Soumitri Das is the Team Lead (Environment) at the United States Agency for International Development, India mission.
Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/soumitri-das-8954875
Soumitri is an international development professional with expertise in forestry and biodiversity conservation. He also has a specialization in GIS and remote sensing application in forestry and natural resource management. He has worked in IIM Ahmedabad, Virginia Tech, UNEP-WCMC, TERI and now in USAID. He advises young IIFMites to utilize the world of opportunities that IIFM offers and learn as much as one can because that opens up avenues to an exciting world of international development.
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM to this role?
A. At IIFM I was exposed to issues facing natural resources use and sustainability. I also took up the elective course on the then new and upcoming field of GIS and remote sensing, subsequently exploring these analytical tools further by initiating and administering a GIS component within a UNDP-GEF project on conservation of dryland biodiversity during my tenure as a research associate at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. During that time I realized that building upon the technical aspects of these computer systems could potentially result in more rigorous analysis. I then explored graduate programs in the US focusing on GIS and remote sensing. Encouraged by the faculty strength and facilities, I decided to enroll into the graduate program at the College of Natural Resources, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in the US. Upon graduation, I found employment with the Forest Technology Group where I worked primarily on application of GIS and remote sensing for forestry / natural resources management. My continued and growing interest in the environment made me apply for the Chevening Scholarship in Biodiversity. Associated with the UN Environment – World Conservation Monitoring Centre, I participated in mapping of tropical montane cloud forests and in classifying mangroves. On my return to India, I started to work with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and later moved to USAID.
initiative to scout and document knowledge at the grassroots. And also provided
volunteer research support to the Society for Research and Initiatives for
Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI), a non-governmental
organization that strengthens the creativity of grassroots innovators engaged
in conserving biodiversity.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A.
At TERI, I was involved in many research activities, proposal development, project management, capacity building and policy development in the areas of forestry, biodiversity, energy, environment, sustainable development, and climate change mitigation. These included TERI’s submission towards India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC); accessing forest carbon revenue under voluntary carbon markets and CDM; and developing TERI’s programme in the area of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions for Deforestation and Forest Degradation).
My work on the intersection of forestry, climate change and sustainable development led to the next opportunity to work with USAID .
Over my professional career spanning various settings (academic, research, consulting, non-governmental, bilateral, multilateral organizations), I have come to feel that all have a role to play in development and an IIFMite is well placed to bring the otherwise disparate pieces together for a larger outcome.
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A. At USAID, I have been able to engage with the Government of India and grow the environment portfolio over the past decade to include, biodiversity conservation, air and plastic pollution, in addition to forestry, and with some lasting results.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. Almost every day in my professional life I get to realize the roles of the various courses we studied at IIFM. Development is such a vast field and it helps to connect the various learning I gained at IIFM.
I had to develop a strategy for biodiversity conservation in Phulwari ki Nal wildlife sanctuary.
I worked on this OT project with my batchmate Neeraj Negi (who must have taken this photo!)
I am trying to recall how I might have completed the questionnaire since the forest dweller didn’t speak Hindi and I didn’t speak Wagdi, a Bhil language from that region.
Ah I know how. It’s thanks to our generous host, guide and interpreter (in the check shirt)
whose hut I helped build later!
Q. What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles.
A. There are no perfect sectors or roles; as a fresher, you should try to match the job opportunities with your individual interest and background. And try to garner as much ground experience as one can early on in the career. That would stand you in good stead when you move into, for example, the policy domain or start to lead teams.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. Singing as a filler during Kalpataru 1997 even though I can’t sing for the life of me! That was because there was so much joy and warmth in the IIFM family getting together that evening and I couldn’t stop myself from participating in the singing competition albeit as a filler.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. In my professional life, I have had so many occasions to remember and appreciate what I learnt at IIFM. If I have to choose one to begin, it would be the elective course of GIS and remote sensing offered by Dr Chinmaya Rathore. I say that because I loved the course and my immediate professional was built on that as I first administered the GIS component of a UNDP-GEF project on conservation of dryland biodiversity at IIM Ahmedabad and later pursued a graduate degree in forestry focused on GIS and Remote Sensing applications in forestry and natural resources management.
Q. The best buddies / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. Just this question has opened up floodgates of memories and many of them probably can’t be shared 🙂 Most of these memories have one thing in common. It’s the love, fun, respect, camaraderie and sharing amongst the batchmates and across batches. We have two motorbikes in the hostel and other than emergencies we could ask of the owners to go on joyrides even. Once we had a batchmate wanting to try her hand on riding a bike and we started to roll down from the hostel towards the water tank/gate. It was going well till we reached the water tank and she didn’t know where the brakes were. I was riding pillion and couldn’t remember either at the spur of the moment. Thankfully nothing untoward happened and we figured it out in time as we took the turn after the gate to the left in what used to be the parking area.
, Shilpa Bahl, Ritu Kanotra, Suryanarayan and I. We even presented the first village maps we had prepared during our PRA exercise (which was deemed too beautiful and clean to be the real one!) and displayed the cones of the various Pine species we had come across in the field.Lower: The Shahdol Conservancy group after the presentation
And another one I got to share for sure. This was my first term and lots of us were in someone’s room one evening in what turned out to be a singing session amongst the singers of the batches. The song I remember being sung was ‘Pyar hame kis mod pe le aaya’ While I love and remember the soulful singing in the room, there came a stanza that starts with ‘batiaan bujha do; battiaan bujha do ki neend nahi aati hain…’ At that point the lights of the room went out. It turns out that one of our seniors (who shall not be named in this public forum) had switched off the light switch since she was standing closest to the light switch and thought it was a request coming from the singers!
In another instance, we had a batchmate from South India who had never had chole bhature before coming to IIFM. Our kitchen staff had prepared humongous sized bhature that most of us had one or even just a part of one. But not this batchmate who despite our remonstration, had at least four of those bhature. One can of course guess the outcome.
Q. As an alumni, what’s your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. IIFM offers a world of opportunities. Learn as much as you can because that opens up avenues to an exciting world of international development.
Q. What is your typical day at the office?
A. Very hard to describe a typical day but in a week I get to engage with the various Government of India ministries, our implementing partners on the ground, conduct field visits and carry out lots of administrative reporting.
Q. And how about weekends, Hobbies, Family and anything else you want to add.
A. I love photography which I like to use to learn and teach with. My facebook and instagram account has many of the photos that I want to share with everyone.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors .
A. I have quite a few favourite authors: Bill Bryson, Simon Winchester, and our very own Pranay Lal.
Q. IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitments towards its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni, students?
A. I am always eager to have an interaction with the current batch of students. I have had a few interactions with the incoming batch in the past and it always felt good to be able to share experiences that can sometimes have an influence on their lives and careers. Much in the same way our seniors and faculty have had on ours.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there? What do you think is a positive change and what is not?
A. While I understand that there are more specializations and new courses to educate the students to meet the needs of the changing scenario in India and the world, it would be good if there are more organizational training opportunities.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. There are so many IIFMites I would love to get profiled here but I should probably stick with my own batchmates. Take for example my roommate, Shakeb Nabi. He’s such a people’s person which I hadn’t really fully realized till the day our hostel room became crowded with his well wishes from the faculty, administration and facility management when he was taken ill. Thankfully that was the only time he fell sick 🙂
