Founder's Note
PRAGYA KAPOOR
Founder
Call it our passionate optimism, but we genuinely believe all of us harbour good intentions when it comes to looking out for our own home. Somewhere in the frenzy of the rat-race around us, it’s the outcome of those intentions that has taken a hit. As we all inch towards securing our future we drift farther away from the delicate relationship we share with nature. All the rising environmental crises are a result of this very rift. Through Ek Saath, we embark upon a journey to bridge that very gap and replenish this deteriorating relationship. Everything that we put out in nature unmistakably finds its way back to us again in one way or another. We try to guide our lives by the enlightening philosophies of Karma. If only we learn to apply the same logic to our relationship with our environment, we’d know that the only true salvation is a better tomorrow and the only promised heaven is here on our beloved earth. There are those who are yet oblivious to the far-reaching impact their actions have on the planet. While the ones already aware, simply don’t know any better. We’re not in the business of picking culprits out of victims for we stand to celebrate the very spirit of togetherness. If there’s anything to learn from our past then it’s the valuable lesson of how we learnt to overcome the darkest of times only by coming together. We seek to revive this very force in our pursuit by empowering all the lives we touch in our own humble ways. In our finite time here, all of us are capable of making an infinite difference. The time has come when just hoping for a better future won’t cut it until we step up to make it happen. Or as a wise kindred spirit once sang,
‘You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one..’
Our Team
Ashwin Malwade
Managing Director
Ashwin Malwade is a Master Mariner in the Merchant Navy and an Ocean advocate. After spending nearly 16 years on the high seas, Ashwin has seen the ocean literally change in front of his eyes. The crystal blue waters that welcomed him when he first joined sea at the age of 17 was slowly turning into a plastic ocean. Ashwin has worked on many beach cleanup movements across Mumbai starting with the World’s Largest Beach Clean up at Versova beach. He even met his life partner Nupur Agarwal at this very beach. The great naturalist Sir David Attenborough once said “Unless we all agree and come together, we are lost.” Embarking on this journey with EkSaath foundation, Ashwin hopes to continue to do his bit for the environment and be the voice for change.
Rajat Tiwari
Program Coordinator
A writer and a mass media graduate, Rajat has been a part of Ek Saath's core team right since its inception. Apart from being actively involved at every step of the team's operations, he also looks after the creatives and the overall appeal of the organisation.
Working with Ek Saath, Rajat has found a way to reciprocate the immense love & gratitude he feels for the planet by converting them into meaningful actions.
Dipika Mishra
Environmental and Partnership Manager
Dipika is our dedicated force behind operations. Having done her Masters in Environmental Sciences, Dipika has a well-rounded experience in traditional sustainable practices though her on-ground work with remote communities in the country. Wanting to create an impact in the urban settings, Dipika has also been a part of various waste management campaigns focusing on promoting plastic waste recycling, and formulating environment sciences for the youth. She lives by Hemingway's famous saying- " The earth is a fine place and worth fighting for!"
Aarushi Aggarwal
Aarushi is an associate at Invest India, the national investment promotion agency of India. As a researcher, she has studied and written on India’s economic landscape and focused on clean energy and sustainability. She brings her work experience and passion for combating climate change to Ek Saath and it’s mission to create a cleaner environment.
Shruthi
Shruthi is a Postgraduate in Wildlife Conservation and Action. She leads social media and creatives at Ek Saath. Shruthi holds an experience in writing content for various National Environmental magazines and has her own research work published on butterflies. It is her enthusiasm for the environment and the wildlife that has brought her to Ek Saath.
Advisory Board
Dia Mirza
Dia Mirza is an award-winning Actor, Producer, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador & United Nations Secretary-General’s Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals.
An exemplary advocate of sustainable lifestyle, Dia was appointed as the United Nations Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India at the UNEA assembly held in Nairobi.
She has also championed the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution along with the UN to make India free of single-use plastics by 2022.
Her exhaustive list of titles includes- Founder member of Wildlife Trust of India's Club Nature, Ambassador Wildlife Trust Of India, Ambassador for the Swachh Bharat Mission's "Swachh Saathi" program, and the first Indian Ambassador of Save the Children initiative amongst many others.
Kilaparti Ramakrishna
Dr. Kilaparti Ramakrishna (Rama) is WHOI's new senior advisor to the President and Director on ocean and climate policy, Principal Policy Advisor to the Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, and served as the Head of the UN Secretariat’s office for East and Northeast Asia, and UN’s Designated Official in South Korea.
In the past, he has helped in drafting the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. Recently, he also concluded a three-year stint with the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Dr. Ramakrishna is also a member of the board of directors of the Woodwell Climate Research Center. He is also the Chair of the Strategic Advisory Group of the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project. In South Korea, he led a study by all the UN Regional Economic Commissions on how to successfully incorporate the newly adopted sustainable development goals (SDGs) into their work programmes and support member countries in implementing and achieving them.
Tor A. Dahlstrøm
Mr. Tor A. Dahlstrøm worked for Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for nearly 40 years. Half the time at Embassies abroad. 12 years at Embassy in Tokyo as Deputy Ambassador. Last posting (2015 – 19) at Consull and Deputy Head at Consulate General in Mumbai.
Mr. Tor A. Dahlstrøm, was born in 1953 in Risor, Norway. He completed his studies at Oslo, London and Tokyo universities in M.A. - and MBA degree with focus on Asian affairs. Mr. Tor worked for Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for nearly 40 years. Half the time at Embassies abroad. 12 years at Embassy in Tokyo as Deputy Ambassador. Last posting (2015 – 19) at Consulate General in Mumbai. Mr. Tor A. Dahlstrøm has retired from Norweigian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) after finishing his four year tenure at the Royal Norweigian Consulate General (RNCG - Mumbai). Ever since it’s inauguration, Tor has made a significant contribution in setting up the Consulate General. Environmental protection has always been an important agenda for Tor, especially fighting plastic pollution. With a Motto: «Just Do It», Tor played a pivotal role by getting involved Norwegian Government in fighting plastic pollution on the beaches of Mumbai.
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