It is the story of a young boy named Akshay Sandeep Patil, Founder of “Hands towards Humanity.” He was born in Alibaug, Maharashtra, and currently resides in Panvel, Navi Mumbai. Sandeep Patil’s father is an Assistant Sub Inspector at the Kamothe Police Station in Navi Mumbai. His mother, Sushama Patil, is a housewife. He graduated with B.E (Electronics & Telecommunication) from Mumbai University. He has enjoyed a splendid childhood, full of mischief, joy, and happiness. He remembers visiting his Nani’s place every summer holiday and enjoying it for months with his cousins.

His father’s job and background are in the defense forces, and since childhood, Akshay too wanted to make a career in the defense field. He also applied for and cleared NDA exams, but he couldn’t proceed due to specific family issues. He always wanted to do something for the nation.

When the pandemic struck and the lockdown was announced almost a year ago, Akshay studied his engineering last semester. He loved to read novels and technical research papers in his free time. One day he was reading a 2020 research paper written by ocean scientists. And after reading the research paper, Akshay realized that humans are destroying mother earth with their actions.

What he read shocked him badly. He read that by 2045, which is less than 25 years from now, the amount of garbage in the ocean will be MORE than the number of creatures in the sea. This statement stuck in his head and made him think. He wanted to do “something” that could change this. Anything. He started researching more and more regarding this and realized that ‘plastic’ is the primary source of havoc causing ocean pollution.

Akshay Sandeep Patil with his friend

He also realized through various studies that most of the dump that gathers in any ocean is from the rivers. He instantly thought that maybe if he cleaned up the river and approached people to not throw plastic or any waste into rivers, there would be a significant impact. He knew that this was not an overnight miracle and it would take a long time, but he knew one thing – he had to start somewhere.

Akshay, being from Alibaug, has a soft corner and an inherent attachment to the oceans. He asked one of his close friends to stay ready at 6 am on a particular day. He took him to a river near the society with a few empty bags. His friend just asked, “Bhai, Nadi saaf Karni hai kya?” He nodded. And since then, Akshay has never looked back. 

Soon, this became the daily routine of him and his friends. It continued for a few weeks. Later, a few of his friends got selected for the police service and left for that. But Akshay didn’t stop. He continued his river cleaning drives every day. He realized his social responsibility towards humanity and the planet, which became his passion too. Today, when Akshay plans his daily activities, he does the river cleanup drive.

 

Akshay Sandeep Patil cleaning River

Akshay Sandeep Patil with garbage collected from River

He also notices that when tourists or hikers go on trekking, hiking, and adventure trips, they carry a plastic water bottle to quench their thirst. But so that they don’t have to carry the bottle in their bag again, they throw these plastic bottles as soon as they get empty. In addition to this, they throw chocolate and biscuit wrappers and other plastic waste on the way. Akshay feels that people who are out to ‘experience’ nature in forests and hills are damaging nature on their visit. He wonders how future generations will see nature’s earthly beauty if we don’t spare even green places.

Plastic is made up of petroleum materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS), which are non-decomposable. 

We use plastic for a single day or sometimes just a few hours and then throw or dump it. And the story is over. But guess what? The story is not over. It takes hundreds of years to decompose, causing a series of devastating effects on the environment.

Akshay has successfully cleaned up more than 15 tons of plastic. He earlier was working all by himself and with the help of a few friends. But soon enough, he realized that he needed to spread awareness about it to impact a larger audience. He consistently uses social media to raise awareness about slowly destroying our planet with our misdeeds. Akshay insists on people using cloth bags or paper bags and avoiding plastic altogether. His dream of working for the defense force has now converted into working for nature and society, which has become his passion. 

Besides river cleaning efforts, Akshay also started working for stray animals and homeless people. He doesn’t have the financial capacity to feed hundreds but makes sure to feed at least one hungry person every day. He also feeds more than 20 strays every day. He goes on checkup rounds around his area to check the health and well-being of all strays. If anyone is injured or unwell, he medicates them and brings them to health. He also emphasizes negligent driving and rash driving, injuring the strays and even killing many of them.

Akshay Sandeep Patil – Founder Hands towards Humanity

Akshay Sandeep Patil – Founder Hands towards Humanity

He has given a name to his social work campaign, i.e., “Hands towards Humanity,” which inspires people and makes them give up their wrongdoings to the environment. He believes in doing the best for society and is a staunch believer in Karma. 

He hasn’t faced any significant backlash, but he has always observed that many people are ready to raise questions and taunt any good work that one is doing. Whenever he encounters such people, he ignores them and keeps moving ahead. Some people have a very fixed mindset. No matter how much one tries to explain, they don’t understand that using plastic can be dangerous for the environment. 

He has hidden the fact that he does so much social work from his parents only because he is afraid they might ask him to stop or create pressure to stop without seeing its positive effects. His sisters and brothers-in-law know about his campaigns and support him dearly. But it is evident in his mind that even though his parents ask him to stop, he won’t. 

When he feeds a hungry person, the broad smile they have on their face is the satisfaction he craves. It in itself makes him work harder each day. Even strays bestow their love on you when you take care of them, and that feeling keeps him charged and dedicated to the social cause. 

It is only and only his love for nature that keeps him motivated, even when there’s no source of motivation for him. He wishes to keep humanity alive with his deeds, no matter how big or small they might be. Akshay doesn’t accept any funds from anyone. Even if someone offers him money, he asks them to feed the homeless instead or help the strays. 

He has become so accustomed to river cleaning that even if he misses a single day of the cleanup campaign, he feels uncomfortable and feels like he has had an incomplete day. 

Akshay Sandeep Patil – Campaign against Plastic

His sole purpose is to spread awareness and make ‘Humans’ become ‘Humans with Humanity.’ He is happy to share that he has recently secured his first job in a famous MNC, Exenture Life Safety India Pvt Ltd. He is a system engineer and works to save people’s lives, which he does through social work. He is now more determined to help nature and people in need, bidding bye to financial constraints. 

He has made several posters with descriptive images and slogans. These slogans make people aware of the hazardous effects of plastic and how it is destroying nature, how they must plant more trees and help the strays. He also wears these posters and stands in public places to help people realize their social responsibility. For a similar reason, he started his Instagram handle with ‘Hand Towards Humanity.’ You can follow him on Instagram on this handle, Hands Towards Humanity. 

Natural disasters are roars of Mother Earth against the ill-doings of us cruel humans. Akshay firmly believes that it’s man’s Karma that he is facing today. And if humans don’t change themselves, things will be more critical for the planet and us, the so-called humans, very soon.

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