Arundhati Mhatre, a software professional from Powai, Mumbai, received one gift that changed her life for good and saved lives of uncountable creatures. It gave a purpose to her life. Arundhati’s friend gifted her a shelter occupied by sparrows. It turned her into an avid birdwatcher, helping in augmenting her knowledge in breeding and caring for butterflies and birds. And that’s how she decided to give back to mother earth. She started setting up bird shelters. In the past 4 years, she has set up around 100 bird shelters and has cared for more than 350 butterflies in her balcony. Along with providing food and water to these birds and butterflies, Mhatre also gives safe nesting area to the parakeets, sunbirds, etc. along with sparrows and a large variety of butterflies.
Mhatre believes that due to heavy urbanisation, people residing in cities are unable to stay in touch with the wildlife and nature and very few efforts are being taken towards its conservation. She wanted to share the happiness and closeness she felt with the nature after she received the bird shelter as a gift from her friend. With her initiative ‘Arenya’, that was started in 2013, Arundhati Mhatre is trying to make people aware about nature protection and to take positive steps towards conservation of the nature and rekindle their relationship with the wild.
Mhatre has also earned a one-year PG Diploma on Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Nature Conservation from the Ecological Society Pune. She buys the diverse and beautiful shelters from local communities that are made out of clay, bamboo and coconut. She also grows a variety of plants and flowers in her home balcony to have a holistic ecological balance. Such should be the zeal for saving mother earth and its beautiful creatures!
1. When did you develop so much interest in the flora and fauna?
The journey started when I was gifted a shelter box which made me more curious about Sparrows nesting in the box, then learning more about birds, butterflies, butterflies which feed on plants and eventually sustainable living.
2. What inspired you for the protection of nature?
When I realized that sustainable living is all I need to provide for conserving these creatures, I felt that people should be made aware about it and should become part of such journeys. So, I thought of promoting bird shelters and Feeders.
3. What all obstacles did you face in your journey so far?
Making people believe that birds do come and peck grains from the Feeders which you place in your Balconies. Butterflies do come and lay eggs. Making them believe all this was very difficult. People are so disconnected from nature that they no more believe in simple things. They apply logic to everything and can’t see the magic anymore.
4. Who is your support system in the noble work you are doing?
My friends Dhara, Vishwanat, Abhishek and my husband along with my family are very supportive. I would say when you want to do things, entire universe comes to your rescue.
5. What do you do to make people aware about saving the environment?
Saving environment boils down to being conscious. Even for manufacturing a small thing like pen, lots of natural resources are used. And these resources are depleting at an alarming rate, our children will suffer if this continues Also we should become a localitarian, go local instead of vegan or vegetarian.
6. Tell us about your daily routine. How do you manage your time between work and taking care of your butterflies?
This has been going on for years and few seasons there are many caterpillars to be fed, sometimes there aren’t any. It’s a natural phenomenon. Birds come every evening and morning for feeding and fly away. Morning it’s time to refill the Feeders and in a week if required the Feeders need a wash but it happens usually if I keep water. Monthly once I have to buy the grains and wash them and sundry it because grains have lots of pesticide.
7. Where did you go for school ? Tell us about your educational background.
I am from Dombivli, suburbs of Bombay. I have done Bachelor of Engineering in Computers. Lately, I have completed a Field Botany course from Fern, Thane and one year PG course on sustainable living and nature conservation from Ecological society, Pune.
8. Tell us about the nature of those amazing little creatures you rear at your apartment?
It is amazing to see the caterpillars and they changing colors as they grow big. It’s lovely to see them feed and excrete, the ones who feed on lemon leaves. The process of transforming in a pupa is mesmerizing and you always wonder how would such a big butterfly emerge out of such a small pupa. I keep gifting the caterpillars to my friends and few at my son’s school as well.
9. What piece of advice would you give to the people who would like to take an initiative and follow your steps in saving our environment?
Do some short courses available in the city on gardening, birds and field botany. Buy a few books on these flora and fauna of the city they live in. And then you can do wonders.
Also read “A Mere Glance Is Not Enough! Hold On Here To See How A Vegan Is Fighting Bravely For Animal Rights“
10. What are your future plans, what exactly do you want to accomplish in the coming few years?
I have no big plans, as I believe in being local. I would keep guiding people. I would love to add a few aspects like Honey Bee keeping to Arenya. I would surely love to start a course on Ecology in Mumbai which creates conscious consumers.
11. What steps do you suggest the Indian government needs to take for the protection of its flora and fauna?
After British colonialism, it’s Globalization that is ruling us and ruining us. Let us follow Bhutan as an example. Gandhi believed in decentralization and going local, let us do that. Also, let us follow the Nai Talim education system which Was Gandhi’s dream, as kids are our hope to a Green Future!
