In an era where climate change and environmental degradation dominate headlines, one family’s remarkable transformation offers hope and inspiration. Colonel Navdeep Singh Saran (Retd) and his family have charted an extraordinary path from military service through corporate corridors to the fertile fields of Punjab, embodying a profound commitment to environmental stewardship.
The Awakening
After 25 years of distinguished service in the Indian Army—21 of them as a commissioned officer—Colonel Saran found himself at a familiar crossroads. Like many veterans, he was drawn toward the financial security of a corporate career. But something fundamental was missing.
“We needed purpose, not just adventure,” he reflects. The daily grind of office politics, the hollow chase for material gains, and disconnect from meaningful work began to wear the family down. The turning point came with a deeper realization: the root of many modern crises—ranging from environmental degradation to lifestyle diseases—lay in humanity’s growing disconnect from nature.
The solution, they discovered, was quite literally beneath their feet. The Sarans found their calling in organic farming—a way to heal the earth while restoring purpose and meaning in their own lives.
Embracing Environmental Responsibility
Their transition to organic farming represents more than a career change; it’s a conscious choice to combat environmental challenges at the grassroots level. By rejecting chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the Sarans are actively working to restore soil health, protect groundwater, and preserve biodiversity—critical issues facing Punjab’s agricultural landscape.
“We believe humans today are suffering consequences of their own actions directed only towards materialism at the cost of the environment,” Colonel Saran observes. This philosophy drives their commitment to sustainable practices that prioritize ecological balance over immediate profits.
The True Cost of Change
The family’s journey illustrates the profound sacrifices required for environmental advocacy. Trading the security of cantonment life for a minimalist existence in rural Punjab meant abandoning modern conveniences—no more food deliveries, multiplexes, or instant connectivity. Instead, they embraced a single-room dwelling that gradually expanded to accommodate their family of four.
This radical lifestyle shift, however, yielded unexpected dividends. Freed from urban distractions, the family discovered deeper connections with each other and nature. Their children learned firsthand the labor and love required to grow food, developing respect for farmers and understanding of agricultural cycles that city-dwelling peers rarely experience.
Lessons from the Land
Living by nature’s rhythms taught the Sarans patience and acceptance—virtues often lost in corporate environments. Failed crops became learning opportunities rather than failures, while successful harvests reinforced their faith in sustainable practices. The physical demands of farming, initially challenging for bodies accustomed to desk work, ultimately strengthened both their resolve and their bond as a family.
Their children’s education extends far beyond textbooks. Daily exposure to organic farming practices instils environmental consciousness, teaching them to “live harmoniously with nature and values of care and nurturing. Every day on the farm is a lesson in environmental science, responsibility, and empathy. They’re growing up with a rare respect for nature, food, and the farmers who nurture both. The Sarans are raising not just crops, but future environmental stewards—crucial to India’s sustainable future.
A Model for Environmental Tourism
The Saran family’s story resonates with growing trends in eco-tourism and sustainable travel. Their farm represents the kind of authentic, environmentally conscious destination that conscious travellers increasingly seek. Visitors can witness sustainable agriculture in action, understanding how individual choices impact planetary health.
Their journey demonstrates that environmental responsibility isn’t just about grand gestures or corporate initiatives—it’s about families making courageous decisions to live in harmony with nature, even when it means sacrificing comfort and convenience.
Continuing the Mission
Today, the Sarans continue serving their nation not through uniforms and drills, but by healing the land, one harvest at a time.. Their organic farm stands as a testament to the possibility of purposeful living that benefits both humanity and the planet. In choosing to nurture the soil rather than exploit it, they’ve found the adventure and meaning that eluded them in conventional careers.
Their story offers hope: that it’s never too late to realign our lives with environmental values, and that sometimes the most profound service to humanity begins with a single family’s decision to reconnect with the earth.
By - Kalpana Chatterjee
