Coastwise Closing Ceremony: Awards and some Fabulous Talks

All through February, Coastwise received a tremendous love from participants. We had workshops, shorewalks, a movie screening, a ‘flight of the flamingos’ festival, 400-odd photographs for the photo competition and a waitlist of citizens that can go on for several pages.

All for an intertidal zone. Who would have thought it?

Mumbai is a wonderful city that has come out in full strength to support a small, usually invisible part of our coast and its animals. The organisations that made this are possible are Mangrove Foundation, WWF India and Marine Life of Mumbai.

From Left: Host for the evening, Sejal Mehta, editor and writer, consultant editor at Marine Life of Mumbai;
Mr Sunjoy Monga, Conservationist, Photographer, Author and the Chief Guest of today’s function.
Mrs Neenu Somaraj, Joint Director, Mangrove Foundation, and Deputy Conservator of Forests, Mangrove Cell.
Mr N Vasudevan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Research, Education and Training, Pune.
Mr Virendra Tiwari, Executive Director, Mangrove Foundation and the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangrove Cell.
Pradip Patade, Co-Founder Marine Life Of Mumbai/ Coastal Conservation Foundation
Shaunak Modi, Core member, Marine Life of Mumbai/ Co-founder Coastal Conservation Foundation
Ms Farmeen Mistry, Manager, Programmes, WWF India, Maharashtra State Office

The evening began with Mr N Vasudevan giving the first award away, and then staying back for a special tribute.

It was a special beginning for the evening. What we aimed to make visible with Coastwise – the intertidal zone, had actually been made available by one of India’s first Marine Biologists, Dr BF Chhapgar. And Dr Aravind Untawale, the mangrove man of India make that landscape visible.

And who better to pay tribute to these great men than Mr N Vasudevan himself, the former Executive Director of Mangrove Foundation, and the additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangrove Cell. Mr Vasudevan has been a pillar of support for Coastwise since its inception.

Our first guest speaker for the evening was a woman who is an inspiration to so many. Her storytelling of waterscapes is enchanting and easy to understand – even for non-scientists, which is vital in today’s vulnerable climate. Tasneem is a biologist, educator, photographer, diver and sailor – presently working on setting up the “Vessel for Inquiry” in the eastern Andaman Sea.

She has spent thirteen years facilitating interdisciplinary initiatives in the fields of ecology, conservation, education and art and is co-founder at EARTH CoLab. She has acquired immense training in zoology, field ecology, research management and development of immersive field learning curriculum. She spoke to us about time spent in an underwater civilisation, and her interactions with its citizens. Her talk was an invaluable addition to an evening that went deep into the civilisation we don’t otherwise have access to.

Pradip Patade, who showcased conservation heroes who work on our coasts. In his words: “I have spent around 14 years observing the shores of Mumbai. In this time, I have documented the largest to smallest creatures from a point and shoot, or on the phone. I have one of those old time albums with print photographs in them, and it is one of my most treasured possessions. I used to walk alone, now I have a whole team of people who do this with me. Marine Life of Mumbai has grown to be a measure of documentation and science communication. The same has happened for Coastwise. As a team, Mangrove Foundation, WWF India and Marine Life of Mumbai, we would like to admire and encourage people working to protect our shores. Educators like Smita Krishnan from Mumbai, vets like Rina Dave from Mumbai and fishermen, like Naresh Tandel from Bharadkhol, lifeguards like Pritam Bhusane from Dive agar.”

The evening had progressed to the keynote speaker. Rohan Chakravarty is an award-winning cartoonist, illustrator, and the creator of Green Humour, a series of cartoons, comics and illustrations on wildlife and nature conservation.

His work has been published in leading publications in India and abroad. Green Humour is the first series of cartoons and comic strips from India to be distributed internationally (Universal Press Syndicate’s Gocomics). His work has been used for several conservation campaigns and publications by organisations and government bodies. Rohan has authored two books: The Great Indian Nature Trail (WWF India) and Bird Business (BNHS).  He’s able to reach beyond wildlife circles with his cartoons, including people not yet aware, not yet in love with the wild. If that isn’t sci-comm, we don’t know what is.

(Glimpses from his workshop that morning)

Next Mr Virendra Tiwari, Executive Director, Mangrove Foundation and the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangrove Cell, took the stage to talk about the contribution Mangrove Foundation has made to the city’s mangroves, and its inhabitants. He spoke about policies and the need to protect ecosystems. He also spoke about his anticipation and support for Coastwise next year.

Sejal Mehta was the host for the evening, and spoke about the journey of Coastwise so far.

Chief Guest for the evening, Sunjoy Monga, announced the overall winner for the photography awards. Sunjoy is a conservationist, photographer, naturalist and the author of numerous books including ‘City Forest’. He spoke about the importance of wetlands, of different city spaces and extended his irrevocable support to the intertidal.

Shaunak Modi, Core member, Marine Life of Mumbai/ Co-founder Coastal Conservation Foundation gave away the vote of thanks. In particular, Coastwise remains grateful to the support of the Mangrove Foundation, without whom none of this would be possible.