come out and they use this word for greenwashing to Attract people who are really thinking that hey, I want to buy today something sustainable Oh, I want to think for the environment and for my own health. I want to buy some sustainable product. They do Get let's say cheated by the brands who are using this as a greenwash But then also it's important when this happens other brands get angry who are really sustainable and they put in more efforts To bring their product out that hey, this is actually sustainable, right? And it helps it's kind of like a competition, right? And also there are good brands. I know I work with I think I don't want to name out a brand individually here But in each of the category Whichever industry we talk about from buying my clothes to the food I eat or let's say even if some cosmetic products I use there are brands in India and they are homegrown brands. They are not multinational brands coming from some other country They are from India itself. So locally produced that is also about sustainability that if you're making it locally It's more sustainable. But if you bring it from another country, there's already a carbon footprint of the whole Transportation of that product from another country. That's a huge thing. So but there are brands which are Indian they are making product for whichever category we want and I think I'm really happy about this itself because when what happens whenever I as a consumer I want to consume sustainable, but the problem is Akash who's producing it I'm ready to go out buy it But is there a brand who can offer me this thing? So I think there are brands who are using it in a good way To actually come out and do good work But there are brands who are using it for greenwashing and I think with time the Brands who are greenwashing will go low because people will be more aware and even the associations who work in the space for having a Authority which really kind of like approve or disapprove whether you can't be doing this and using these brands or using these keywords you can Cheat on consumers like consumer forums, right? Even I am trying to I will be is it's already mentioned in the book I'm coming with a petition on change.org partnering with them where we are requesting people to come and Learn more about what is greenwashing and how exactly the word sustainability should be used And we want to put it out to people to sign up with us as a pledge and then we want to take it to the authorities who are the decision-maker in this space to come out with a Whole set of guideline which brand needs to follow before they use any of such a keyword Sustainability you're gonna keep people in check. Yeah, and that's important because if I really want to help you that hey I'm telling you that read the book go out by sustainable. Do you feel like Akash they cheated on me? It's written sustainable. I bought it So I'm like hey, I'm sorry. I should have made it clear to you. They wrote sustainable But it's greenwashing so I'm like hey I need to come from this end as well to protect you because I'm the one sending you to the market to buy sustainable Maybe like Akash you already told me to buy sustainable, but but it's not cheating So I'm like, okay, let me come from this side as well and keep a check on these brands as well But hey, you can't cheat my consumers whom I'm sending to you to buy sustainably and so You know with with the power of influence, right? Social media has made a lot of people very socially conscious about what they put out there With your content being a consumer of your content or similar such content. Do you feel people? Have now become environmentally conscious as well So see Indi no doubt and one of the biggest credit goes to Covid right because Covid happened We realized that how nature is far more really powerful than we can even imagine right within a day The whole running country or the whole running world was inside their home, right? So and that kind of like it gave them a shock that hey We really need to respect nature or earth or we can't really play along play around with it So that's one thing, but then yes that made people aware about it that he we want to be more careful about it Then also constantly scientists putting out words that okay guys you had enough of fun A future doesn't seem good. That's a very important thing when this comes out Media picks it up Go and picks it up Obviously they decide what they want to do with the data right, but the data do go to them that hey, there's a Let's say warning we have got from the people whom we really trust that they understand the science What should we do about it? There are some people Let's say media media would say hey, I need to inform it to people my job is this I'm gonna tell everyone media does their job versus government or companies they think that hey our job is to make money So let's push it till the time we can right till the time we can keep Let's say bringing out fuel from the earth like underneath the earth We should keep doing it till the time we can keep mining keep doing it till the last edge That's how business runs right you go to the edge and you just take a you can write them before you hit the wall So that's what businesses are doing is of now. That's what government majority is doing is of now But also that they have other responsibility as well. They have to really look at the GDP of the country as well, right? They have to really look at the people's job as well They can't really say oh shut down the company right now because it's not right for the climate change But they'll be like hey if we really shut down the company There's so much money of government involved into it people stakeholders People who have bought the share or people who work in the company And do you really want us to shut the company down? No, right? So different let's say Insights we have to or government has to look at or company has to look at but for people They got to know company got to know government got to know so they have all started creating their own ways and Timeline that what can we really do about sustainability now? So for people as an individual for me? It's very easy. I can go sustainable today If I my monthly budget let's say for example is 50,000 rupees per month It might fluctuate to 55,000 or 60,000 max But I'll be able to be very much sustainable I'll find another store with night which might not be five kilometers from my home But now ten kilometers, but which is selling me all the groceries I want with zero plastic So I can be sustainable in terms of grocery zero plastic I can easily switch to a plastic toothbrush to Bambu toothbrush zero extra expense almost like even lower than that or Zero plastic like I don't have to buy plastic bottles. I can just buy a steel bottle and I can carry it every day Next time whenever I have to buy a car I can try to switch it to a renewable energy one or I can start taking a cab Which is not running on fossil fuel. I can switch to a car which is on electric. So see as an individual. It's very easy Right, I can make switch quicker