While I know I am pro-sustainability, I am equally pro-growth. I particularly dislike open skylines being replaced by the view of tall buildings with big windows or advertisements. While I agree India needs infrastructure like hyperscalers and colocation to drive the growth it so excitedly aspires for, I am also advocating an integrated policy to ensure the growth is aligned with urban sustainability.
All this thought brought me back to the question – why is everyone, all of us, chasing growth? Not just for-profit companies, but governments, non-profit organizations, and also individuals like me… including me. We are all chasing growth.
But why?
What does growth even mean? For a start-up, it means more revenue, scale, more customers. For a country, what does growth mean? I know it’s GDP growth – more or less. But is that it?
A year back, when I was asking a similar – or an adjacent – question: is GDP growth the only metric a country should be chasing? I came across a book: Beyond GDP: Measuring What Counts for Economic and Social Performance by Joseph Stiglitz, Jean-Paul Fitoussi, and Martine Durand, OECD Publishing, 2018. They argue that a useful measure of progress needs to answer three things GDP cannot: who is actually benefitting from growth, whether that growth is environmentally sustainable, and how people genuinely feel about their lives.
GDP is insufficient on its own. Instead, progress should be measured through a nuanced combination of metrics tailored to a country’s specific developmental phase.
So, while the current Prime Minister of the country envisions India as a developed nation by 2047, I hope his team understands that what he means by growth is – water access for all, electricity access for all, the privilege to fail and faith in the system.
References
Tripathi, V., Bagui, D., Aggarwal, P., Hulshof, P., Chopra, A., Jain, D., & Vashishtha, A. (2026). Scaling India’s Data Centre Ecosystem: Stakeholder Perspectives on Infrastructure, Energy, and Resilience. CEEW & SYSTEMIQ. ceew.in
Stiglitz, J., Fitoussi, J., & Durand, M. (2018). Beyond GDP: Measuring What Counts for Economic and Social Performance. OECD Publishing. doi.org/10.1787/9789264307292-en
Kamath, N. (2025, January 9). People with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi [Podcast episode]. People by WTF. Spotify
Looks like CEEW (Council on Energy, Environment and Water) already is saying what I was trying to articulate. India needs an integrated policy to transform the data centre boom from potential environmental and economic liability into a sustainable and a strategic national asset. [CEEW, 2026]
Three data points and three questions:
Data centres are enormous power consumers — electricity demand from data centres is projected to increase nearly fivefold by 2030. [CEEW, 2026]
But here’s a question — what if that waste heat wasn’t wasted?
Finland is already using it. South Korea reuses it. A data centre in Seoul heats thousands of apartments. [Bird & Bird, 2025]
India is building these facilities right now, at scale, without any requirement to recover the heat they generate. [CBC News, 2026]
Can we build it in as we build our data centres from scratch?
163 million Indians don’t have reliable clean water — yet data centres often use clean drinking water to protect their equipment. [Outlook India, 2026]
Cooling a single 100 MW hyperscale facility can require around 2 million litres of water per day — and India’s data centre water use is projected to more than double by 2030. [CEEW-Systemiq, 2026]
At 135 litres per person per day, that single data centre consumes the daily water needs of roughly 15,000 people. Every single day. [Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs]
And India’s data centre water use is projected to more than double by 2030. [CEEW, 2026]
Why are we using clean water instead of treated water?
Some companies have started using treated water — so it means it’s not undoable, just costly. [Amazon Sustainability; The Star, 2026]
But costlier than drinking unportable water?
Cooling systems, generators, HVAC units running 24/7. No national noise standards specific to data centres. No siting rules that create buffer zones between facilities and residential areas. State governments so eager for investment they’re not asking the right questions. [CBC News, 2026]
Imagine living across the road from 3 different data centres and a buzz sound staying with you. After a time, either you stop hearing it or want that white noise everywhere you go.
What are we doing about the noise? And why is no one asking?
I am not anti-growth. I am pro-growth done right. The AI excitement is real. The investment is coming regardless. The question is whether India builds this infrastructure intelligently — or allows it to go out of hand, and compete with the resource needed for basic survival.
References
In 2023, investment in the climate tech industry was $33.3Bn more than (or only 3 times) the total investment in the Indian Startup ecosystem, which stood at $11.3Bn
While CoP-29 signals low commitment of governments, businesses and societies at large towards climate action, investors in climate tech probably have a different view.
Recently, I had an opportunity to speak with a VC in the climate-tech space. He asked me why I was interested in this space. I explained that I was led to this space in 2020 while being concerned about the tonnes of waste that we are generating. Then, the growing energy demands and the urgency to identify renewable energy sources to meet that demand caught my attention. I shared how I think that our current economic metrics conflict with sustainability goals and hence there’s a need to redefine how nations and companies measure success including the success of various sustainability-related initiatives.
The VC, however, conceded that he had a capitalist perspective and emphasized that the profit potential of investments is driven by customer demand like demand for sustainable textiles, packaging and fast charging for e-vehicles.
