Mr. Pavan Sukhdev : 1. A banker who loves nature

1. A banker who loves nature

Growing up in a wealth of nature

Born in 1960, Sukhdev was raised in New Delhi, India. Although New Delhi has developed into a large city, it was a small town surrounded by nature when Pavan was growing up. At his grandmother's house, they could see fruit bats flying around the trees in the garden during the day, and hear jackals howling in the distance.

During summer vacation, he also spent time with his family in nature at places such as Simla and Massoorie. Spending time in these unspoiled environments cultivated in him a love of nature.

At a summer resort (1966)

His father taught him when he was young that the value of your contribution was the effort you put into it, and his mother taught him to always do his best. Their words remained with him and became his life's philosophy.

Pavan Sukhdev and His Family (front left: Pavan) (1974)

Shifting from physics to economics

Pavan was the smartest student in his class in high school. They moved to Europe when his father was transferred to Switzerland for work (Sukhdev continues to live in Switzerland). He also studied in England.

In England as a Student (1977)

In 1981, when Sukhdev was 21, he began studying physics at Oxford University with the goal of becoming a scientist.

The scholarship he received, however, was only 10,000 to 20,000 yen a year, which was far short of what he needed. Disappointed, he gave up physics and shifted his major to economics with the thought of becoming an accountant.

Having prepared to study science, he was comfortable with the concepts of physics. The concepts he encountered in economics, however, were new and quite foreign to him. In physics, when a theory cannot be proved by facts, it is abandoned. In economics, facts are sometimes ignored in favor of other considerations thought to be more important.

He thought this way of thinking was strange as it ignored reality. Immersing himself in his studies with the hope of getting a job, though, he gradually changed his perspective.

Success as a banker

Many young people in India want to be doctors, lawyers or bankers because of better incomes careers in these areas promise, and Sukhdev was no different. He chose to become a banker.

In 1983, 23-year-old Sukhdev joined Deutsche Bank. After gaining experience in a wide range of bank operations over the next 10 years, he was asked to take charge of a new project at the bank's India Office. His success resulted in his eventual rise to director of the entire Asian region.

When Pavan was a Director at Deutsche Bank

Over the years, he developed a deep understanding of the economic mechanisms and problems that affected people. When he spoke about these, people listened to him because of his experience and the trust they had in his knowledge and ability.

Sukhdev and his wife had two daughters. His first daughter, Mahima, loved nature. Spending time outdoors together rekindled the affection he had felt for nature in his childhood.

His second daughter Ashima loved to recycle. Sukhdev made a doll house from cardboard, and his two daughters play with it for hours.

He believes that being in nature and recycling with his daughters inspired his move toward becoming an environmental economist.

Pavan and His Two Daughters (Left: Mahima, Right: Ashima) (2015)

2. Teaching the value of nature