Bio: Sanjay Dalvi

I grew up in a remote Konkan village in Maharashtra, my childhood woven with the rhythms of nature — climbing trees, playing in streams, and exploring fields that stretched beyond imagination. Those early years shaped my lifelong bond with the natural world. As I grew, the rugged beauty of the Sahyadris became my playground and my classroom. Over the years, I have completed close to 200 treks across the range and climbed 125 of the historic forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj — experiences that deepened both my love for the outdoors and my respect for history.

Life later led me into a demanding and fulfilling career in Information Technology, where I held various leadership positions and built a successful professional journey. Yet, amid the corporate hustle, nature never stopped calling. At the age of 53, I chose to retire early — not to rest, but to return to my roots and rediscover the passions that had once defined me.

Since then, I have devoted myself to the twin pursuits of nature photography and sustainable living. Back in my native village, I have planted around 80 cashew and 200 teak trees, and I’ve been cultivating turmeric for the past three years. Watching the cashew trees bear fruit has been as fulfilling as capturing a rare bird in flight.

Photography, which once took a back seat to hiking, has now become the center of my creative life. I have photographed over 400 unique bird species across India, striving to portray not just their beauty but also the fragile ecosystems they belong to. My work is driven by the same curiosity and wonder that defined my childhood — a desire to observe, learn, and share the magic of the wild.

Beyond the lens, I continue to nurture other passions. I have pursued instrumental music, learning Tabla, and completed Level 6 (Pre Visharad) from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, which helps me stay connected to rhythm and harmony in a different form. The technologist in me remains active as well — I continue to design and develop embedded IoT devices for a few small companies, blending creativity and engineering at my own pace.

My journey, from a village boy playing under Konkan’s open skies to being recognized among the nature photographers, has come full circle. Every photograph I take is not just an image — it’s a reflection of gratitude to the nature that has shaped every chapter of my life.