… or: From the Litchi Kingdom to the Cloud

This article has been contributed by Sushant Gaurav, Technical Engineer Writer at the SUSE Documentation Team.  It is part of a series of articles focusing on SUSE Documentation and the great minds that create the manuals, guides, quick starts, and many more helpful documents.

Some stories do not start with big dreams or big cities or fancy schools.

Where it began

Mine started in Muzaffarpur, Bihar — a place known as the “Litchi Kingdom of India“, famous for its juicy Shahi litchis and warm-hearted people. It’s a town where life moves a little slower, and childhood smells like summer and ripe fruit. And somewhere in one of those quiet lanes, a curious boy grew up — not with a grand plan, but with a head full of questions and a heart that liked to observe more than speak.

My father, a pharma medico expert, is not just the most hardworking man I know — he is my idol. He’s the reason I understand what it means to be grounded, responsible, and quietly strong. Many of the values I carry today — discipline, dignity, and dedication — came not from lectures, but from simply watching him live his life with purpose.

My mother, once a teacher and now a homemaker, is the heart of our home. She’s the one who taught me patience, the power of nurturing others, and the grace in handling whatever life brings — all with a calm smile.

Together, they gave me everything: A good education in our hometown, strong values, and most importantly, the freedom to wonder, dream, and grow in my own way.

The early years

As a kid, I was introverted. Not shy, just someone who liked to look at things a little longer, ask why a little more. I was the one who got curious about how our old computer connected to the internet or how images appeared on the screen. Nothing too technical — just small sparks of curiosity that kept growing quietly. But that never meant I missed out on the fun.

In fact, school life was a blast. From painting competitions to cricket matches, school exhibitions to random laughter in the last bench — I lived it all. I was not glued to books; I was part of almost every event, and that phase gifted me something special — a close-knit group of friends who are still with me today. We have grown up, but the bond never aged.

And yes — my younger brother and I were obsessed with Power Rangers. There was an ongoing battle in our house over who got to be the Red Ranger, and trust me, it was serious business.

Those early years among litchis, friendships, and curiosity shaped not just my childhood, but everything I’ve done ever since.

Staying On Track, Even When Things Crash

My higher education path took me to Bhopal. I pursued Computer Science — not just for the degree, but because I genuinely wanted to understand how things work behind the screen. From the basics of communication protocols to the magic behind the internet, I was hungry to learn it all.

While most people pick a lane during college, I found myself balancing my interest between two passions — Python and writing. I had this habit of writing things down as I learned — at first, just to simplify things for myself. Over time, those scribbles turned into blog posts, and those posts started gaining traction. That’s when GeeksForGeeks noticed my work, and soon after, Scaler, SigNoz, and other companies reached out for freelance gigs. What started as casual documentation became something that people around the world found useful — and that still amazes me.

College was not just about studies

I was lucky enough to begin college not just with new faces, but with two constants from my life — my cousin and my childhood best friend. We were roommates, along with three more amazing people (yes, six of us in one flat — pure chaos, pure fun!). For the first six months, we lived the full college dream — late-night walks, last-minute exam marathons, impromptu gaming sessions, and the art of burning Maggi at 2 AM in an electic kettle.

Then COVID hit. Everything paused. But life had other plans — because almost 1.5 years later, we reunited under the same roof, and it felt like the universe had hit resume on the best part of our lives. Those three roommates became my go-to circle for everything — and one of them even joined me later at PwC.

That flat wasn’t just a living space. It was our little universe filled with music, madness, and memories. Even now, when life gets too serious, I often rewind to those days — and it still brings a smile.

The turning point — my first real break

I landed a Data Analyst Internship at PwC India, Kolkata — and just a month in, I was entrusted with a real-world project. Not just a practice task, but a core application the entire development team still uses to this day. That moment wasn’t just a win — it was a turning point. My work earned me appreciation, a ton of confidence, and eventually, a full-time offer. What started as an internship soon turned into a chapter filled with learning, growth, and recognition I’ll always be proud of.

Over the next two years, I transitioned from Intern → Senior Analyst → Associate Engineer. But more than the titles, it was the people and projects that changed me. I worked with some of the most talented individuals, who did not just feel like colleagues — they became family away from home. They taught me what professional growth feels like when it’s rooted in empathy, support, and shared late-night debugging sessions.

Looking back, it is not just about the skills I learned — it is about the resilience built during college, the confidence earned at PwC, and the quiet commitment to always keep moving forward even when the lights go out.

💚 Coming Full Circle

Sometimes, life gives you sneak peeks of what’s coming — you just don’t realize it at the time.

In my first year of college, I received a scholarship from SUSE through a cloud native program hosted on Udacity. I still remember that moment. I had no fancy resume, no star-studded GitHub, just a deep curiosity and a willingness to learn. That opportunity meant the world to me. It wasn’t just about learning cloud-native tech; it was a vote of confidence when I was just getting started.

From there, my love for open source only grew. I became a part of various open-source programs and contributed to a range of projects — from small community tools to platforms built by industry giants. Every issue resolved and every line of documentation improved felt like I was adding a brick to something bigger than myself.

Fast forward a few years, life looped back in the most unexpected and beautiful way. SUSE reached out again. But this time, it wasn’t for a scholarship — it was for a full-time role.

Today, I work at SUSE as a Technical Engineer Writer. Here I get to do what I love most: code, write, explain, document, and build tech that actually makes a difference. I get to be part of the open-source world I once admired from afar. And honestly? Some mornings, I still catch myself smiling at my GEEKO like it is day one. Because in a way… it always is.

More Than Just Code: Open Source, and a Bit of Magic

I have always been drawn to open source — not just as a contributor, but as a believer in its power to connect people and ideas. Over the years, I have contributed to dozens of projects, from niche utilities to industry giants. I even served as a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, hosting events, learning, building, and sharing alongside a global community.

But open source didn’t just give me skills or stars on GitHub. It gave me her — my partner in life and growth. We met as fellow ambassadors, bonded over late-night coding sessions, shared dreams, and the ups and downs of tech journeys. Her passion, kindness, and relentless drive push me to be better every day — not just as a developer or writer, but as a person. She reminds me that behind every line of code is a story, a purpose, and a person. Together, we have grown from friends to best friends, and now, happily engaged. Crazy how a few lines of code can change your life, right?

For me, open source became the source of my life — in every sense of the word.

Hobbies, Heartbeats, and a Bit of WWE

When I’m not writing code or content, I’m chasing colors — whether it’s on a canvas, a city street, or a dinner plate. I love traveling, discovering new foods, riding my bike, or just wandering through a new place with music in my ears. Out of all the explorations I have explored, Delhi has my heart. It is messy, loud, unpredictable — and somehow, exactly where I feel most alive.

I am also a closet Bollywood singer (don’t judge, the bathroom acoustics are incredible), a hardcore motorcyle lover, and a die-hard WWE fan, still backing Brock Lesnar like it is WrestleMania 2003. Because in the end, it’s never just about jobs, projects, or performance reviews. It’s about staying curious, staying grounded, and always writing your story.

If you’d like to get in touch now, here’s how you can reach me::

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• X (Twitter)

Let’s connect, collaborate, or just share stories. After all, that’s how the best chapters begin.