"There are people, and there are people." The time frame may differ individually, but most of us eventually reach a point in life where we pause and seek to understand the purpose of life. We question our beliefs and ask ourselves, what truly makes us happy? If we delve a bit deeper, we find that it’s not possessing something we desire, but rather the act of giving that brings true happiness.

People like Kaustubh are born with this purpose. As he grew up, nature became his closest friend, its paradoxes appealing to his intellect. More than his relatives, he was drawn to gypsies wandering from place to place. His vagabond soul found a sense of belonging with nomadic tribes who lived in harmony with their changing surroundings. He was fortunate to find his purpose early in life and turn his passion into his profession, leading him on many journeys.

Kaustubh worked on various projects, farms, and organizations, becoming an authority in ornithology, or birdwatching. He is not just a nature lover but also a dedicated conservationist. At sixteen, he began his journey as an avid birdwatcher, determined to spot a "Lesser Florican," an almost extinct bird rarely seen for over fifty years. After nearly a year of fruitless searching, he discovered that the last sighting was by Shri Maruti Chittampalli, with help from the Pardhi community. This brought him to the so-called "evil" Pardhi tribe, known as expert thieves, poachers, and hunters—a nuisance to civilized society. But when Kaustubh lived with them, his perspective changed entirely. He realized this tribe was crucial to nature conservation, with unwritten rules ensuring the natural balance of their habitat for thousands of years. The traditional knowledge they had was a treasure trove that needed to be understood and shared with the modern world.

For nearly a thousand years, Pardhi tribesmen had been constantly on the move, killing birds, hunting animals, producing illicit liquor, and stealing. Uneducated and shunned by society, they were never part of the mainstream. Kaustubh worked extensively with them, spending restless nights in their makeshift lodges called “Beda,” sleeping under the open sky. Earning their trust was a Herculean task, but eventually, he helped them understand that their traditional ways could no longer sustain their livelihood. He showed them how to use their traditional knowledge for the betterment of society and nature conservation. His relentless work earned him an Ashoka fellowship.

His NGO, “Samvedna,” (now, FEED foundation) played a crucial role in raising awareness about vanishing grazing grounds and grasslands. As his search for the Lesser Florican expanded, Kaustubh realized that the primary reason for the bird's near extinction was the lack of breeding grounds. This bird needs vast grasslands to survive, not jungles. Conservation of these grasslands is essential, not only for species survival but also for grazing animals and the related ecosystem. It's intrinsic to human survival. However, government control made it difficult to access grazing land, leading to a decline in livestock. Research revealed that the western Vidarbha region is unsuitable for forests but ideal for grasslands. Historical records show that, for the past thousand years, the region’s kings maintained large herds of animals as part of their wealth.