“I’ve always had this restless “khujli”—an internal itch to see what’s at the top of the highest mountain. Growing up in the Koraput district of Odisha, I was surrounded by the beauty of nature, with the Deomali peak always calling out to me. There’s something about trekking, waterfalls, and the sheer urge to climb that has defined who I am since I was a kid. I never really dreamt of going to other countries; I just wanted to see every corner of my own land first.
My journey hasn’t been a straight line. My father was an Ex-Army officer who later transitioned into business in our hometown of Semiliguda. Watching him navigate those shifts taught me a lot about resilience. I carried that same energy into my Engineering days at GIET, where my friends and I obsessed over building a go-kart from scratch—welding, cutting metal, and designing.
We even won a design award at an event in Delhi. I wasn’t the “top” student, but I had a passion for the mechanics of how things move.
I moved to Hyderabad in 2022 to start my career. Today, most people know me as a Loco Pilot for the Hyderabad Metro. It’s a job that demands a calm mind and total alertness. When I’m in that cabin, the responsibility is immense—thousands of passengers are relying on me to get them home safely. There’s a quiet pride in that. When colleagues or passengers show respect for the work we do, it feels different. It’s a grounded, disciplined life that keeps me connected to the city.
But even with a steady 9-to-5, my heart is always looking for the next trail. I’ve worked in places like Erode in Tamil Nadu, and while the food or the conditions weren’t always great, the weather and the culture kept me going.
Currently, I’ve worked hard to make this leave possible because I’m finally heading toward Himachal Pradesh. I need to be beside the rivers and the mountains again. It took a lot of planning and financial discipline to get here, because surviving on the road isn’t just about the “vibe”—it’s about being prepared.
If I could tell people one thing, it’s this: Don’t give up on what you love. Whatever it is, just try it once. Who knows? It might actually work. And most importantly, learn to love yourself first. People in this world will come and go, and you have to be strong enough to stay grounded on this earth while your eyes are fixed on the peaks.”
- Deepak Singh