But is a business which is already up and running the building has already been made the assembly line is there The whole thing operation is running me changing. It is very difficult. So right so to people first fall It's quite easy and people have changed on a larger scale I would say that people are conscious about it and There are people who are not yet because they are busy with their own life They have to pay a loan or they have to pay a school fee. So they are taking their own time But I think the changes there and government is also pushing on their own space India is one of the largest when it comes to solar energy India is one of the largest producer When it comes to solar power that's happening When energy is really up here in India and even we are pushing a lot in a lot of ways Which are not seen out there the subsidy we are giving to companies when it comes to renewable energy or Vehicles which are based on hydro fuel cell or EVs and So recently Because of the social consciousness and the education that is already out there about the climate and environment There are a lot of companies that are going green internally whether it's their offices being Renewable it's their office culture being more environmentally conscious and also taking action about the same So in your experience, I'm sure you interact with a lot of brands and businesses So what are some techniques that did inspire you that you'd like to recommend to everyone? I knew was especially so Obviously it comes in a very different way when it's about a company Company functions in a different ways. I said and individual functions in a very different way but obviously there are companies whom I have Interacted with and I work personally with time to time one of the very impactful thing. I actually like is Switching to a sustainable renewable energy source, right? Because you have an office you're stable You know that you want to be there and obviously it comes to the car It comes for the companies who have their own offices and they know that they're really there They're gonna be there for long term, but obviously if There are companies who are working with a co-working space or they have rented the office Then it's difficult for them to do it Because they don't have the ownership of that place and they don't know how long they're really planning to be there But if you really own the office if you're there one of the best Investment they can make in terms of investment as well It's one of the best thing they can do is to switch to solar energy, right? They are not only doing it good for the environment for the employee, but also for the company's Revenue as well, right? The money they are saving up on Energy consumption, that's one of the best thing they can do on a larger scale because it it will cut down a lot of carbon emissions in a clear way Second what they can really do is that if the company really believes into it they can start let's say bringing in Smaller practices which will reflect on their employee and their life They're on so for example whenever people ask me a hey as an individual what can I do? So I really give them a very good and a simple psychological solution is don't do anything larger than this Just take one step tiny one, which is change your plastic toothbrush to bumble toothbrush. That's it Don't do second step just one step because if I tell you to do six things you'll be like, oh man That's too much. My day is already too busy now. This guy is saying eat Plant-based food then he's saying collar cab, which is electric Where do I find this cab and where do I look in the menu? How do I find where there's no plant-based food into it? So you're like confused But if I just tell you one simple thing how it works is when you wake up your mind is empty You're not thinking about anything. You're relaxed, right? And you first thing you do is you brush So now every time when you wake up and you see the bamboo brush You pick it up you're brushing you're looking into the mirror You're seeing you yourself interacting with this bamboo toothbrush your brain will run unknowingly Right, it'll register in your brain that hey, I use a bamboo to brush. Why do I do this by the way? Right, so the throughout the day unknowingly you'll take Decision that hey, let's not buy the plastic bottle. No, you want to drink it from my bottle. I have it I'm carrying it so unknowingly and then you're doing it by yourself If I forcefully make you kind are you really kind and am I really kind because I'm forcing you first fall to be kind So I can't really force anyone or push anyone to be kind to earth or to nature or to environment, right? I can just request you once one thing is a request but ten things are not request ten things is a demand Hey, you're asking for too much. So one thing one request is just switch to bamboo toothbrush So offices can do similar sort of a thing in the office, right? Change one habit for people that hey, how many people do you really use in a month use as much as you want? It's up to you I'm not limiting you because might be possible office functions on paper They need it but how much do you use and in the end of the month can it be assigned to the HR department that hey? Can you calculate how much paper? were used by each employee and do they really need to plant a tree this month to overcome it Right so now they are Accountable for what they are doing and they will feel that okay. I used it. That's why I have the responsibility to do it Right and we are bringing this in their memory that okay what I take I need to give back Because most of the people think hey, I'm very sustainable Akash. I don't do anything wrong. I Don't have a private jet. I'm not doing anything wrong I go to office work come back make money eat simple food with two of my kids in the family We have a one simple car one bike for my wife or blah blah blah chillin goes to school in the bus Encephal we don't do anything, but I'm like hey if I start calculating how many ac's do you have how much car? Fuzzle fuel your car consumes Right and then your electricity bill your gas which you're using right or the way you've constructed your home the waste You guys generate which goes out of your home every morning or the clothes you have bought the technical Technological devices you have now. Do you see how much carbon emission contribution or the subscriptions? You have of Netflix Amazon Prime or different different platforms, which you watch. What is the carbon emission of that? It's too much, but people don't feel it right So we need to come to a space in our mind We have to accept it like how we have accepted that we need to respect everyone. We need to give them their own space they need to make their own decision similarly we have to accept that It's not about the money we borrow we have to return It's also that this space or possibility of living on earth we borrowed We need to return it back so that other people can also coexist with us On being accountable that's our conversation with Akash. Thank you so much for watching and stay tuned for more