Renowned clean energy advocate and former IIT Bombay professor, Professor Chetan Solanki, broadly recognized as the 'Solar Man of India', has arrived in Udaipur with his custom-built solar bus as part of an extensive nationwide environmental awareness drive. During his visit to the city, he urged citizens to acknowledge the pressing realities of climate change, rising global temperatures, and shifting weather patterns. Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, he highlighted that adopting renewable solar energy and conserving daily power consumption is no longer merely a personal choice, but an imperative necessity for securing a sustainable ecological future.
The Custom Solar Bus: A Sustainable Mobile Habitat and Learning Center
The vehicle driven by Professor Solanki is far more than a standard transport bus; it has been meticulously designed as a self-sustaining mobile unit. Serving as his personal home, office, conference room, and educational workshop on wheels, the bus features high-efficiency solar panels mounted across its roof. These panels generate all the electricity required to operate the various household and electronic appliances inside. The bus is equipped with essential facilities for living, preparing meals, conducting daily work, hosting meetings, and traveling long distances. Through this practical setup, Professor Solanki aims to demonstrate to the public that individuals can live a comfortable, functional, and dignified life while relying on limited resources and clean, renewable energy sources.
The 100-Day Climate Satyagraha and 11-Year Energy Swaraj Mission
Professor Solanki is currently conducting his 100-day 'Bharat Climate Satyagraha Yatra', which spans from May 13 to August 20, 2026. This intensive journey is a specialized segment of his broader 11-year 'Energy Swaraj Yatra', which officially commenced in November 2020. As part of a personal vow, he committed not to return to his home until the entire 11-year mission concludes, dedicating his time continuously to traveling across Indian states to educate citizens on energy conservation. He stressed that mitigating climate change and overcoming energy shortages requires active public participation alongside policy efforts. If every household makes a conscious effort to minimize electricity waste and transition toward solar alternatives, it could drive a monumental shift in environmental protection.
Milestones, Mass Literacy, and International Acclaim
Over the course of his ongoing journey, Professor Solanki has covered approximately 80,000 kilometers across India. He has delivered more than 1,800 lectures, engaged in direct conversations with over 500,000 individuals, and educated more than 2,000,000 people on energy literacy. Prior to this nationwide campaign, during his tenure at IIT Bombay, he played a crucial role in bringing clean lighting solutions to nearly 7.5 million families. His pioneering contributions to climate action have earned global recognition, placing him among the world's 15 prominent thought leaders in climate change and sustainability. Furthermore, in 2025, he launched the 'Finite Earth Movement' with an ambitious goal to connect 1 billion people worldwide to climate preservation and energy self-reliance by 2027.
