Video and photos by Liu Xudong

In most people’s eyes, Shenzhen is a young, fast-developing, high-tech, smart, innovative and creative city. While acknowledging all these traits of the city, Dr. Sunil Kumar Sahu, an Indian research scientist from BGI, praises Shenzhen as a well-balanced city that sees the harmony of man and nature, coexistence between bustling economic activities and good urban order, as well as residents’ busy work and leisure time.

Dr. Sahu takes an interview with Shenzhen Daily in November 2022. 

Dr. Sahu, who hails from a small village in Chhattisgarh, India, has been working as a research scientist in the field of plant genomics since January 2018 at the Institute of Digital Earth, China National GeneBank (CNGB), BGI Research in Dapeng New District.

Over the past five years, Dr. Sahu has witnessed the city’s rapid development in its economy and urban infrastructures, but at the same time people’s livelihoods and the natural environment were not compromised.

“Shenzhen is a rapidly developing city. In the last couple of years, I’ve seen a lot of progress. For example, previously there was no Metro here in Dapeng, but now I have heard that the Metro construction has already started. I also noticed many new parks are opening here in Dapeng and very beautiful walking or jogging lanes are all around the city. I think that’s significant improvement,” he said. “But on the other hand, they are also taking care of nature. If the construction is going on, they will also grow a lot of trees in other places, especially to reduce the pollution.”

Dr. Sahu works in a lab.

Dr. Sahu gave a thumbs-up to the city government’s efforts in balancing economic growth and environmental protection. “I appreciate the city’s efforts in environmental conservation. I often share Shenzhen’s Air Quality Index with my Indian and other foreign friends, to make them aware of how nicely the top-tier city is maintaining the balance between nature and the city’s growth,” he said.

The 35-year-old told Shenzhen Daily that he is impressed by the city’s excellent organization in managing traffic, rules and public services, among others. “I love not only the city’s organization, but also the fact that people follow the rules very efficiently. One thing my wife and I like the most is that whenever we are on the road and some bus or car is coming, even there is no signal, they will stop automatically, which make us feel like Chinese people are so gentle and kind,” he said.

Dr. Sahu reacts during a badminton match held by BGI Group. Courtesy of the interviewee

In the case of the Indian scientist, brain and brawn have never been enemies. Apart from his daily tasks of assembling genomes, writing research papers and interpreting data, Dr. Sahu loves hiking, going to beaches and sightseeing with his wife and BGI friends.

Dr. Sahu works in his office at China National GeneBank (CNGB), BGI Research in Dapeng New District.

Dr. Sahu told Shenzhen Daily that doing research is not just his job but also his passion, which brought him from India to Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou in 2015 to join a postdoctoral program. While studying in Guangzhou, Dr. Sahu heard a lot about Shenzhen and during the International Botanical Congress held in Shenzhen in 2017, he was invited to visit BGI/CNGB and was amazed by the infrastructure and research facilities of BGI.

In 2019 Dr. Sahu received 300,000 yuan (US$43,000) from the Shenzhen Municipal Government’s “Research Grant” and 50,000 yuan from the “Wutong Phoenix” class-D talent award. He says that financial support from the government is very helpful for early-career researchers.

He also appreciates the city’s great ambition in drawing talents from all over the world. “If more talented people are coming here and give their brainstorming, knowledge and experience and train the local people, I think that will be an enormous boost for Shenzhen’s economic development and all future innovations,” he said.