It is stated that "in the mountains, all it takes is a yell to cause an avalanche." This renowned English proverb perfectly describes Afroz Shah, who is a lawyer and environmental activist living in Mumbai.
It is stated that "in the mountains, all it takes is a yell to cause an avalanche." This renowned English proverb perfectly describes Afroz Shah, who is a lawyer and environmental activist living in Mumbai. Shah received widespread acclaim for his passion, love, and service to the environment. He has also garnered several honors, including the "Champion of the Earth" award in 2016.
Early Life
Afroz comes from a middle-class household, and his father died when he was still a child. He has been raised by his mother, an environmentalist herself. As a result, it would not be incorrect to claim that Afroz is born with a love of the environment.
This affection, however, was first witnessed at a very young age. Afroz was on his way to school one day when he stopped to see animals in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which was close to his boyhood home.
Career
Being brought up under the guidance of an educated and aware mother, Afroz completed his studies in law and started practicing at the” High Court of Mumbai “ for a long time.
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Turning Point of Life
One day he visited Bandra locality, with his property agent to buy a flat for himself. The flat had a sea-facing window, from where one can get a clear view of Versova beach.
Afroz flung open the window, giddy with enthusiasm. He was stunned as soon as he opened the window. The beach was in disrepair at the time. Because the beach was entirely covered with plastic garbage and other dangerous waste products.
Challenges
It is said that with every great initiative comes great challenges. Sometimes the problems are physical, while other times they are mental and financial in character.
In the instance of Afroz, nothing was different. He had a goal in mind, but opting to take a position without any men or resources is equivalent to building a house without a foundation.
Solutions
When Afroz was entirely broken, a man named "Harbansh Mathur '' came to his aid. Inspired by the ideas of his 84-year-old neighbor, Harbansh Ji, Afroz decided to pursue his ambition on his own. As a result, Afroz went to Versova Beach not alone, but with Mr. Harbansh Mathur. They both began collecting plastic waste at first, but as the day progressed, they came to two distinct conclusions.
- Cleaning a large beach like Versova is not an easy nut to crack for two people.
- Making the public aware of waste management at the source is equally important.
Afroz decided to run a number of public awareness campaigns to educate people on waste segregation.
Result of his awareness programs
Afroz Shah's public awareness programs on waste management were a huge success over time and gained worldwide recognition. As a consequence, 5 million kg of plastic waste was removed from Versova Beach.
Awards
Afroz Shah received the United Nations champion of the earth award in 2016, the CNN news 18 Indian of the year award in 2017, and many other awards to date.
Conclusion
Afroz and his team are still working in 2022, helping the environment and combating pollution.
