About Shantibaba...
My name is Scott Blakey and after years of traveling South East Asia, South America and Europe I spent some time in Pune, India and lived with a group of Sadu’s (holy men) who nicknamed me Shantibaba, which I took to meaning a peaceful man inside! The name kind of stuck and soon people who knew me well and travelled always called me Shantibaba.
I spent a lot of time with this group of Sadu’s and smoked the chillum with them daily, as a kind of spiritual/cultural use. It was part of their life and I recall thinking how exceptional these people are to having achieved a status in the world and country of India to do this; own nothing and receive food and respect from the public so they could continue to follow this path.
It kind of cemented my chosen path in life, and that was to pursue Cannabis and try to achieve something similar in my world. Forty odd years later I feel I achieved and am achieving a series of enlightened moments within this world of Cannabis, mainly through genetics but also by medical applications. Cannabis has made me a better person and while this may not be the same for others it is clear to me that it has enhanced my life’s journey.
At almost 60 yr old my passion has not waned and I love planting seeds and seeing what I made with every new crossing or pollination. It has not become monotonous, nor has it ever been boring and mundane. Finding combinations of naturally selected plants to breed new hybrids, remains an absolutely wonderful and fulfilling occupation, and I feel one of the fortunate ones on Earth. It has not all come easy, but nothing worthwhile does! I believe I will continue this line of work, hobby and job till I am no longer on Earth, and enjoy sharing the fruits of my findings with equally enthusiastic growers and users of Cannabis worldwide.