New Delhi: There are two kinds of people in the world – one, who celebrates birthday with great pomp and show, while the other, who opts for a low key affair, but makes it unique in their own way. Retired Kannada Professor, Rajamani Ramakunja from Sri Venkataramana Swamy College in Bantwal, is one of the few people who decided to celebrate his youngest daughter Dhatri’s birthday in an unique way. On the special occasion, he decided to educate people on the ill effects of plastic by distributing boards with a message against plastic use. Yes, you heard it right!
Also Read: Actor Dia Mirza Shares How She Is Replacing Plastic From Her Life
Plastic products take around 500 to 1000 years to completely degrade due to the presence of complex polymers. Meaning, whatever plastic has been produced in the country can still be found in some way or the other in the planet. Currently, India generates around 56 lakh tonnes of plastic waste annually and just a portion of this humongous waste gets recycled.
Moved with this grim reality of the country, professor Rajamani Ramakunja decided to make a difference.
According to the professor the boards are a new idea, they act as a warning message to the people, so that they can save the depleting planet from plastic burden in some way.
This is not the first time the professor has done something like this, from years, he has been spreading awareness against the usage of plastic. Six years ago, he also brought out the booklet ‘Plastic Plastic’ in Kannada that talk about how plastic is manufactured and how it is killing the environment. So far, about 7,000 booklets in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have been distributed for free to people.
Also Read: This Nature Photographer’s Seahorse Click Shows All That Is Going Wrong With Our Planet
The professor has also been spreading awareness in high schools in his hometown Bantwal by making presentations and short films about plastic menace in the country and how people can save the planet.
Not only this, the professor leaves no chance of spreading awareness about the ill-effects of using plastic – be it his wedding anniversary, birthday, family member’s birthdays or a gruha pravesha (house warming ceremony), his occasion is not complete without spreading awareness regarding the harmful nature of plastic.
In addition to his crusade, the professor has also trekked with Sahyadri Sanchaya—a green organisation working to protect the Western Ghats.
Also Read: Say No To Plastic: Here Are 5 Simple Ways To Cut Down Plastic Usage
