On a mission to conserve nature at the age of 70
An inspiring story of Mahesh Thawani (Khyaal Community Member)
“My name is Mahesh Thawani. I am 77 years old. I was born in Karachi in undivided India in May 1947. My family left Karachi during the partition and settled in India. I did Intermediate Science from Jai Hind college and graduated in Electrical Engineering from VJTI in 1969. I started my career in Bombay and later moved to Kolkata, where I worked for eight years in two different companies. My career then took me to Kuwait in the Gulf region, where I worked as an engineer and then manager of a division. I ventured into business with American Army in 2001. Then I switched to a consulting job for a few years.
I had stayed abroad for 30 years. Visited many countries in Europe, Canada USA, Malaysia, Thailand & Singapore. Then I decided to return to India in 2011. I reside in Borivali, Mumbai, near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, with my wife and son since then. I initially took up some consultancy work. However, I found it less enjoyable compared to my work in the Gulf. So, I decide to retire.
Retirement gave me a lot of free time and I started to look out for activities to keep myself engaged. I joined the Green Team in our residential complex – Raheja Estate, which consists of 22 buildings. It organizes various activities related to sports and environmental issues. In 2012-2013, I also became part of River March Founding Team which is an initiative focused on the rejuvenation of rivers.
Our efforts aim to improve Mumbai's environment and health. We strive to restore the city's rivers to a clean and flowing state. Our activities involve meeting with various government officials, including the Chief Minister and other ministers. We expanded as MumbaiMarch to advocate for cleaner rivers and solving traffic issues by connecting “missing links” in Mumbai.
In Mumbai March, we do more than just criticize the government; we actively provide solutions. For example, we proposed converting available land at Vashi, Mulund and Dahisar Toll Naka into an outstation bus terminal, like an airport. This would allow all incoming buses to stop there, making it easier for passengers to travel within the city. We have submitted designs, and it has been approved and hope to see this implemented soon.
Another suggestion we made was to improve parking management. Instead of just fining drivers for illegal parking, we recommended creating a system that informs people where parking is available.
In 2014, we proposed that buses should have an app to track their arrival times. This has now been implemented, showing that our suggestions can lead to positive changes.
Our group believes that the government should build housing to provide dignified living conditions for those in slums.
In September 2022, an order was given to conduct Visarjan in the river inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. We filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for this. The High Court gave the order in our favour to stop the Visarjan in the River and to do it in the Artificial Pond overnight. This was a big win for us!
Although we are not a registered NGO, our efforts are recognized. Many articles are published in newspapers about our work. Furthermore, we organize various walks and runs to raise awareness about the biodiversity of the National Park which includes over 165 butterfly species and more than 200 bird species. Thus, we are striving to preserve the natural heritage of Mumbai.
We conduct activities like plastic collection in National Park and plantation drives. Our core group consists of 30 dedicated members, and we often call students and volunteers for specific activities. We sometimes collaborate with various NGOs for environmental activities. We have conducted awareness programs like the "Mumbai Monsoon Musty" to highlight the heritage sites and natural beauty of Mumbai, which includes 14 forts and 11 beaches. We sometimes visit schools to educate children about our activities and environment issues.
Travel is another significant part of my life. I aim to travel at least five to six times a year. Over the years, I have visited numerous countries in Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia, and extensively travelled across India.
I have been part of the Khyaal Community for some time now. I thoroughly enjoy attending their events. I especially enjoy their meditation and exercise sessions.
My advice to fellow senior citizens is to plant trees and urge all in the family to take care of nature and reduce the use of single use plastic. Life is too short to regret or worry. By maintaining a positive outlook and staying active, we can find happiness and fulfilment in our senior years.” - Mahesh Thawani (Khyaal Community Member)