Mumbai: Professor Chetan Singh Solanki, renowned as India’s “Solar Man” and “Solar Gandhi,” has officially announced his resignation from IIT Bombay to dedicate his life to combating the global climate crisis. His last working day at the institution will be 23 October 2025.
Chetan Singh Solanki’s Two-Decade Legacy at IIT Bombay
Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki has spent more than 20 years at IIT Bombay, pioneering solar energy research and education. He authored multiple books, secured patents, designed online courses, and established India’s largest solar energy research center.
Born into a farmer’s family in Madhya Pradesh, Prof. Solanki pursued higher education at IIT Bombay, later completing a PhD in solar energy in Europe, before returning to India in 2004. Over the years, he emerged as one of India’s most influential voices in solar energy advocacy.
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Energy Swaraj Yatra: A Journey of Awareness
In 2020, Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki launched the Energy Swaraj Yatra aboard a solar-powered bus, pledging not to return home for 11 years.
Over the past five years, he has traveled 68,000 km across India, delivering more than 1,650 lectures and engaging citizens, institutions, and policymakers on climate change. His initiatives, including Energy Literacy and the Indore Climate Mission, reflect his efforts to drive climate-conscious action.
From Awareness to Action: The Finite Earth Movement
While the Energy Swaraj Yatra focused on raising awareness, Prof. Solanki insists that action is now critical. Highlighting that global warming beyond 2°C could become irreversible within 20–25 years, he warns of severe risks to human survival.
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To address this challenge, he launched the Finite Earth Movement (FEM), based on the principle of “Finite Earth – Finite Consumption.” FEM seeks to involve one billion people in climate action over the next three years. Prof. Solanki’s symbolic message, “I can afford, but nature cannot,” underlines the urgency of adopting sustainable lifestyles.
Chetan Singh Solanki Chooses Purpose Over Prestige
Announcing his resignation, Prof. Solanki remarked, “I chose purpose over prestige. IIT Bombay gave me recognition, but FEM is the seed of purpose.” He emphasized that climate change is a global emergency requiring collective responsibility.
Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki has called on governments, institutions, and citizens worldwide to join the Finite Earth Movement and make finite living an international mission.
