Malhar Kalambe is a young and inspiring environmentalist who founded Beach Please, which promotes environmental conservation and sustainability. During an exclusive interview with India.com, Malhar discusses his journey from Dadar Beach to meeting PM Modi. Read on
Malhar Kalambe is a well-known environmentalist and the founder of Beach Please, an organization focused on environmental conservation and sustainability. He was recently honoured with the prestigious National Creators Award 2024 for his contributions in creating and living a life of a role model. He practices sustainability and ensures that his noble acts reach every citizen of India. During an exclusive conversation with india.com, Malhar Kalambe took us to a journey on how he got the idea of cleaning the beaches in India. He went on a trip to Bali in 2o17 and that vacation changed him completely to become the most popular environmentalist.
How It Started?
When asked Malhar, what inspired him to become an environmentalist, he spoke that while returning to Mumbai from his trip to Bali in 2017 he was deeply disturbed by the appalling condition of the beaches in Mumbai. Unlike many people who simply expressed disappointment and moved on, Malhar felt a sense of responsibility for the situation and decided to take action. Malhar told us, “When I came to Mumbai, I noticed beaches in Mumbai are dirty and in abroad it is clean. I complained the same thing to my mother about the same. At the end of the conversation, my mom said, If the beach isn’t clean, ‘just go and clean it.’ I thought once I clean it would stay clean forever (sic).” This demonstrates his strong sense of civic duty and commitment to making a positive impact in his community.
Who is Malhar Kalambe?
Malhar Kalambe is a resident of Dadar Beach who initiated a cleanliness drive called Beach Please to clear up the trash and plastic waste that had been littered along the coast by tourists. This initiative was started with a few friends and later gained momentum as thousands of volunteers, mainly college students joined in to support the cause. When asked about taking the initiative to a pan-India level, Malhar was excited to share the inputs. Malhar added that he and his groups actively conduct workshops and seminars with the collaboration of schools, colleges, and local communities and sensitize them with their practice.
Cleaning of the Mahim River – His First Ever BIG Project
The initial focus of the cleanup efforts was Dadar Beach, where Beach Please spent many weekends cleaning up the area and saw significant improvements. However, Malhar soon realised that the source of the beach’s trash was the Mithi River, also known as the Mahim River, which was heavily polluted with both domestic and industrial waste. This led to the expansion of the cleanup drive to include efforts to remove garbage and plastic waste from the Mahim River.
The involvement of numerous volunteers and the expansion of the cleanup efforts demonstrate the growing awareness and commitment to keeping water bodies free from pollution. Malhar’s initiative has not only brought attention to the issue of waste management but has also inspired a collective effort to address the environmental challenges faced by coastal areas.
Malhar Kalambe Gets An Award From PM Narendra Modi
During the conversation, Malhar was asked to share his experience as he was recently honoured with the prestigious National Creators Award 2024 for his exceptional contributions in these areas. The award ceremony took place at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre in Delhi, where he was presented with the award by the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. This recognition was a testament to Malhar’s outstanding efforts in environmental conservation and his active involvement in the fight against plastic pollution. Malahar expressed, “More emphasis was given to the creators who contributed to the welfare of the country apart from entertainment and other categories. I’m sure this will motivate the youth who have been working for the nation and for the environment (sic).”
The award specifically acknowledged Malhar’s persistent dedication to fostering positive environmental change and his ability to inspire communities and celebrities to take action toward a greener future. His leadership in this field was further highlighted with the Swachhata Ambassador Award, which serves as a motivation for others to join the movement for a cleaner and greener world. Overall, Malhar Kalambe’s work has made a significant impact and continues to encourage others to contribute to a better, more sustainable future.
Public-Govt Collaboration on Waste
Malhar Kalambe was asked what he thought about the government taking necessary actions to limit the usage of plastics. Malhar was quick to answer that many policies regulate the usage of multiple materials, yet the problem comes during its implementation. As a result of his efforts, the initiative has successfully removed over 1000 tons of waste from the shores. Malhar holds the belief that many Indians do not feel a personal responsibility towards preserving the country’s natural resources. Instead, they rely solely on the government to take care of this task. In response to this, Malhar, who is also an aspiring Chartered Accountant (CA), takes it upon himself to make a difference. He dedicates his time to organizing beach clean-up activities every weekend, and he is joined by a group of volunteers who share his passion for environmental conservation.
Malhar hopes that through these efforts, more people will become aware of the importance of preserving natural resources and will be inspired to join their cause. Malhar is keen on focusing on the part where the voices of the environmentalists are heard. Kalambe explains, “ We want an environment where it does not need any protection. Our idea is to get into policy-making, get to places where our voice will be heard, and work on policies that can be implemented on the ground level. Before concluding the conversation, Malahr was asked to share his opinion with the readers, Malhar expressed, “Agar desh bachana hai toh hath gande karne padenge (If you want to save the country, you will have to get your hands dirty) (sic).”