An evening with Mr Samrat Moulik, the River Cyclist
Introduction
On Monday, July 5 we had an engaging session by Mr Samrat Moulik, a social activist dedicated to the cause of protecting nature. Mr Moulik shared some captivating stories from his record-setting journeys. These include cycling from Gangotri to the Bay of Bengal to save the Ganga, and from Leh to Kanyakumari to promote water conservation. Mr Moulik discussed the challenges he has faced in his journey, the strategies he has used to engage the communities, and the tangible changes his campaigns have inspired.
Mr Moulik provided insights on the power of purpose-driven leadership and the importance of grassroots activism. He explained how his educational programs are fostering a new generation of environmentally conscious individuals.
About Mr Samrat Moulik
Mr Samrat Moulik is a visionary adventurer and environmental activist. He has transitioned from a successful corporate career to an inspiring journey dedicated to the greater good. Mr Moulik illustrates the profound difference one individual can make through dedication, passion, and the courage to lead with purpose.
Mr Samrat has traversed over 17,000 kilometres to champion causes such as river conservation, water management, and environmental preservation. His record-setting expeditions, from the Himalayas to the southern tip of India and beyond international borders, have raised awareness and galvanized communities to act. As the flag bearer of FSSAI's (The Food and Safety Standards Authority of India) 'Eat Right India' campaign and a prominent speaker in various forums, Mr Moulik’s influence extends across diverse platforms.
Mr Moulik’s commitment to making a difference is further reflected in his leadership roles with the Eecosaviour Foundation and his engaging educational programs for young minds. Through his writings and relentless advocacy, Mr Moulik continues to inspire a global movement towards a sustainable and conscious future.
Protecting nature
Like other adventure seekers, Mr Moulik loved high altitude trekking and found it personally very satisfying. However, what impact did it have on society? So, he changed his philosophy. What could he do to protect Mother Nature? How could he encourage people to behave in ways that befit human beings?
As Mr Moulik trekked in the Himalayas, he noticed that thousands of projects had been launched. But the common people were not quite involved. So, he quit his job to work 24x7 for the protection of nature.
Mr Moulik began in the Sundarbans of West Bengal. He developed a deeper appreciation of rivers. He began to appreciate the difference between data and knowledge. Data is factual and is available in websites and documents, but knowledge also includes our emotions and feelings.
As he travelled along the entire length of the Ganga in India and Bangladesh, Mr Moulik understood the ground realities much better. He could see that due to human interventions, the quality of the water was pathetic.
From Ladakh to Kanyakumari, he cycled. Over 13 days, he identified 130 rivers in crises. These were not being covered in the popular electronic and print media. On a more positive note, he also noted the best practices in different areas.
Mr Moulik also embarked on a cycling journey to promote fitness. This led to a campaign against diabetes. Since Mr Moulik’s mother died of diabetes, he was strongly invested in this cause. He spent time in the hospitals and made a great impact.
Lessons from other countries
After Covid, Mr Moulik also traversed European rivers like the Volga. He found that the common people were very environment conscious and would not throw plastics and waste into the river. In contrast, industries were dumping waste.
Mr Moulik identified the hot spots in Sri Lanka. In Uzbekistan, he identified where cotton was being thrown into the Amu Dariya River.
Note: The Amu Darya is an important river of central Asia. It flows through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Rising in the Pamir Mountains, north of the Hindu Kush, the Amu Darya is formed by the confluence of the Vakhsh and Panj rivers and flows from there north-westwards into the southern remnants of the Aral Sea. In its upper course, the river forms part of Afghanistan's northern border with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
Mr Moulik also visited Thailand. He now plans to cycle 5000 km east to west from Dong Valley in Arunachal Pradesh to Guhar Moti (a small village in Kutch district) in Gujarat, for 107 days and cover 72 rivers.
Educational programs
Between 2016 and 2024, many seminars/exhibitions were launched for protecting the environment. But there was little follow up action. This prompted Mr Moulik to involve students in projects. He has launched an awareness program in universities and schools. Some 20 students are selected from every year. (typically, Class 6-8). Mr Moulik’s Ecoseva foundation runs a session every Saturday for two hours. Important topics are covered: What is water? What is ground water? What are the different types of clouds? How can we predict rain looking at the clouds? What is Air Quality index?
Agriculture
Agriculture is a major consumer of water. Mr Moulik has been exploring how we can enable better use of water in agriculture. What behavioural changes are needed to conserve water? Another problem is that agriculture run off water can lead to pesticide contamination.
Human trafficking
Mr Moulik has tried to support girls rescued from human trafficking. He has trained them in mountaineering and rock climbing and adventure studies. This has improved their employment opportunities in the tourism sector and facilitated their rehabilitation in society. During the Q&A Mr Moulik admitted that rehabilitation is not easy. As one participant mentioned, some girls rescued from the notorious Sonagachi area returned to prostitution. They thought they belonged there and were doubtful about society accepting them. However, Mr Moulik has persisted with this important initiative. He is fortunate to have received the support of women leaders like the courageous police officer, Ms Kakoli Ghosh Kundu of the Howrah Police Station.