While I appreciate his view, I argue that the primary driver of demand in climate tech remains government regulations and incentives. These come in various forms, such as subsidies to lower initial costs for technologies like electric vehicles (EVs), increased lifestyle choices (think: sustainable clothing), or entirely new experiences that entice consumers (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles [eVTOLs] designed for Passenger mobility).
A mint article dated 22 Nov 2024 illustrates my point. In Delhi, the removal of subsidies for commercial EV purchases in October 2024 led to a drastic 79% drop in sales. This sharp decline underscores the critical role of government support in fostering demand for sustainable technologies. It’s not that consumers lack interest; rather, regulations and incentives make these technologies more accessible and appealing.
To ensure sustained growth in climate tech, we must align environmental goals with economic incentives. This involves designing smart policies that encourage both innovation and adoption while simultaneously redefining success metrics to include sustainability impacts. For businesses, this means crafting strategies that leverage government support and creating experiential value for consumers.
The future of climate tech is undeniably bright. However, the urgency of combating climate change alone won’t drive the sector’s growth. Thoughtfully aligned Government policies and targeted incentives will be instrumental in driving the industry toward profitability and scalability.
References:
I understand that the landscape of retail is not solely defined by price; it also encompasses the shopping experience itself. The experience of browsing aisles intertwined with excitement of picking something not on the list and a sense of nostalgia still draws customers to the local stores and supermarkets. Yet, as e-commerce continues to streamline product selection and enhance convenience, the traditional supermarket experience seems at risk.
However, while researching for overseas expansion strategy for large retail brands, I came across Don Quijote, commonly known as Donki. It presented itself as an intriguing case study. This Japanese discount store chain has been able to find a way to thrive alongside e-commerce platforms. Unlike typical supermarkets, Donki apparently embraces chaos and offers a shopping experience that feels more like an adventure than a chore.
Donki shelves an overwhelming variety of products from groceries to electronics often packed tightly within its stores. This chaotic organization encourages exploration and discovery, making each visit an adventure. The store’s vibrant displays and eclectic merchandise create an atmosphere that is both stimulating and entertaining. Shoppers often describe it as a “retail theme park” where they can find everything from quirky souvenirs to everyday essentials. According to reddit users, for tourists, visiting Donki is not just about shopping; it’s about experiencing a slice of Japanese culture. The store’s unique ambiance and product offerings provide insights into local trends and tastes.
While e-commerce platforms excel in convenience and efficiency, they lack the immersive experiences that places like Donki offer. This case study serves as encouraging evidence for traditional retailers that they can successfully coexist and thrive alongside e-commerce platforms.
]]>Are electronics truly the solution to our environmental woes, or are we creating more problems in the name of sustainability?
Electric vehicles are touted as a cleaner alternative to traditional combustion engines, aren’t they still reliant on power sourced from traditional fossil fuels? In many regions, coal and natural gas dominate electricity grids, meaning EVs indirectly contribute to carbon emissions. Factor in transmission losses, the energy-intensive process of mining semiconductor materials, and the e-waste generated at the end of a product’s life cycle, and the equation becomes murkier.
E-waste is a growing global crisis. It is estimated that over 50 million tonnes of e-waste are generated annually, much of it ending up in landfills in developing countries. This waste often contains hazardous substances like lead, cadmium, and mercury, posing severe health and environmental risks. Despite efforts to improve recycling rates, only a fraction of this waste is effectively processed.
So, while we champion electronics as the heroes of sustainability, are we adequately addressing the darker side of this equation?
During my search for clarity, I spoke with a manager at Accenture Strategy specializing in responsible value chains. I shared my concerns about e-waste and the seemingly unsustainable reliance on electronics. His response offered a new perspective: electronics are not the perfect solution, but they are a tool to abstract our dependence on non-renewable energy. By integrating renewable sources into the energy grid, we can reduce the carbon footprint of the value chain powering our devices and vehicles.
This perspective resonated with me. While electronics may not be a perfect solution, they play a critical role in the transition to a more sustainable future. The focus must be on improving recycling rates and integrating renewables into the energy grid. At the same time, exploring alternatives like hydrogen fuel and other innovative solutions is essential to achieving a balanced, sustainable energy ecosystem.
]]>About partners willing to learn to live with their love interest. In the case of heterogeneous couples, male partners are willing to accept and appreciate women for who they are and to provide their partners’ with space to grow and live their lives. They are open to change and put in efforts to make it work. Women are no longer bechari, abla naari. They work and earn for themselves. My views aren’t some general gyan I am throwing off at my keyboard but have been underscored by the movies that are coming up like Rocky aur Rani ki prem kahani and Tu Jhooti mai makaar. These are so different from the movies like Dilwale dulhaniya le jayenge where not enough focus was on a woman’s career. Or what a woman wanted. Don’t get me wrong, I was a big fan of these movies and Shahrukh Khan. I still am a Shahrukh Khan Fan. However, I realize that the movies no longer make me feel warm on a rainy day. Those are not my ideas of romance anymore.
The general idea of a working woman in society seems to be that either she doesn’t involve herself at home at all (and hence she is selfish) or she is grinding away her life trying to balance both. The movie Rocky aur Rani ki prem kahani felt like an appropriate execution of the answer I wanted to give to all those people who I couldn’t explain what I meant.
