In 1990, two management professionals set out on an exploration of the Indian Himalayas- a jouney through its entire length, from Itanagar in the east to Leh in the west.
Riding the Himalayas. Searching, discovering.
Touched by many a Buddha. Of the living race of humans. Buddhas neglected.
Subsumed by the elements. Wind and water, rocks and forests. Nature in pain.
We began adventurers. We turned pilgrims.
They saw the deprivation of the indigenous communities, the enormous and yet fast depleting natural wealth, the tremendously rich and yet eroding culture and traditional knowledge. They saw the conservation and development needs, and the neglect. The vision of Pragya was born, the path to sustainable development through the application of technical and managerial knowledge and a business mind-set to development issues and needs. (Pragya means transcendental wisdom that leads to realisation).
By 1995 when Pragya was formalised, it had drawn together a group of professionals from different mainstream disciplines like management, engineering, economics, agri-business, on a commonly realised need for addressing the more critical issues and needier regions and communities with their expertise. Their mission was the appropriate development of those difficult regions that typically lie in the rainshadow of development interventions, where the minimum requirements for supporting development do not exist, where voluntarism has not grown strong enough to catalyse internal development action - primarily mountain regions and remote and pristine areas. Stepping out of comfortable corporate corridors, Pragya members moved into the mountains, taking with them their superior competence in their disciplines, their ability to create and manage development, and their zeal and determination. Their approach was unique- innovative, business-like, issues-focussed & target-oriented.
Pragya is today a unique fellowship of learner-influencer-practitioners bonded together by a strongly felt commitment and certain common values. Projects are being carried out in the Indian Himalayas. Conserving the natural and cultural heritage. Developing rural livelihood options and enhancing incomes. Building capacity in the indigenous communities. Much has been achieved. Capacities have been built in the mountain communities and some internationally recognised success stories have been created. Strategic partnerships have been established with indigenous institutions as well as international funders. Government support has been accessed and an international award has been won.(The Whitley Award for International Nature Conservation) The enormous lot that remains to be done drives us continually on- to other issues and  communities that need to be addressed, new projects and new mountain systems.
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