Meet Abhishek Reddy: 25-year-old influencer who quit Rs. 1.5 crore job to start farming in Manali

Abhishek Reddy, a man from Andhra Pradesh, had quit his job at a prominent Hyderabad start-up to come to the peaceful forests of Manali to start farming. The 25-year-old had planned his life out in two parts. He wanted to work till he was 35 and then take an early retirement and partake in his bucket list thereafter.

However, life took an unexpected turn, and Abhishek gave up the Rs 1.5 crore per annum job to settle in Obulapuram village near Pamidi town. He ran a farm with his mother and sister, and the 25-year-old was living his best life. He told reporters that his "Life is bindaas". He became the symbol for all the corporate employees who had dreamed of living a life filled with solitude, happiness, and freedom.


Recently, The Better India reached out to the idol of 'corporate slaves' and found out that he is now residing in the dense forests of Manali. He learnt the principles of permaculture (A design system for creating sustainable human settlements and agricultural systems by mimicking natural ecosystems), and implemented them to build a farm healthy enough for the environment. He made layers in the farm with tall canopy trees and produced fruits like mangoes, guava, and jackfruit.


Abhishek's success on Instagram brought him two new disciples to his place in Manali. One is an artist from Kerala, Ponni M Nath, and another is his 38-year-old friend, Rency. Ponni M Nath toldThe Better Indiaabout how Abhishek truly cares about the ecosystem and works diligently to build a sustainable future for everyone.

She said, "He approaches farming as an art form, blending intuition with science. I spent the day learning about permaculture principles, how every plant, every section of the land, is part of a carefully balanced ecosystem. He walked slowly among the crops, adjusting branches with care and even talking to the plants, as if each one had its own story to tell. And the meal he prepared for me, made entirely from produce grown on the farm, was the freshest and most delicious I have ever tasted”.


Abhishek Reddy has become a known face over social media for his educational videos on permaculture practices and sustaining a healthy environment. Howver, his journey was not easy. He gave up the typical “Indian dream” job to partake in his interests.


"First, I had started my own web designing company in Hyderabad, where I would also offer creative branding ideas to companies. One of my clients liked my work so much that they offered me a Rs 1.5 crore per annum job, and since it was an exciting prospect, I took it up only to end up working about 15 hours a day in the office," Reddy toldMoneycontrolin2024. He left the job soon enough to move to his hometown in Andhra Pradesh and buy a farm to settle with his family.

After a few months, the 25-year-old got significantly popular on Instagram, sharing his agricultural journey with his 753k followers. Additionally, he also shares reels on historic facts about Manali's forests, dos and don'ts for tourists, and other educational videos. He goes by the name Silly Sensei on Instagram.


This 25-year-old man had defied all odds and given up a lavish, materialistic life to breathe fresh air under the bright sun. His journey from the top of the corporate world to being a significant environmental influencer in dense forests is one of the inspiring stories our young generations must know.

The stressful and challenging corporate world will grow without Abhishek Reddy, but who will step up like Abhishek to pursue their dream? The question remains, and the new generation must step out of the 'corporate race' bubble and choose what they truly want to be remembered for in their life.