We have read stories on how graduates from top universities have taken initiatives to support poor but not many go and live with them. Prof Alok Sagar, an ex-IIT Delhi professor, left his lucrative job in 1982 to serve tribals, work for upliftment of women and stay connected to nature.
Besides having graduate and Masters degree from IIT Delhi, Shri Alok Sagar has a PhD from Houston University in Texas, US. He has in fact taught former-RBI governor Raghuram Rajan.
But all these degrees were meaningless to him and he found his true calling in one of the remotest parts of Madhya Pradesh. For the past 26years, Prof Alok Sagar (62 years) has been living in Kochamu (Betul district) — a place which has no electricity or roads but inhabitated by 750 tribals.
He learnt the local dialect and adapted their lifestyle. He is a highly learned man who has command over 78 languages. Prof Sagar feels its only tribals that are truly connected with nature and respect it. Prof Alok Sagar has planted more than 50,000 trees in the tribal areas. He rides 60kms to distribute seeds to neighbouring villages besides doing rural development work.
Prof Alok Sagar’s life sets an example that if you are willing to work for a cause, you do not need excuses.