A diminutive man with a big vision, he is a categorical example of a man who could not just think of something beyond what others could imagine but actually go ahead and deliver on it. When you want to set an example of people who have made big on their own and you look around, one of them could be Vishal Vivek. A diminutive man with a big vision, he is a categorical example of a man who could not just think of something beyond what others could imagine but actually go ahead and deliver on it. Today, Vishal is Chief Executive of Hemp Foundation, a non-profit organization striving to change lives of thousands on the ground for the better. His is an organization of around 50 hard-working people who are working round-the-clock to return life in scores of abandoned villages in the remote areas of Uttarakhand and empower women who have been relegated to the margin in the last few decade. Vishal believes hemp is the perfect tool to meet these objectives with aplomb and profoundly affect the rural life in India positively. But how come someone in Delhi thought of making a career around hemp. Odds are most people might not even be aware that a plant like hemp could have in it not to just provide employment but also improve environment and affect life in other ways in the right direction. The formative years Vishal was born in a middle class family in Sitamarhi, Bihar. A blue-eyed boy to his parents and a loving sibling to his brother, Vishal’s childhood was just like any other kid – daily school trips and playing. He had a few family and school trips to pristine hills of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and this instilled in him a keen interest in nature. These visits left an indelible effect on his young mind. Chirping birds, lush green plants, huge oaks, and tiny delicate saplings – everything looked so animated and personified. He wanted to be amidst nature and do his bit to protect it. He also became a witness to the challenging life in the hilly villages where men moved to cities in search of employment and all women could do was to wait for their husbands to return. In want of economic independence, they were also marginalized in the society. Little Vishal, conscious to all that he was watching, was keen on bringing about a positive change. He was, however, like other kids of his age, also interested in Information Technology. It was the time when computers were recently introduced in the Indian education system. The computer classes were treated by many as a ‘Free Period’ as it was an optional subject. But these classes meant a lot for Vishal. He was fascinated by the way those bulky off-white boxes sitting on the desk enabled him to play wonderful games. SEO days Prompted by his own interest in technology as well as the elders’ guidance to pick a safe career, Vishal decided to try and make a career in search engine optimization (SEO), a new field at the time. Rather than going for a job, Vishal decided to set up his own enterprise which would provide him the flexibility to implement his own ideas. Flagship set afloat by Vishal was known as SEO Corporation. With sheer hard work, determination to provide clients value for their money, and desire to excel in what he was doing, SEO Corporation minted success. A fervent supporter of women’s equality, he ensured it in his own organization by not just recruiting more women staff but also giving them opportunities to flourish. Vishal struck big success with SEO Corporation. He earned recognition and wealth, yet satisfaction wasn’t coming to him. Often, when he went to sleep, he would dream of working in the remote valleys of the hills. He felt his life was meant for doing something else and the hills were calling him. Despite his obligations as the head of SEO Corporation, he began spending more time touring the corners of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, talking to the villagers, understanding their way of life, and figuring out how he could help them in the best way possible. Meanwhile, he was also preparing his team for the groundwork who would work with villagers to bring about a colossal change. Already convinced about the potential of hemp as the harbinger of change, Vishal was working out ways to connect this native vegetation to the local economy and turn it into a regular provider of income. In other words, he was setting up the bedrock for Hemp Foundation. The launch The time was precise for the launch of Hemp Foundation. The Indian Government, after realizing the folly of the ban on industrial hemp, had lifted it. Government departments, however, were largely untrained to handle the new situation. Infrastructure to test various parts of hemp plant was missing as well. Farmers, after a prolonged ban and a haze of doubt around the crop, were hesitant to grow hemp. A boatload of work was needed to restore faith on hemp economy and develop a support infrastructure – meaning something like Hemp Foundation was urgently needed. Vishal had always held that reckless consumption and endless greed had damaged our environment severely and we need to make a quick retreat before things become irreversible. Problems we have been facing – global warming, deforestation, water crisis, plastic waste, pollution, or more – have been our own making. Hemp Foundation reflected this approach of its founder. Well aware how hemp suffered from the ignominy of a ban, Vishal stress hemp became a victim of wrong perception. However, quite unlike the public opinion, hemp has nothing to do with any intoxicating element. Presence of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in hemp is less than the permissible limit of 0.3%, making it totally harmless. Moreover, hemp is one of those rare plants which you can use as a whole. In other words, In other words, you can use seeds, […]
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