India, Aug. 23 -- His life, he said, has been changed by Gurugram. What began as a move to build a peaceful, sustainable life in the city has turned into a journey of civic battles, community building, and lessons in resilience.

"I grew up in Deoghar, Jharkhand, in a joint family where education was never prioritised as the family business was always there and waiting for me. But my grandfather, who believed in the power of free will, quietly charted a different course. That decision itself altered the trajectory of my life," said Pravin Kaushal, a resident of Sobha City, Sector 108.

"Sainik school Tilaiya gave me discipline, identity, and confidence while IIT Kharagpur reshaped me completely. The five years there were like a cycle-I we...