Chris Desai - (Cpt)
Global Director at UOCEAN® 2050 & UEARTH® 2050 | Founder at The Vayyu Foundation® | CEO at Vayyu® | Conservationist | Visionary | Philanthropist | Captain | Diver | Pilot | Entrepreneur | Disrupter
Chris Desai is the son of an Indian immigrant father whom escaped Uganda after being politically ostracised and to a working class British English / Scottish Mother who was born in the UK.
“Many years ago, I took some time out of a ten year career in the fashion & music industry to learn how to sail professionally after a reaching a point in my life where I felt I had lost my purpose and meaning, surrounded by the glitz and glamour of the fashion world, I left it all and returned to my first true love, the ocean and the natural planet.
My mother has always been a seafarer herself, learning to sail from her seafaring father along the Cornish coast throughout her childhood in small boats, she always felt at home by the sea, this love and connection passed down to myself from a very young age, she would take me to the water at every opportunity she could afford and put me through sailing lessons on the odd occasion when money was available.
The moment
“I opened my eyes as I returned from deep meditation one morning, sitting on the bow of the sailing yacht I was aboard, the sun began to glimmer over the horizon, dolphins swimming in unison looking up towards the sky and then into my eyes, dancing in front of the bow wave as we glided through the crystal clear waters off the Devonshire coast.
Something deep in me stirred, my life was about to change at that specific moment, it had been building up inside of me, something was about to happen but I didn't know exactly what.
I felt my energy completely shift and a type of buzzing in every cell of my body as tears started to stream down my face, time stood still, lost in the moment, everything froze and for a second, silence, complete and utter stillness. I felt at peace with the whole world instantly, in touch with every particle that ever existed, everything became clear in that moment and that my life was about to change going fourth.
My very existence, my purpose, my path became clear, a feeling of such grandeur, of belonging, of omnipresence in the surrealist of places, an overwhelming respect for the ocean, planet and every living creature upon it began to rise within me. I felt connected at every level.
I understood the very essence of life for that token second, the world spoke to me in a way I could never have imagined, nor could ever explain.
I knew moving forwards I couldn't happily go on knowing this world, this experience, this existence could be damaged by the fashion industry, the industry I had built a substantial career in.
My Background
In the tapestry of my life, the experience of maturing amidst the gentle embrace of the United Kingdom has been nothing short of a profound privilege and a cherished honor.
As the heart and soul of this great nation intertwines with my being, I stand tall and resolute, a proud bearer of the British identity, all the while reverently celebrating the vibrant tapestry of my Indian- African -Caribbean heritage.
In the sacred chambers of my heart, a flame of gratitude burns eternally, for it was fate's benevolence that guided my ancestors to seek sanctuary within these shores, sparing them from the perils that loomed in the vast expanse of Africa. I am humbled by their journey, and I can only imagine the trials and tribulations my family endured when forced to depart from his homeland, a victim of unjust discrimination borne from our ethnicity.
May my existence serve as a testament to the amalgamation of cultures and histories that have come together to form the very fabric of my being. I vow to carry forward the torch of understanding and unity, embracing the mosaic of identities that adorn our diverse society. In every step I take, I shall honor my roots, illuminating the path for those who follow, and nurturing a world where love and acceptance unite in glorious harmony.
