From deep seas to deep soil: Ex-navy diver champions organic farming and eco-tourism in Assam

Champak Deka, a retired Indian Navy diver who once served overseas, has transformed his post-retirement life into a story of rural innovation and self-reliance in his native village of Gormur near Bokakhat in Assam.

It all began during the COVID-19 lockdown when Deka, inspired by the sight of an open field nearly ten bighas wide, took his first step toward realising a long-held dream. What was once barren land is now a vibrant model of sustainable farming and rural tourism.

Having worked as a deep-sea diver in various oil fields across the globe, Deka returned home to begin a new journey—this time, in agriculture. He has since cultivated a wide variety of crops, including fruits like bananas, pineapples, and citrus, as well as turmeric, areca nuts, and vegetables. His methods are completely organic. Alongside this, he has taken up integrated farming by rearing ducks, fish, and bees, and even producing milk and honey—all within his own land.

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To complement his farming initiatives, Deka has stepped into eco-tourism. He has built two traditional cottages and an earthen kitchen where visitors are hosted with locally grown produce, including rice milled from his homegrown “Jaha Bora” paddy. Even the cooking gas is generated through a home-constructed gobar (biogas) plant.

Champak Deka's transformation from an overseas naval diver to a farmer and eco-tourism entrepreneur in Assam is a powerful example of how the scent of one’s own soil can spark not only personal fulfilment but also inspire a larger community toward sustainability and self-sufficiency.