Kalambe’s efforts have expanded from local beach clean-ups to broader initiatives, including river restoration and advocacy for policy reforms on single-use plastics. He has collaborated with celebrities, corporations, and government bodies to amplify environmental awareness, positioning himself as a key figure in India’s youth-led climate action movement.
Kalambe’s efforts have expanded from local beach clean-ups to broader initiatives, including river restoration and advocacy for policy reforms on single-use plastics. He has collaborated with celebrities, corporations, and government bodies to amplify environmental awareness, positioning himself as a key figure in India’s youth-led climate action movement.
== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
Malhar Kalambe (born c. 1998) is an Indian environmentalist, social media influencer, and founder of the non-profit organization Beach Please India. Known for leading community-driven clean-up drives targeting plastic pollution on Mumbai’s beaches and waterways, Kalambe has mobilized over 450,000 volunteers to remove more than 8.5 million kilograms of waste since 2017. His work emphasizes youth engagement, sustainability education, and systemic change to combat marine pollution, earning him recognition from the United Nations, the Government of India, and media outlets like Forbes India.
Kalambe’s efforts have expanded from local beach clean-ups to broader initiatives, including river restoration and advocacy for policy reforms on single-use plastics. He has collaborated with celebrities, corporations, and government bodies to amplify environmental awareness, positioning himself as a key figure in India’s youth-led climate action movement.
Early life and education
Malhar Kalambe was born and raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He grew up near Dadar Beach, where he witnessed firsthand the impact of urban pollution on coastal areas during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi. His mother is an entrepreneur who operates a garment business.
Kalambe pursued a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree at KPB Hinduja College in Mumbai while preparing for the Chartered Accountancy (CA) exams. However, in 2018, he dropped out of his CA program to focus full-time on environmental activism, citing the urgency of pollution issues as a pivotal factor. By age 21, he had already begun organizing volunteer efforts, drawing from his observations of littered beaches during his college years.
Career and activism
Founding of Beach Please
Kalambe’s activism was sparked in 2017 during a trip to Bali, Indonesia, where he contrasted the pristine beaches abroad with Mumbai’s polluted shores upon his return. Frustrated by post-festival litter, particularly single-use plastics, he launched “Beach Please” on 10 September 2017 as a weekly clean-up initiative starting at Dadar Beach. The name “Beach Please” serves as a pun on “bitch, please,” symbolizing a call to action against apathy toward environmental degradation.
What began with Kalambe and a handful of friends has evolved into India’s largest youth-led coastal clean-up movement. By 2025, the initiative had conducted 371 consecutive weekly drives, engaging primarily college students and young professionals. Volunteers, equipped with gloves, masks, and tools funded largely by Kalambe himself, focus on removing plastics, which constitute about 90% of the waste collected.
The organization partners with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC) for waste disposal logistics, such as trucks and excavators, while Kalambe handles operational costs.5766f0 Beach Please has since expanded to mangrove forests near Airoli and the Mithi River, a major pollution source for Mumbai’s coastline, where settlements dump domestic waste directly into the waterway.
Key initiatives and impact
Beach Clean-Ups: Over 400 Sundays of drives have removed 8.5 million kg of waste, equivalent to the weight of several elephants, transforming polluted sites into cleaner public spaces.
Mithi River Restoration: In collaboration with actress Jacqueline Fernandez, a 2024 drive removed 4,000 kg of waste in one session, highlighting celebrity involvement to boost visibility.
Awareness Campaigns: Kalambe uses social media to educate on plastic pollution, waste segregation, and sustainable lifestyles. He advocates for an “environment that doesn’t need protection,” pushing for mindset shifts over temporary fixes.
Youth Mobilization: Events like school reunions have drawn 4.5 lakh participants, fostering a network of young activists. Kalambe emphasizes collective responsibility, stating, “We cannot expect the government to clean our trash.” His work addresses not just pollution but systemic issues, including inadequate enforcement of plastic bans and urban waste management.
Recognition and awards
Kalambe’s contributions have garnered national and international acclaim:
- 2019: United Nations Volunteers India V-Award for “Volunteer for Change.”
- 2022: Ranked 28th in Forbes India’s Top 100 Digital Stars for leveraging social media in conservation.
- 2024: National Creators Award from the Government of India for “Sustainable Creator of the Year,” presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- 2024: Featured in Forbes India’s Digital Stars list (Rank 92) as a changemaker, with a Goat Score of 6.69 for engagement.
- 2025: Ambassador for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan; speaker at Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue on sustainability.
