Pune: Inspired by the Centre’s ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ campaign, a Pune-based businessman, Tehzoon Karmalawala, has accomplished this remarkable feat by completing a one-and-a-half-year-long solo expedition across India. Starting in October 2021, Mr Karmalawala travelled a total distance of 63,000 km in his sports utility vehicle, visiting 104 national parks, 54 tiger reserves, 32 elephant reserves, and more than 40 world heritage sites.
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Sharing his experience, Tehzoon said that his expedition aimed to document and show the country’s rich and varied landscape. He said,
My expedition aimed to document and showcase the breathtaking beauty of India’s rich and varied landscapes, as well as its flora and fauna. From the arid deserts of Rajasthan to the lush rainforests of the northeast, from the lofty Himalayan peaks to the captivating Andaman Islands.
He said people travel abroad mainly to southeast Asian countries to explore nature but there are a lot of things to explore in wildlife and ecosystems in India itself.
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Mr Karmalawala said,
During the expedition I also immersed myself in the cultural tapestry of India, embracing the vibrant traditions and customs of the communities I witnessed. This holistic exploration provided me with a profound understanding of the nation’s rich heritage and its biodiversity.
He also mentioned that he has received recognition from the India Book of Records and World Records India for his expedition and wishes to share his experiences through a video web series and a photobook.
My expedition has received recognition from the India Book of Records and World Records India, as the ‘Longest Continuous Exploratory Expedition.’ I’m planning to share my experiences and knowledge through a video web series and a photobook documenting my complete odyssey to promote awareness and the importance of urban forestation.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
