Beyond the Familiar: A Journey of Learning and Growth
In my last blog, I shared how the first few months of 2026 unfolded, from moving back to Gandhinagar and reconnecting with old friends to slowly building Edge Robotics Studio and exploring new opportunities. I ended that blog with my visit to Vigyan Ashram in Pabal, where I was considering starting a fellowship. At that time, I wasn't completely sure what would come next, but after spending some time thinking about it, I finally made up my mind and decided to begin my fellowship at Vigyan Ashram in May 2026.
Stepping Into the Unknown
Starting my fellowship at Vigyan Ashram was not an easy decision. I was moving to a completely new place where I didn't know anyone, wasn't familiar with the local environment, and couldn't speak the regional language. Since Vigyan Ashram is located in a rural area, adjusting to everyday life was another challenge. On top of that, the summer heat made things even more difficult. There were moments when I questioned whether I would be able to adjust, but somehow I convinced myself to give it a try and move forward.
Things started changing soon after I joined. Many students from the local area also joined Vigyan Ashram around the same time, and slowly, what initially felt like an unfamiliar place started becoming more comfortable. I began getting to know people, understanding the surroundings, and adjusting to a different way of living. Every day was filled with learning, working together, laughter, and good memories. We enjoyed each other's company, helped one another, and made even ordinary days feel special. Their presence made the transition much easier than I had expected.
By the end of May, I had started working on two or three projects, although things were still quite uncertain. I wasn't entirely sure how these projects would develop or whether everything would work out as planned. Around the same time, I visited my parents, spent a few days at home, and returned to Pabal to continue my work. Slowly, I was becoming more comfortable with the environment and the journey I had chosen.
Learning, Building, and Finding My Place
June and July were mostly spent building a strong foundation for the projects I had started. There were many things to understand, problems to solve, and ideas to experiment with. Progress wasn't always visible, and sometimes I wasn't sure whether I was moving in the right direction. But I continued working, learning from mistakes, and trying different approaches. These months taught me to be more patient with the process and to keep going even when the results weren't immediately clear.
During this time, I also had the opportunity to meet some Vigyan Ashram alumni who had started their own ventures. I spent a few days working with them and helping conduct workshops. It was a really nice experience, and I enjoyed seeing how they were using their knowledge and skills beyond Vigyan Ashram. Meeting people who were building something of their own gave me a different perspective and encouraged me to think more about what I wanted to do with Edge Robotics Studio.
Life at Vigyan Ashram wasn't only about projects and work. I also spent time exploring nearby places with friends and enjoying nature. Those small trips, conversations, and moments away from work became an important part of my experience. Whenever things felt uncertain or difficult, spending time with friends helped me feel refreshed and motivated to continue. Looking back, I think the people I met during these months made the journey just as meaningful as the work itself.
The Difficult Part of Moving Forward
As time passed, things slowly started moving toward the end of my journey at Vigyan Ashram. Many of the friends I had made were completing their work and preparing to return home or move on to their next opportunities. One by one, people started leaving, and the place that had once been full of familiar faces and everyday conversations began to feel different.
It was a strange feeling. I was happy that my friends were completing their journeys and moving forward, but at the same time, it was difficult to see them leave while I was still there, continuing my work. The people who had made an unfamiliar place feel like home were slowly moving on. I was left with my projects, memories, and the responsibility of completing what I had started. Somehow, I kept myself going and focused on finishing the remaining work.
August was mostly about completing pending projects and bringing things closer to their final stage. After months of uncertainty, experimentation, and learning, it felt good to see the work coming together. By the beginning of September, I had wrapped up my remaining responsibilities and brought my fellowship journey at Vigyan Ashram to an end.
Leaving Vigyan Ashram was another moment of mixed feelings. When I first arrived, I was worried about adjusting to a new place, meeting new people, and managing life in an unfamiliar environment. But by the time I left, that same place had given me friendships, experiences, memories, and a different perspective on learning and working with communities. What had started as an uncertain decision became an important chapter of my life.
Toward the end of September, I traveled to Kerala to explore another opportunity I had been considering, Fab Academy 2027. I visited Super Fab Lab Kerala, where I was interested in pursuing the Diploma in Digital Fabrication. It was a really nice experience to explore the facility and learn more about the environment. After spending months working on different projects at Vigyan Ashram, visiting another fabrication lab gave me something new to look forward to and another possible direction for my learning journey.
Returning, Reflecting, and Looking Ahead
October began with me returning to Gujarat, where I spent some time relaxing and being with myself after the past few months of continuous work and movement. It felt good to slow down again, spend time in familiar surroundings, and reflect on everything that had happened since the beginning of the year.
After taking a short break, I returned to Pune and joined a startup founded by Vigyan Ashram alumni whom I had met during my fellowship. I wanted to spend some time learning specific things that interested me and gaining more experience by working alongside them. It was another opportunity to explore a different working environment and continue learning from people who were building something of their own.
Now, as I write this, I feel that I have learned much of what I came here to learn. I am slowly preparing to close this chapter as well and move in a new direction. I don't know exactly where the next opportunity will take me, but I want to keep exploring, meeting new people, learning new things, and experiencing life beyond what is already familiar to me.
Looking back at the past few months, I realize how much has changed. I started this journey with uncertainty about living in a new place, and somewhere along the way, that unfamiliar environment became a part of my life. I met people who made ordinary days memorable, worked on projects that challenged me, and experienced both the happiness of being together and the sadness of saying goodbye.
One thing I've started understanding is that every place and every person becomes part of our journey for a certain time. We meet, learn, share experiences, and eventually move forward in different directions. It isn't always easy, but perhaps that's also what makes these experiences meaningful.
For now, I'm continuing to build Edge Robotics Studio while exploring opportunities that help me learn, grow, and understand what I want to do next. There is still a lot I want to experience, and I know that things won't always go according to plan. But I'm becoming more comfortable with that uncertainty and learning to appreciate the journey as it unfolds.
I guess that's all for this chapter. Let's see where life takes me next.
Until the next blog, bye bye!