Leadership
Sudarshan Singh Deora
India & Nepal Country Director
Sudarshan joined Rustic Pathways in 2007 after completing his Post Grad in Hospitality and Tourism management. He worked in production house as Location Manager and manager for an Inbound luxury travel operator in India. With education degree from JNV university from Jodhpur, Sudarshan passion for outdoor education and providing hands on experience inspires him to provide innovative programs for students in India and Nepal. Sudarshan loves to play cricket and listen to country music.
Team
Vinod Kumar
Outdoor Educator
Vinod Kumar has 15 years of work experience as an Outdoor Educator using the concepts and various methods of experiential learning. He has worked with various schools across the country and internationally. Vinod’s work experience is feathered with working along side seasoned veterans from the industry which has chiseled him into who he is today. He has enhanced his education with courses in mountaineering first aid. He has worked as a Guest Instructor in Mountaineering for 2 yrs at DMAS, Manali and a Guest Instructor in Skiing at NIM, Uttarkashi. Vinod started working with Rustic Pathways in 2016 and has led programs in Nepal, India, the Balkans, Lao and Thailand. The Rustic team and students call him Bigfoot “Yeti” as he is never tired and full of energy. Students enjoy outdoor activities with Vinod and learn about India and Nepal during these outings.
Hemant Kumar
Program Leader
Hemant Kumar Shahi (Manu) was born and brought up in Dharamshala – the second
home of H.H Dalai Lama in India. It is situated in the lap of Dhauladhar range. Hemant received his Bachelors degree in Geography in 1992. This later helped him nurture his interest in outdoor activities and connect with nature. With an enthusiasm to know the various mountains and wilderness, Hemant started to explore by himself. In 1993, he completed his basic and advance course in Mountaineering, and the following year got a certificate in basic water sports course. Since then, Hement has never look backed and has explored many different parts of Northern India. He has a keen interest in flora and fauna,
especially medicinal and herbal plants which he loves to share. In the year 1996, Hemant chose mountaineering as a full time profession, leading many groups and individuals on various routes and to rustic villages in the Himalayas, as well as to cultural groups. A member of Rustic Pathways family since 2005, Hement finds in every moment he learns something new or teaches someone. Initially he led students into the
Indian Himalayas. Later he jumped into cultural as well as community service groups and since 2015 has been a Program leader in India and Nepal.
Shiva Sharan Thapa
Program Leader
Shiva Sharan Thapa is a local program leader in Nepal. Shiva is a native from Rayale, Nepal (a village just outside on the eastern part around 40km from Kathmandu) and also a developing village where Rustic have been affiliated. He speaks Nepali, Hindi and English, and has been working in hospitality from more than 15 years. Shiva is a master chef and also loves reading and writing in his free time. He lives with his parents, wife and baby daughter in Rayale. He loves to socialize with people and finds these conversations as an opportunity to learn more every day. Shiva has been working with Rustic since 2017. He believes in giving back to society, learning more from these actions, and making a better world for the generation coming.