Environment
Environment, for me, encapsulates the entirety of the natural world. Each entity on earth has its origin in nature; including man-made substances that derive their existence to the five fundamental elements.
With escalating populations, elevating standards of living, increasing aspirations, and unchecked greed, we have witnessed disastrous impacts on habitats, ecosystems, and the elements. This prompted me to seek how I could make a difference.
My journey as an environmental advocate took a significant turn following the 2005 Mumbai flood. Collaborating with Professors Anuradha Mathur and Dilip Da Cunha, I served as the Director of the NGMA Exhibition, “SOAK: Mumbai in an Estuary.” This exhibition generated public consciousness and sparked cross-sectoral dialogues across various sectors on the issues concerning managing urban habitats amidst climate change’s multifaceted realities.
Implementing change at a grassroots level, I took part in numerous environmental clean-ups, inspired by the Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan campaign launched by Prime Minister Modi in 2014. My experiences of personally cleaning and dredging sewers provided me with a first-hand understanding of how waste and effluent contribute to significant environmental crises, like the formation of plastic islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans.
My multi-pronged strategy of “educate and change”, emerges from these lessons. By informing people about the gravity of environmental issues and promoting sustainable behavioural changes, we can mitigate the damage and foster an eco-friendly culture. Steering this cause, I have initiated and been part of several projects like SBA and SOAK.
