Lt. Commander Virendra Singh Rawat, post-retirement from Indian Navy, settled in his ancestral farm near Kotdwara, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. A graduate from National Defence Academy, (1970) he holds dual specialisation in Marine and Aeronautical Engineering. He resides close to the historic ancient heritage site Kanvashram, situated on the bank of River Malini, officially recognised in 1956 by the government of Uttar Pradesh, as birthplace of Emperor Bharat. Living in such a culturally rich environment inspired his deep interest in the area's history. Lt. Cdr. Virendra Singh Rawat is President of Kanvashram Vikas Samiti since 1998, an NGO, propagating the cause of heritage site. He is also credited with bringing to light to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) the relics of ancient monuments unearthed in Kanvashram region in 2012. Due to his untiring efforts, in 2018 Kanvashram was included in the list of ICONIC places declared by Govt of India, to be glorified, under a scheme envisioned by the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He is also playing a significant role in community development, educating and guiding children of the surrounding villages and training them in various sports 170 disciplines like Basketball, Badminton, Lawn Tennis, Hockey etc. His dedication to both national service and grassroots social work reflects his commitment to holistic development and cultural preservation. He is also actively involved in welfare activities of veterans through various Ex-servicemen organisations since 1994.