Afroz Shah
Indian Environmentalist Activist, Lawyer
Education
Adv. Afroz Shah and his team have been tackling marine litter by cleaning Rivers, Beaches, Ocean & Mangroves – so far have removed 117+ Million Kgs of plastic & filth. 170,000 citizens & 176,000 students are actively participating to adopt Circular Economy in their lives. “I firmly believe in Gandhian philosophy to protect the Mother Nature by love and collaboration” – Afroz Shah. The UN has labelled Versova Clean-Up as “Biggest Beach Clean-up in World History”. Inspired by the effort to clean beaches in Mumbai, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) launched the Clean Seas campaign globally.
Awards Won Recipient of Highest International Environmental Honor By the UN: “Champion of The Earth”
Indian of The Year, CNN-NEWS18 2017
International Sensation, DARPAN – CANADA, 2018
GQ Men of The Year, 2019
CNN HERO, 2019
Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice in July 2022
HONOURABLE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, Venkaiah Naidu: “Complement Afroz Shah & his team, BMC for removing 5 million Kgs of filth in 85 weeks in Versova Beach, great initiative, let it inspire others”.
FORMER UN ENVIRONMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Erik Solheim: “5 years ago, incredible Afroz Shah started world’s biggest beach clean-up at Versova beach Mumbai, India. He was alone. Soon he inspired hundreds of thousands. The world needs more leaders like Afroz.” “Afroz Shah from Mumbai is the icon of the global citizens movement against single use plastics.” “The work of Afroz Shah and his incredible gang of Mumbai citizens inspires a whole world. It was in Mumbai the modern movement against one use plastics started.”
UNITED NATIONS PATRON OF THE OCEAN -Lewis Pugh: “Afroz Shah, who led efforts to clean one of the polluted beaches in India. Now turtles are returning to lay their eggs!” “When Afroz Shah began cleaning Versova Beach in Oct 2015 the pollution was shoulder height! And now it is not even at the ankle.”
LEADING INDIAN BUSINESSMAN, Anand Mahindra: “Nothing is more energizing than the actions— not just words— of iconic crusaders like Afroz. The man is unstoppable. I salute him.” “This campaign involved selfless leadership, community spirit & collective effort.” “I salute the heroes of Versova!”
INDIAN ACTOR, Amitabh Bachchan : “Afroz Shah is working a miracle in the Versova Beach clean up ! Truly inspiring !!”
UNION MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS; HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS, Hardeep Singh Puri : “Afroz Shah & volunteers have complete support of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, India & millions of swachhagrahis. His work also lauded by PM, Narendra Modi.”
- LLM (Gold Medallist)
- Master in Law from Mumbai University
Adv. Afroz Shah and his team have been tackling marine litter by cleaning Rivers, Beaches, Ocean & Mangroves – so far have removed 117+ Million Kgs of plastic & filth. 170,000 citizens & 176,000 students are actively participating to adopt Circular Economy in their lives. “I firmly believe in Gandhian philosophy to protect the Mother Nature by love and collaboration” – Afroz Shah. The UN has labelled Versova Clean-Up as “Biggest Beach Clean-up in World History”. Inspired by the effort to clean beaches in Mumbai, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) launched the Clean Seas campaign globally.
Awards Won Recipient of Highest International Environmental Honor By the UN: “Champion of The Earth”
Indian of The Year, CNN-NEWS18 2017
International Sensation, DARPAN – CANADA, 2018
GQ Men of The Year, 2019
CNN HERO, 2019
Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice in July 2022
Tweets/ Citations
HONORABLE PM OF INDIA, Narendra Modi: “My Friend Afroz is an Inspiration for the entire country”.HONOURABLE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, Venkaiah Naidu: “Complement Afroz Shah & his team, BMC for removing 5 million Kgs of filth in 85 weeks in Versova Beach, great initiative, let it inspire others”.
FORMER UN ENVIRONMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Erik Solheim: “5 years ago, incredible Afroz Shah started world’s biggest beach clean-up at Versova beach Mumbai, India. He was alone. Soon he inspired hundreds of thousands. The world needs more leaders like Afroz.” “Afroz Shah from Mumbai is the icon of the global citizens movement against single use plastics.” “The work of Afroz Shah and his incredible gang of Mumbai citizens inspires a whole world. It was in Mumbai the modern movement against one use plastics started.”
UNITED NATIONS PATRON OF THE OCEAN -Lewis Pugh: “Afroz Shah, who led efforts to clean one of the polluted beaches in India. Now turtles are returning to lay their eggs!” “When Afroz Shah began cleaning Versova Beach in Oct 2015 the pollution was shoulder height! And now it is not even at the ankle.”
LEADING INDIAN BUSINESSMAN, Anand Mahindra: “Nothing is more energizing than the actions— not just words— of iconic crusaders like Afroz. The man is unstoppable. I salute him.” “This campaign involved selfless leadership, community spirit & collective effort.” “I salute the heroes of Versova!”
INDIAN ACTOR, Amitabh Bachchan : “Afroz Shah is working a miracle in the Versova Beach clean up ! Truly inspiring !!”
UNION MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS; HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS, Hardeep Singh Puri : “Afroz Shah & volunteers have complete support of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, India & millions of swachhagrahis. His work also lauded by PM, Narendra Modi.”