Although living in Mt. Abu, Rajasthan, India, environmentalist Shantanu calls the entire planet his home. He is a member of a socio-spiritual organization called Brahma Kumaris (https://brahmakumaris.uk/). After two bachelor's degrees in Fashion Design & Fine Arts, his environmental inclination has led him to design special courses focusing upon upcycling, recycling, deconstruction & reconstruction.
During his recent visit to Luton, he learnt with great interest how Luton’s different faith communities have been participating in the Faith Woodlands Communities Project, in developing Peace Gardens across the town on derelict pieces of land, in nurturing and caring for green spaces in the streets and neighbourhoods. He commended Luton’s Peace Garden Initiative in which trees are being planted for those who died of Covid in the town.
Shantanu’s personal journey with the environment had started in 2015 when he became Vegan. Within a few months after that, he found himself engaged in climate activities. He was one of the 7 young people to be funded by UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) for COP 25 in Madrid in 2019.
At present he is a mentor in the Climate Ambassadors Programme and a facilitator for Environment and Faith in the Steering Committee of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Major Group of Children & Youth (MGCY).
As a person who lives a lifestyle that is very close to nature, he says, “An inner shift in consciousness can help us look into solutions because the same consciousness that was responsible for the problems can't be bringing out solutions”.
One of his strongest beliefs is reflected in the statement, "Simplicity is Kindness".
After his meeting with GRASSROOTS & LUTON COUNCIL OF FAITHS, while speaking at a Rotary Club event in Luton, he said, “The triple crisis that our world is facing currently is normally said to be of debt, climate change and biodiversity loss, but the ACTUAL triple crisis is Greed, Apathy & Selfishness. Science doesn't have the answers for these; our attitudes must change.”
Shantanu (top right), a member of Brahma Kumaris movement and a mentor of UN Environment Prog during his recent visit to Luton