Dr Ashok Khosla, a star pioneer environmentalist has won the first Sohrab Pirojsha Godrej Environment Award, recogninsing Dr. Khosla’s outstanding contribution in the field of environmental sustainability. Sohrab Pirojsha Godrej Environment Award is a pioneering initiative in collaboration with Mumbai First, Godrej Industries Limited and Associate Companies. The award ceremony took place in Mumbai recently.
Dr Ashok Khosla has not only significantly impacted India, but has also left an indelible mark on the global stage. His extensive career includes serving on the National Security Advisory Board, the National Environment Board, and the Science Advisory Council to the Cabinet in India. Internationally, Khosla has been a trendsetter, playing key roles in the establishment of the first university course on the Environment at Harvard University in 1965, heading the first governmental agency for the Environment in a developing country in 1972, and establishing the first social enterprise for sustainable development in 1983.
Speaking on the occasion, Nadir Godrej, Chairman and Managing Director of Godrej Industries, expressed his appreciation, saying, ‘We are thrilled to announce Ashok Khosla as the recipient of the inaugural Sohrab Pirojsha Godrej Environment Award. His remarkable achievements and dedication to environmental causes have made a lasting impact, and he truly embodies the spirit of this Award. As we celebrate his accomplishments, we are inspired to continue our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability”. Nadir Godrej said that SP Godrej was a man of action with an inborn love of nature and respect for everything living.
The keynote speaker of the award, Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, FRS, Former Chairman of National Innovation Foundation and Former Director General of CSIR applauded the initiative, saying, “Fortunate to witness a unique event, when the inaugural award given in the name of a legendary pioneer in the field of environment, S.P. Godrej, is won by a living legend in the field of environment, Dr. Ashok Khosla”.
The recipient of the inaugural S. P. Godrej Environment Award, Dr Ashok Khosla expressed his delight, stating, “I am honoured to receive the S. P Godrej Award for Environment this year. My organisation, Development Alternatives has worked with Godrej Industries Ltd and Associate Companies on many environmental and livelihood issues. As a scientist I think innovation is crucial to achieve our collective vision of the planet and people prospering in a symbiotic manner. Over the years my team at DA and I have tried to achieve this synergy. My contribution is miniscule, but I hope this award will inspire young minds to come forward as a movement to create a tangible shift towards protecting Mother Earth and its Species including us Humans”.
In a very holistic and engaging presentation Dr Khosla made, he touched on a remarkably wide range of issues from reducing carbon emissions, mitigating climate change, carbon sequestration, the rich-poor divide in promoting sustainability to lifestyle changes needed in our civilisation, innovation for disruptive changes needed for resource efficiency and to transit to decentralised energy generation and use to how education and empowerment of women helps sustainability to the need of innovating entire population as a mass movement to address environmental issues.
“Mr. S. P. Godrej, himself, a giant of a human being, was a man born much before his time! He devoted his entire life, giving of his time and talents, unstintingly to the cause of the Environment, literally 24×7. Our jury couldn’t have made a better choice in awarding the trophy in its inaugural year, to Dr Ashok Khosla, an Environmental Crusader, like Sohrabji, and since 1965 … not just in India, but globally”, stated Roger C. B. Pereira, Vice Chairman, Mumbai First.
As per the press release the award received a great response in its inaugural year itself. The evaluation criteria for the award included factors such as impact, leadership, and commitment to environmental causes, community engagement, innovative approaches, advocacy efforts, and scalability of initiatives, educational outreach, and a science-based approach. The Sohrab Pirojsha Godrej Environment Award is a testament to Godrej’s unwavering commitment to creating a sustainable and environmentally conscious future.
Godrej Industries Limited and Associate Companies (GILAC), is a 125 year group, valued at $5 billion, with a clear focus on chemicals, FMCG, real estate, agriculture and financial services, a set of diverse industries, most of which are defining new India’s growth story. GILAC believes in inculcating the shared value through its philosophy of ‘Good & Green’.
Mumbai First is an initiative of the corporate world. With its unique model of public-private participation, it was set up by India’s industry leaders 25 years ago. The Tata’s, Mahindra’s, Reliance, Godrej, ICICI, Asian Paints, and HDFC are a few of the patrons of this organization which have worked with the Union and State Governments, MCGM, MMRDA, etc. as a nonpartisan body able to engage civil society, professionals, and captains of industry.