Considering all this, I would like to analyze the Bollywood industry to see how love stories and the issues around them have changed over the years in India. I believe Cinema at some level gives a near-reflection of the society we live in and analyzing the Bollywood industry might be an interesting fun-time project to see how the stories of love have changed over the decades.
]]>I was appreciating the government of Nainital for their measures to protect and preserve the integrity of the city. Policies like prohibiting fishing in the freshwater Naini Lake, installation of dustbins and public washrooms every 500 meters, and public appreciation of the sanitation and cleaning workers caught my eye as I toured the city with my family.
Then I came across the following article - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/mussoorie-misery/
and it made me sad that being a tourist, I am contributing to the problems of the places I most heartedly adore. If it’s beautiful, wouldn’t I and like me others would want to witness the beauty? To feel it, and to get lost in it.
]]>Since April 2023, I have read 8 books and counting. I realize it’s not something to brag about, but it does feel like an opportunity to appreciate myself as I have been able to read for leisure without feeling guilty or as a reward to myself. Until now, whenever I pick a book to read, I felt that there are many other things to do than read a book for leisure. Studying course books (prescribed books for school/college), exercising, talking to a friend, or working are some of those things I could be doing which would be far more rewarding/beneficial.
I started the year with Indra Nooyi’s biography - My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future. and followed it with The Mathematics of Love. I pushed myself to review the books on Goodreads because I think of myself as an opinionated woman who is scared to share it. and I wanted to change that.
Reading about Kashmir’s history piqued my curiosity and led me to look for and attempt other books on Indian Political History. I am currently reading India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha. I don’t recall being interested in the genre or reading something substantial apart from the history textbooks in school. However, Tavleen Singh’s writing style and story about India’s most volatile and beautiful “possession” kept me hooked. She has described the events in such detail through the lens of an eye-witness. The author’s description was enough to make me feel the beauty of Kashmir from the confines of my room and to re-ignite the desire to visit the valley.
]]>[My comments here might read like I am generalizing, but I am not. I write what I see, observe, and question. I don’t know the whole story and I don’t claim to]
I am hating the fact that everyone around me portrays a woman as bechaari or abla naari. And women themselves. Every woman is fighting for her “rights”. Are all the women really that repressed? Are all the women that sad and angry? What are they angry for? That their parents and husbands don’t want them to take financial responsibility (to go out and work hard)? Isn’t that the purpose of earning - to earn so much that one doesn’t have to work another day? Don’t men feel the burden of financial responsibility on them? Sure, a woman is taught all her life to be satisfied with whatever her husband can provide. Even if it’s less than what she could have provided herself. But men don’t get the financial support they need from their wife. They don’t get the choice between being at home and taking up financial responsibility. But don’t men (husband or father-in-law) only stop women from supporting? Or maybe that’s only true for rich men who don’t feel the need for women to take up financial responsibility. Are all husbands able to provide everything a woman desires? Or is it not about money or sharing the financial responsibility but respect? About liberty to make one’s own decisions? Fulfilling their own desires? Having their own identity? Is it that women want to show men that they could do what a man can, so they get the respect they deserve for preserving a family, for being a “homemaker”? And in trying to be deserving of that respect that she so deeply desires has taken even a greater challenge to prove herself like she always does? Putting in more effort than is required? Why are men so reluctant to give up control when they feel that a woman’s life is easy? By sharing the financial responsibility, aren’t they who stand to win a lot? What is the reluctance about? Are they afraid of losing respect as they don’t respect what women have been doing for so many years? Maybe the fight is not about working or not working. Earning or not earning. Maybe men are scared that they will be treated the same way they have treated women if they lose control.
In the book “Sapiens”, Author Yuval Noah Harari has a section dedicated to understanding the difference between a man and a woman. He has tried to reason why men were thought superior to women. He has explained the possible reasons like physical strength and child-bearing capabilities of women, and events in history like the rise in agriculture and the role of language that led to the difference in thoughts. Even though he himself questions his explanations, he concedes that patriarchial society has been a stable society to live in. Even though the society is stable, he doesn’t shy away from accepting that one of the disadvantages of patriarchial society is the oppression of women. Would a matriarchial society be stable and free of oppression? or does society really need an identity or clear hierarchies and roles to be stable?
]]>Recently, I visited a textile processing plant. The processing steps include treating the raw material and preparing it for printing. Fabric printing is done by three methods. One is a rolling mill that uses a roller to print repetitive designs on the cloth. Another looks like block printing. Digital printing has become famous for fabric printing, as it allows sophistication in design at a higher level.
The plant is powered by coal as it is the cheapest form of fuel available. The plant was using mechanisms and processes to treat the air that they were releasing. I couldn’t help but notice the patch of green farmlands that it was surrounded by. I am worried that fast fashion leads to the fast depletion of our habitat. I constantly live in this conundrum of economic progress through manufacturing and environmental sustainability.
The amount of clothes we wear and discard that end up in landfills creating nuisance. Sure, there are ways nature regenerates itself, however, our rate of generating waste seems much higher than the rate of decomposition.
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