IIT Bombay professor wore torn socks to event at Delhi 5-star hotel. Here’s why

A photograph of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay professor wearing torn socks to an event at a five-star hotel in New Delhi has taken social media by storm.
After the picture surfaced online, Chetan Singh Solanki reacted to it in a LinkedIn post as he offered an insightful explanation behind the now-viral photograph.
Solanki, who has been teaching at the prestigious institution for over two decades, explained that the photograph was taken while he was waiting to deliver a speech at the event.
“Someone snapped this photo of me at the Hyatt in Delhi, during a quiet moment before delivering my talk at an event on September 25,” he said.
The professor, currently on a mission to raise awareness about environmental conservation, has travelled over 43,000 km across 20 states to promote solar energy.
Solanki further elaborated on his philosophy of conscious consumption as he said that while replacing his socks would be an easy task, it goes against his principles of minimising waste.
“Yes, my torn socks were exposed! I need to replace them, I will and sure, I can afford to – but nature cannot. In nature, everything is finite. Lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort to use material as efficiently as possible,” the IIT Bombay professor said.
”I may use the best gadgets to enhance my productivity, but I strive to use the least amount of material to reduce my carbon footprint,” he added.
With a mission akin to maximising profit in the world of business, Solanki described his approach to life as a “social worker” focused on maximising the impact of his time and efforts towards sustainable living.
“Just as a businessman seeks to maximise the return on financial investments, as a social worker, I aim to maximise the impact of my time, creating the greatest possible change,” Solanki said.
Solanki clarified that the reason he wore torn socks was because he could afford it, “but nature cannot.”
Take a look at his post here:
The viral photo has certainly triggered a conversation about maintaining a sustainable lifestyle and the need to prioritise nature’s well-being in a rapidly consuming world.