Meet Malhar Kalambe, the Environmentalist-Influencer Cleaning Mumbai’s Beaches

Malhar Kalambe is a name synonymous with environmental activism in India, particularly when it comes to cleaning up Mumbai’s beaches. His journey, however, began with a stark contrast between the pristine beaches he witnessed abroad and the polluted state of Mumbai’s coastline.

From a Holiday Spark to a Passion Project: Beach Please is Born

In 2017, a trip to Bali ignited a fire within Malhar. Shocked by the cleanliness of beaches abroad compared to the deplorable state of Mumbai’s, he felt compelled to act. A simple conversation with his mother, urging him to “just go and clean it” if he found the beach dirty, became the turning point. This sparked the birth of Beach Please, an organization dedicated to environmental conservation and sustainability.

Building a Community Around Clean Beaches

Malhar understood the power of social media. He leveraged platforms like Instagram to raise awareness about plastic pollution, the importance of environmental conservation, and to gather volunteers for his weekend clean-up drives. His social media presence goes beyond just raising awareness. He showcases collaborations with various stakeholders, including celebrities, government authorities, and corporations, highlighting the collective effort needed to tackle this issue. Malhar Kalambe now has a strong following of 143K on Instagram.

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Expanding the Clean-Up Efforts From Dadar Beach to the Mithi River

Beach Please initially focused on cleaning Dadar Beach, where their dedicated weekend efforts yielded significant progress. However, Malhar recognized that the root cause of beach pollution lay upstream – the heavily polluted Mithi River. This led to the expansion of their clean-up drives to target the Mithi River, removing tons of plastic and domestic waste. A recent initiative, the Mithi River Clean Up, saw Malhar collaborate with actress Jacqueline Fernandez and a team of volunteers to remove a staggering 4000 kg of waste from the river.

Recognition and Collaboration

Malhar’s relentless efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. He has received the Swachhata Ambassador Award from the Government of India. He also recently received the prestigious National Creators Award 2024 for his dedication to creating and living a life of positive impact.

Furthermore, his work has garnered support from prominent figures like actress Alia Bhatt. Through her foundation, Coexist, Alia recently partnered with Beach Please to organize a beach clean-up drive. This collaboration highlights the growing movement for a cleaner, greener India.

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By following Malhar’s lead and getting involved in environmental activism, the youth of today have the power to shape a cleaner, greener future for themselves and generations to come. Whether it’s joining a beach clean-up drive, advocating for policy changes, or simply making sustainable choices in their everyday lives, every action counts. As Malhar himself has shown, even a single voice, amplified by social media and a willingness to take action, can create a ripple effect that leads to positive change.