While on a trip to Dharamshala, I met a girl whose story left an indelible mark on my consciousness. As a Delhi-based IT professional, the lure of the mountains is omniscient in the very fabric of corporate life. Whenever a group of friends gets together the topic inevitably always moves to that elusive dream of dropping everything and starting a new life in the Himalayas. I always thought this was an impossible dream till I met Shivangi Singh.
The daughter of an Army Officer, Shivangi had already lived in and explored every Indian state and had glorious stories to share from her extensive travels throughout the North East. However, living in Himachal Pradesh for 3 years remained an unforgettable experience for her. Her fond childhood memories of watching fresh snow covering the tall Himalayan Cedar trees in a delectable blanket of white remained forged an incessant love for the mountains.
Shivangi grew up to be a social worker very well known in her field of work. Her work towards achieving Gender Equality and eradicating Educational Inequities from our society brought her many laurels. When the pandemic hit in 2020, she launched a free tele-counseling helpline through her NGO, Drishtikona - Changing Perspectives, to provide psychological aid to people affected by depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal thoughts and domestic violence. Soon she started receiving panic calls in the middle of the night and had to collaborate with local authorities such as the Police, on serious cases of domestic violence. The grim realities of the pandemic left her with a desire to heal herself and she started fostering a dream of moving to the Himalayas but she didn't know how.
Her prayers were answered when she discovered a Fellowship opportunity which would allow her to work in the mountains on the very causes which are very close to her heart. She applied instantly and after several rigorous rounds of selection process, she was chosen to serve the Tibetan community in Dharamshala. "This was truly a golden opportunity for me and exactly what I was looking for at that time", recalls Shivangi. "I remembered thinking: I manifested this life. To get paid to live in the mountains and to do what I love most i.e. service to humanity, was my dream come true. I was overjoyed!"
Shivangi started working in the Ministry of Education of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. Due to pandemic the work first started online and she was only allowed to move to her place of work in March, 2021 after following all due procedures. Then started a life better than what she imagined. She told me joyously, "I met Ministers and Presidents, went for office picnics and hikes to scenic waterfalls and snow-capped mountain tops, lived in a luxurious place with the best mountain views and made a lot more friends than I ever thought possible in a place of work. It could not have gone better."
"The people that I met in the Tibetan community - whether in my office or out of it- were some of the best people a person can ever hope to meet. Living in the same city as His Holiness The Dalai Lama is also wonderful for my spiritual growth. The conversations that I had with the Lamas and ascetics here were deeply enriching and unforgettable. As a spiritual person, I believe the Himalayas have healing powers and I am a living proof of the same" she added with a smile. Overall, It was Shivangi's passion for serving the Tibetan community that left me inspired and most impressed. I asked her what is her message to all those who longed for a life in the mountains and she said: " Make your mountain life dream possible by looking for avenues to serve the local communities. Think of what you can share and how you can help. It is not an impossible dream. Anything is possible with enough passion and dedication. Like me, you could even lead a life better than what you imagined."