Chetan Singh Solanki, a professor at IIT Bombay, stirred discussions on social media after a viral photo of him wearing torn socks at a luxury hotel in New Delhi was shared widely. In response to the criticism, Solanki chose to speak out.
Referred to as the “Solar Man of India” or “Solar Gandhi,” he posted a detailed message on LinkedIn alongside the image.
“…because while I can afford it, nature cannot! This photo was taken of me at the Hyatt in Delhi, during a moment of reflection before my talk at The Economic Times Energy Leadership Summit on September 25th. Yes, my torn socks were visible! I do need to replace them and I certainly can afford to do so—but nature cannot. In nature, resources are limited,” Solanki stated in his post.
He continued, “Recently, I have been making a deliberate effort to use materials as efficiently as I can. Although I might have the best tools to boost my productivity, I aim to use the least amount of resources to minimize my carbon footprint. Just as a businessperson looks to maximize financial returns, I seek to optimize my time as a social worker to create the most significant impact.”
