Vivek Umrao Glendenning

few words about VIVEK

With a comprehensive engagement spanning numerous disciplines, Vivek Umrao Glendenning‘s professional identity is notably multifaceted and distinguished. By training, he is an engineer, yet he effortlessly transitions this expertise into the imaginative and emotive landscape of literary work in Hindi and English, demonstrating a rare blend of technical aptitude and artistic talent. He is a true pioneer, at the forefront of educational experimentation, relentlessly committed to developing and implementing innovative pedagogical approaches that transform teaching and learning. He is dedicated to tackling critical global challenges through the implementation of decentralised energy systems, promoting sustainable and community-focused approaches to power generation and distribution as solutions to these challenges. In addition to his other contributions, his work encompasses water resource management and water harvesting, utilising comprehensive strategies for the allocation and conservation of water resources, and promoting innovative and efficient methods for water management.

The overarching objective of creating sustainable and equitable societies for a better future is significantly reliant on the crucial contribution of every single role; each part, regardless of its size or visibility, is essential to the intricate framework of progress. His wide-ranging perspective and active involvement are significantly shaped by the combination of his Indian heritage and international experience. In addition to his other accomplishments, Vivek Umrao Glendenning has a deep commitment to building resilience and preparing for disasters, as clearly shown by his substantial contributions to strategies for managing flood disasters and his work in building strong community-based systems for disaster management. The core of his vision for sustainable development is a focus on empowering local communities through self-sufficient economic models, as clearly evidenced by his emphasis on the economic development of villages. This perfectly aligns with his wider interest in decentralised economic models, specifically those that challenge traditional, centralised structures in an effort to promote more equitable growth and opportunity for all. In addition to his significant developmental achievements, Vivek has also distinguished himself as a skilled journalist, leveraging his exceptional communication abilities to not only disseminate information but also to actively foster and enrich public discussions and debates on a wide range of important topics.

A series of profound challenges that have undeniably played a formative role in shaping his deep-seated dedication to social causes and his uniquely resilient philosophical outlook marked the early life of Vivek Umrao Glendenning. At the tender age of eleven, he was subjected to, and sadly suffered, sexual abuse that had a devastating impact on him. Following that, and with cruel persistence for another fourteen years, until he reached the age of twenty-five, he was subjected to a relentless onslaught of physical, mental, and emotional abuse at the hands of his own parents.  Beginning at approximately twenty-two years of age, he endured a period of roughly two years of confinement in a home that functioned as a prison, wherein all but one small room were kept locked, and the external doors were secured to ensure he remained inside. For many months, throughout this period, his parents would inflict nightly beatings during their weekly visits, establishing a routine of violence. Frequently enduring harsh conditions of food scarcity, he inadvertently learned to survive prolonged periods without nourishment, a skill which he later detailed in his article, “Is extended fasting ‘the miracle’ for the human body?”, exploring the implications of this practice. Moreover, upon reaching the age of twenty-five, he was unfairly deprived of his inheritance—millions of dollars in parental properties gained by his forefathers—by his own parents.

Vivek Umrao Glendenning, despite the traumatic and insensible experiences that he endured in his childhood, decided to forge a path that was quite remarkable and impressive. Rather than resorting to reactive or violent measures, he deliberately chose to pursue avenues of constructive resolution, aiming to foster a harmonious and peaceful society. The deeply significant choice he made not only altered the course of his personal suffering but also became the driving force behind his life’s mission, transforming his pain into purpose. Because of his deep personal pain, he developed a profound empathy for others and an unwavering determination to contribute to a more harmonious and non-violent world, a goal he pursued relentlessly. His subsequent work with marginalised communities, his dedication to peacebuilding endeavours, and his insightful literary examinations of child abuse and the complexities of parenting can all be viewed as direct outgrowths of his profound personal transformation, a journey that effectively channelled his individual trauma into a powerful and impactful public mission dedicated to positive change and social justice.The deeply personal journey ignited within him a powerful and unwavering determination to comprehend the complexities of human psychology on a conscious level, delving into the diverse mechanisms of conditioning, the intricate processes of value and belief formation, and the profound and subtle influences of societal structures and systems. He held a strong conviction that a deep understanding of how these distinct elements connect with each other was absolutely vital to the creation of a harmonious society. In his quest for an understanding of life and society, he dedicated himself to a wide range of intellectual and spiritual explorations, a journey that included the dedicated practice of consciousness-level yoga for some years, starting in his teens, and an impressive feat of reading over thirty thousand books by the age of thirty, a number which excludes school, college, and university academic books. The depth of his understanding of the practical realities and the dynamic interplay within various societal systems was greatly expanded by his active participation in many local and national social movements. Throughout his life, beginning in early childhood, Vivek Umrao has consistently channelled the profound personal adversities he has experienced into a robust and empowering philosophy that drives his commitment to creating constructive and meaningful societal transformation. Besides his literary output, his contributions encompass the founding and active support of many social organisations, health institutes, and educational institutions, demonstrating a wide-ranging commitment to community betterment.

Vivek Umrao Glendenning, a multifaceted individual whose talents and experiences are dedicated to fostering a more harmonious and equitable society, is not only an author and journalist but also an educationist, social economist, social environmentalist, and a mechanical engineer specialising in renewable energy, all driven by a profound commitment to societal betterment. This unique synthesis of professional roles, converging on the singular mission of fostering social sustainability, a decentralised economy, social equality, harmony, and global peace, is what embodies the Vivek Umrao Glendenning‘s core values. This engagement, far from being a simple gathering of various professions, represents a complex and deeply interdisciplinary strategy for tackling multifaceted and intricate social problems, demonstrating a commitment to collaborative solutions. Demonstrating a profound understanding of the systemic relationships between economic, environmental, and social factors, his works and ideas propose solutions that tackle interconnected root causes from many and interrelated angles. Because of his unwavering commitment to fostering peace, social equality and harmony, he has been recognised with the prestigious title of World Peace Ambassador.

At the heart of his diverse endeavours lies a deep and engaged involvement with the complex and interconnected realms of social and environmental economics, meticulously exploring the intricate relationships between humanity, economic structures, and the environment, while simultaneously promoting policies and actions that ensure both environmental sustainability and social justice. Rather than frittering away his life on trivialities, he has wholly and completely dedicated to the profound and purposeful work of social justice, pouring every ounce of his being into this deeply meaningful endeavour. 

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