Biology and Conservation programme,
and producing the fi rst study to combine
biogeography and genetics on bird fauna
of Northeast India as part of his thesis on
‘Role of Brahmaputra and hill ranges as a
biogeographic barrier for avian fauna of
Northeast India’.
In 2012, he was a member of the team
that discovered the shocking Amur Falcon
massacre in Doyang, Nagaland, which
catalysed an international conservation
movement the likes of which India has
rarely seen. The team’s fi ndings were
published in the journal Science and in
2013, Dalvi served as a core member of
the Amur Falcon Conservation Project
that successfully stopped the hunting
of these exquisite migrating falcons by
triggering high-level government support,
patrolling and enforcement, community
engagement and a comprehensive
conservation education programme.
In 2015, Shashank completed the fi rst
Indian ‘Big Year’ for birds, which took him
across remote corners of 20 states of
India, and in 2016 he was part of the team
to describe the Himalayan Forest Thrush,
a new bird species to science, and only
the fourth bird to be described from India
since its independence. A self-professed
‘bird nerd’, his long-term goal is to pioneer
a nation-wide conservation programme
for birds outside Protected Areas.
His vast knowledge, commitment
to science, and love for grueling
expeditions has catapulted Dalvi into a
league of his own.
And for this, we honour him.GREEN TEACHER AWARD
We were in search of an individual
with missionary zeal and a proven
environmental track record, who
set an example for other educators
to follow.K. S. SMITHA
Spirited educator, environmentalist
and inspirational activist
Despite having grown up in the bustling
city of Kolkata, Smitha’s childhood
memories are tinged with green.
Smitha’s father, a fl ora enthusiast,
swore by green spaces and their home
was a miniature sanctuary for an
assortment of urban wildlife. Her father
though, was not just gifted with a green
thumb, but also the spirit of an activist,
a legacy he passed on to his daughter.
It was this atmosphere during her
formative years that bestowed young
Smitha with a sense of wonder that has
lasted her all life long.
Smitha’s passion for the wild
coalesced with her love for children in
1997, the year she chose teaching as
her profession. Ever since, Smitha has
been an aff able pied-piper, leading her
students to the tunes of conservation.
Having built a green army, she spares
no opportunity in taking her regiments
of future green activists out of the
classroom to explore and marvel at
the beauty of nature. In order to fulfi ll
her fundamental agenda of connecting
children with nature, she has created
multiple nature clubs for her school.Smitha, along with her students, has
even led an agitation against the city
municipal corporation when it decided
to bulldoze dozens of trees for a
road-widening project. She petitioned,
rallied and took concrete steps to stop
the rampage.
With the inception of Kids for
Tigers, Smitha became a school
coordinator, proactively promoting the
cause of tiger conservation. Known
as ‘The Tigress’ of her school, she
has spearheaded a number of nature
programmes from ‘Tiger Fests’ to rallies,
plantations and quizzes, ensuring a
curriculum steeped in respect for the
natural world. A woman of compassion
and action, amongst her many initiatives
was a campaign that supplied children
living in villages around the Sundarbans
Tiger Reserve with educational
supplies. Through this project, she
also succeeded in building a rare bond
between city children and rural children.
If nothing else, this undertaking is proof
of Smitha’s devotion, not only towards
the environment but towards the
children of tomorrow as well.
As myopic and gluttonous leaders
squander away our natural resources
for their individual agendas, Smitha
has taken on the monumental task of
raising an environmentally conscious
generation. Always leading by example,
her passion, even after 20 years of
service, shines bright. Neither time,
nor tragedy has fazed this determined
green teacher. While the world talks
about leaving a better planet for our
kids, Smitha has been quietly nurturing
better kids for our planet.
And for this, we honour her.YOUNG
NATURALIST AWARDS
We looked for young naturalists or
conservationists, for whom the study
and defense of nature is the purpose
of life, whose actions speak louder
than words and who inspire hope for
the future.Jyoti Sharma
Nature lover, guide and future leader
Just 13 years old, Jyoti Sharma is
breaking barriers and setting new
horizons for young girls and boys
everywhere. This spunky teenager is an
eighth grade student from JSM Public
School, Sawai Madhopur. But don’tCOURTESY: SMITHA K. S
ABOVE: GREEN TEACHER AWARD K. S. Smitha has been leading her students to the tunes of
conservation and she spares no opportunity to take her students out of the classroom to explore
and marvel at the beauty of nature.