Concluding remarks
Mr Moulik is optimistic that the negative mindset which exists today in the country will change. India will one day lead in water literacy and conservation.
There is no place for politics or borders. We should certainly be proud Indians. But we must also realize that we are dealing with a global problem. If our neighbouring countries are not ok, we cannot be ok. Global warming needs a unified approach.
Unlike other projects, we will not get immediate returns with environmental projects. But we must keep working diligently. River pollution did not happen in one day. Nor will it be eradicated in one day. We should keep at it and constantly reinforce the key messages.
Q&A
For Mr Moulik, there were many sources of inspiration. One was a book which his father presented to him. His mentor, Debashish Bardhan also inspired him. Mr Bardhan shared several insights about the history of rivers. During one conversation, he explained how the river Saraswati had dried up.
Mr Moulik observed that when nature is left alone it remains pure. But wherever there is human intervention, river water is getting polluted. He realized that due to such interventions, the Ganga may dry up or change its course, thus affecting 55 crore people.
When his daughter was born, Mr Moulik resolved to give her clean air, water and greenery. His interactions with various people have ensured that he remains a learner and is deeply committed to the cause. Mr Moulik is not a scientist by training. He believes that this has helped him to be open minded without any preconceived notions about how to solve problems relating to nature.
Totko in Purulia is a good example of a clean river. The tribals feel the river is gold. They take pride in cleanliness and hygiene. They do not do anything that will pollute the river.
The tribals may not be educated but they know how to coexist with rivers. They are environmentally conscious. If they cut a tree, they plant three trees. It is often the rich, educated people who are the culprits.
Jam Nadi is another example of a clean river.In contrast, the Ganga at Kannauj is an example of how humans can pollute the water.
In Gujarat/Rajasthan, there are good practices in watershed management with very efficient rainwater harvesting.
In Chambal, Mr Moulik was pleasantly surprised to hear that there were no more dacoits. Thanks to employment, there is no need to loot. They are now into organic farming and are recycling water in various ways.
Note: Recall Dr Rajendra Singh’s WiseViews session on January 19. Dr Singh recalled his work in Chambal where the rivers had dried up. The unemployed youth in the region had mobilized guns and resorted to illegal mining. They also began looting in the cities. These were not criminals at heart. Out of helplessness, they were killing others and getting killed. Dr Singh worked with the community and converted these dried-up rivers into perennial rivers over a period of 12 years. After the water in two rivers, Sherni and Parvati was restored, the youth again began crop cultivation.
Fog water harvesting is common in countries like Nepal and Bangladesh. Fog can provide an alternative source of fresh water in dry regions and can be harvested using simple and low-cost collection systems. Captured water can then be used for agricultural irrigation and domestic use. Fog collectors work best in locations with frequent fog periods, such as coastal areas. In these areas, water can be harvested as fog moves inland driven by the wind. However, the technology could also potentially supply water in mountainous areas if the water is present in stratocumulus clouds, at altitudes of approximately 400 m to 1,200 m.
In many places, the problem is not wrong behaviours. There is no infrastructure to get rid of or recycle waste. More Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are needed.
How does Mr Moulik finance his initiatives? After the pandemic, sponsorships have been hard to come by. Mr Moulik generates income through his writing and speaking engagements. He also does research work for organizations like National Geographic and BBC Earth and makes about Rs 15,000-25,000 per month. There is no stable income and often he is in deficit. His family has provided full support. He has on occasions, even mortgaged gold from his family property to raise loans. He and his family have learned to live a life of happiness and contentment with their limited means. One participant suggested that Mr Moulik could plug into the Honeybee network of Prof Anil Gupta to generate additional funding.
River linking projects have been launched in India. But they have not taken off so far. Why is this so?
Proponents of the river interlinking projects claim they will help to conserve the abundant monsoon water bounty, store it in reservoirs, and deliver it to water scarce areas. Such projects can also offer potential benefits to transport infrastructure through navigation and hydro power as well as broadening income sources in rural areas through fish farming. But there are concerns about the environmental, ecological, and social displacement impacts as well as unknown risks associated with tinkering with nature. Each river has its own ecosystem. If the rivers are linked, the aquatic life may get affected. There are also concerns that some projects may have an international impact.
Mr Moulik has traversed 17,000 km. Cycling demands a high level of fitness. We must develop good physical and mental endurance. The purpose provides mental strength. When it comes to food, we should avoid oil, sugar, salt and junk foods.
As one participant mentioned, people are not demanding. They are not exercising their rights for clean water. They must ask more questions of politicians. There is no need for violent activism. We only need to create awareness.
Political parties are not paying enough attention to global warming. Mr Moulik has studied the manifestos of various political parties in West Bengal in the recent general elections. Except for one, none have talked about the problem. We should spread awareness and encourage the political parties to articulate their vision for global warming and the environment.