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#182: The man who makes mud houses.
Education Next- Hundred and eighty first Edition
Priyanka Modi
November 08, 2025
Hello,
Welcome to my 182nd newsletter!
A journey where living and learning walk together
As I promised in my last newsletter, I’ll keep sharing stories from our travels — stories that weave together sustainability, inspiring people, and the small yet powerful experiences that remind us what learning truly means.
Every place we visit teaches us something — sometimes through the land, sometimes through the people who live simply and create meaning in their everyday lives.
This one comes from Solan, Himachal Pradesh, where Adi and I met someone who builds homes with mud and heart.
Making It More Sustainable 🌱
During our Learning Yatra, Adi and I realised how much there is to experience when we keep moving — from one place to another, blending into new cultures and listening to stories that shape how people live and build their worlds.
Every journey showed us something new about ourselves.
I often noticed how we humans limit our choices, learning to adapt and adjust without always questioning why. But every time we break our patterns — we grow. This journey helped me see that clearly.
The Man Who Builds with Earth
While we were in Solan, we met a man who spends his days making mud houses and teaching others how to build with the earth.
He wasn’t doing it for fame or money — just to keep alive a way of building that’s sustainable and deeply connected to nature. His quiet dedication was inspiring.
Adi got a chance to make a mud brick himself — his hands covered in clay, his face glowing with curiosity.
It was learning in its purest form — through touch, questions, and joy.
We were there for the Sustainability Talks (Manthan) — a gathering of farmers, educators, and experts.
The air was filled with stories, food, and laughter — proof that change can begin in the most grounded spaces.
🌿 What This Journey Taught Me
Sustainability isn’t just about how we build — it’s about how we live.
About noticing the resources we use, the communities we learn from,
and the stories that remind us that living simply can be deeply fulfilling.
Each journey leaves us a little lighter — not because we carry less,
but because we learn what truly matters.
Breakfast time with co-travellers in Solan.
Adi makes his first mud brick.
This is one of his projects.
About Solan 🌄
Solan, one of the twelve districts of Himachal Pradesh,
is known for its gentle climate and fertile land.
Agriculture here is a way of life, not just work.
The district attracts travellers from the plains throughout the year —
a place where simplicity and sustainability coexist beautifully.
— Priyanka
If you enjoy reflections like this, you can join my weekly newsletter — where I share stories on learning, creativity, and the future of education:
👉 educationnext.beehiiv.com
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