A few weeks ago, I joined a webinar by Tejas on Biochar. It was meant for students seeking internships — but it felt like a masterclass in purpose.
Bright young minds filled the chat with questions, and what truly lit them up was Tejas’ offer:
“Complete your internship — and either join us or start your own biochar venture. We’ll buy back what you produce.”
An internship… with a buyback guarantee and a higher purpose: healing the soil and enriching Mother Earth. 🌿
Before we dive deeper into Tejas’ story, let’s pause for a reality check.
India’s New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 mandates internships for undergraduates — a well-meant step. Yet, many students face unpaid or token work, thinly disguised exploitation, and no real learning. The terms “wage theft,” “gofer work,” and “resume filler” echo too often.
Tejas’ program was refreshingly different — an internship with dignity, discovery, and direction.
I salute Tejas, and also visionaries like Sarvesh Agrawal and Ankur Khator, founders of Internshala, for showing that internships can be bridges — not burdens.
The Making of Tejas 🌾
An IIT graduate, Tejas once worked at PayPal in the US — a company known for its social commitment (over $20B raised for nonprofits, 130K volunteer hours in sustainability).
And yet, something deeper called him.
He left it all to return to India — to serve her. 🇮🇳
He experimented relentlessly — with Black Soldier Flies as pet food, aquaponic systems (I still remember his delicious home-grown Tilapia 🐠), bamboo cycles, carbon sequestration, and teaching farmers millet farming.
Now, his focus is on Biochar — a carbon-rich soil enhancer that improves fertility, retains water, and boosts crop productivity.
Tejas isn’t just manufacturing Biochar.
He’s manufacturing possibilities — for students, farmers, and the planet alike.
May his vision ignite a million young Biochar Entrepreneurs 🌍✨
And perhaps, one day, companies like PayPal will find ways to harness—not lose—such hunger for purpose.
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