This week Leela had the good fortune of running into the multi-talented Vikshut Mundkur. Vikshut works as an energy consultant and even doubles up as a musician.In the increasingly consumptive times that we live in we ought to be glad that we have such conscientious superpersons in our community.Take some time off, read this interview and get a glimpse into his world.
1. What inspired you to work in the development sector?
Before getting into the development sector, I was an IT professional, with Infosys. I couldn't relate to the work I was doing at all and for a long time was wondering if there was something different I could do. Fortunately Infosys had a sabbatical program where employees can take a year off and work with an NGO. I saw this as an opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. All of a sudden I felt I was doing something meaningful and interesting at the same time. That’s when I decided that this was it for me.
2. What are some of the more challenging moments in your line of work?
I now work as a consultant for decentralized renewable energy policy interventions for unserved and under-served rural areas. The challenges are in understanding the root cause of issues, involving all stake holders and working out holistic solutions from that space. When designing and proposing solutions at policy levels, we have to make sure that the most important stake holder i.e. the end users are truly benefiting from the processes and the technologies being reached out to them.
3.You are also an ardent social worker. Could you please tell us more about some of the causes that you are involved in?
I wouldn’t call myself an ardent social worker! I use my skills as an energy consultant and musician to help my wife and some friends out on work they’re doing on waste management and woman and child issues respectively.