Puducherry man transforms plastic waste into art | Fusion - WeRIndia

Plastic waste, a pervasive environmental challenge, poses a growing threat to ecosystems and human health worldwide.

Here is a middle-aged man who captivates a small crowd on the beach in Puducherry by skillfully turning plastic into beautiful table mats. He was once a tax officer in Australia.

Meet Satyajit Agarwal, a 48-year-old who is on a mission to transform Puducherry into a cleaner city.

Born to a Haryana-Punjabi family in Delhi, he grew up in Puducherry, which he remembers as a clean place.

However, when he returned from Australia in 2014, he was shocked by the litter strewn everywhere. This compelled him to take action to preserve his second home.

Satyajit initially began his mission by cleaning beaches. However, he soon realized that merely depositing waste into bins wouldn’t provide a long-term solution.

Through trial and error, he learned to stitch together plastic wrappers and covers into various works of art, from flowers to storage baskets and even slippers.

He meticulously cut, rinsed, and dried plastic bags, transforming them into strips that he wove into art.

Drawing inspiration from his time in Australia, where waste management was taken seriously, Satyajit aimed to foster similar awareness in Puducherry.

His mission grew beyond him, as he began teaching others in his community how to turn plastic waste into art.

He extended this effort to schools and educational institutions, spreading awareness about recycling plastic waste.

In addition to his environmental work, Satyajit adopted two villages, Panaiyur and Kurumbapet, where he teaches residents the recycling process.

He generously volunteers as a teacher, offering free lessons in English, French, and Hindi to children in these villages. He also conducts free workshops for locals.

Satyajit’s focus has never been on selling his artwork for profit. Instead, he aims to make a statement and raise awareness.

However, he helps village women make a living from their creations. Recently, their art pieces were featured at the Zero Waste Festival in Puducherry.

Through his dedication and creativity, Satyajit Agarwal is making a tangible difference in the fight against plastic waste. Also, he is inspiring others to join the cause for a cleaner Puducherry and a healthier planet.

Image Credit: Tunesh247, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poorly_manage_plastic_waste_in_Lagos,_Nigeria.jpg