Many millennials dream about quitting the hustle and moving to a beach. But Gen Z Abhishek Reddy, who goes by Silly Sensei on Instagram, actually did it.
A former corporate employee, he quit a cushy ₹1.5 crore job in Hyderabad to live a slow, sustainable life. The Gen Z influencer told Moneycontrol that he left the daily grind of 15-hour workdays to pursue the joys of a quiet life surrounded by nature.
Garnering some 700 thousand followers by making videos about farming and nature, he has now moved to the Himalayas. So, how did he do it, and what makes his shift inspiring for this generation?
How Abhishek Reddy became Silly Sensei
While Abhishek planned to retire by 35, life had other plans. At 25, he quit his well-paying job and moved to a farm with his family, building a sustainable home there.
There, he made educational videos about permaculture, educating people on how to grow plants in a way that generates little to no waste, to keep the environment healthy. Thus, Silly Sensei, an Instagram sensation, was born
This isn’t unlike the Gen Z farmer from Japan, who moved to Fukushima to take up kiwi farming, just so he could make the most out of what would otherwise be waste-land. But Abhishek’s commitment wasn’t just to farming.
"Silly Sensei’s" Himalayan stint
Following his time at his family’s farm, Abhishek moved to the Himalayas. Giving people insights on the flora and fauna of the region, he lived in the forests of Manali.
Helping Gen Z and millennials connect with nature, he shares interesting things about which mountain-side plants are edible, educating people on the animals they might cross paths with, healthy recipes, and agricultural practices that are sustainable.
Why Gen Z is committed to sustainable living
At the heart of Abhishek’s content was the intent to utilise his skills to help everyone be more eco-conscious. In addition to that, he's helping others make the most of what they have, be it land, plants, or things one might consider "waste."
Why Gen Z’s goals are all about environmental consciousness
What’s admirable, is that Abhishek didn't just ditch the rat race for his own peace of mind. In pursuit of his own interests, he found a way to create mass-awareness on how to be connect with nature and sustainably use environmental resources.
Maybe Abhishek is an exception, and perhaps everyone can’t or won’t quit their job and leave behind material gains to live off the land. But given the massive burden on cities, and the blows the planet takes due to humans’ unsustainable lifestyles, one has to ask: have the priorities of Gen Z shifted in favour of tranquil and rooted small-town living, over the noisy bustle of metro cities?
