Journey
Colonel Tewari’s remarkable journey began when he joined the National Defence Academy after completing Class 11. Commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles, he served for 27 years in operational and high-conflict zones across India, including some of the most remote and challenging terrains. His leadership in counter-insurgency, psychological operations, and developmental initiatives helped build peace and resilience in insurgency-hit regions.
At just 18, he authored his first book, Auto Sketch from an Unfinished Diary, a literary work inspired by British-Indian writer Sasthi Brata and Lebanese-American philosopher Kahlil Gibran. His passion for writing and learning was evident from his first Army posting, where he contributed to editing and publishing the Combat Magazine of the College of Combat.
His military tenure culminated as Director of Policy Ecology at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence, where he spearheaded environmental strategy, biodiversity conservation, and ecological planning. He was institutional member on the National Board for Wildlife and the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board, and was instrumental in raising three Ecological Task Force Battalions. He worked on a number of Projects for the conservation of endangered species such as the Black-necked Crane, Chiru, Double-Humped Camel, Markhor, Hangul besides wetlands and migratory species.
After a distinguished military career, Colonel Tewari transitioned into the corporate world, where he played pivotal roles in major Indian and global enterprises. In these roles, he led large-scale environmental and social risk mitigation strategies for infrastructure, energy, and real estate projects across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia. He worked on joint ventures with national governments and global institutions such as the World Bank (IFC), Asian Development Bank, Paribas Bank, and several international funding agencies.
He prepared and implemented comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and Biodiversity Conservation Plans in collaboration with international partners such as SN Power (Norway) and Sustainability (UK). His case study on the Impact of Thermal Power Plants on Marine Ecosystems received international acclaim and was presented at global forums.
Several of his case studies have been featured in: Harvard Business Review, European Case Clearing House, Yale University, USA and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore
Colonel Tewari has actively contributed to India’s environmental policy. He was part of the consultative team that drafted the National Environment Policy and worked closely with key ministries.
He has executed ground-breaking projects in semi-arid regions, deserts, cold deserts, and wetland ecosystems across India. Key areas include groundwater rejuvenation, afforestation, watershed management, biodiversity mapping, and wasteland development, in partnership with leading organizations like WWF, WTI, BNHS, CSE, INTACH, WII, ZSI, BSI, and SAICON.
As part of his environmental leadership, he developed and implemented Tata Power’s conservation plans for Marine biodiversity, Mahaseer fish protection, Eco-restoration of hydroelectric projects, Coral reef and mangrove conservation.
Colonel Tewari was deputed to the Ministry of Home Affairs for three years, where he led development initiatives in remote and inaccessible border regions. A notable achievement was the electrification of over 1,000 villages in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Kashmir using micro mini hydel power projects, funded through the Border Areas Development Fund.
He is also associated with renowned spiritual institutions including ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission, Vivekananda Kendra, Parmarth Niketan, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, International Academy of Vedic Vidya, and SN Goenka’s Vipassana Centers.
His journey blends military discipline, academic insight, and social purpose into a lifelong mission of service.
