CNN-News18 Indian of The Year 2023: Arun Krishnamurthy, S Thimmakka Win in Climate Warriors Category

Arun Krishnamurthy, the founder of Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI), which works in the field of wildlife conservation and habitat restoration, and Saalumarada Thimmakka, the 112-year-old climate warrior from Karnataka’s Tumkur district known as the “Mother of Trees" for planting 8,000 trees, on Wednesday won the CNN-News18 Indian of The Year 2023 in the Climate Warriors category.

“We have restored 460 lakes. I must thank the jury. I represent thousands of volunteers who toil for India. These are field workers…The lakes, animals are citizens of India, because they have survived the greed and onslaught," said Krishnamurthy, as he received the award from environmental activist and lawyer Afroz Shah.

“When you save a lake, magic happens…Nature is special. It is spiritual, heartwarming and an experience that ensures there is evolution. You realise you are human when you work with nature on a daily basis," he added.

Shah added, “You have a duty to the nation…"

“Indians have done so much in the past…Somewhere, in between, we have forgotten," said Krishnamurthy.

Recounting the time when he was mentioned in PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat, Krishnamurthy thanked the PM and people of the country for giving them an opportunity to do their job.

In 2007, Krishnamurthy founded the EFI. He has initiated a campaign aimed at cleaning lakes and made it his life’s purpose to revive dying waterbodies in India. His initiative is currently supported by 47 CSR partners, and works across 18 states where it has restored 460 waterbodies.

Thimmakka could not attend and sent a message through her foster son Umesh, saying, “You need to plant trees…We need to not just live together, but also care together even for our trees, collectively."

Thimmakka is known for her work of planting 385 banyan trees along a 45-kilometre stretch of highway between Hulikal and Kudur in Karnataka. This not only transformed the barren stretch of road into a lush green corridor, but also helped improve the air quality. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019 for her contributions in environmental conservation.

Other nominees in the category were Atul Sati, who has been working in the Joshimath region of Uttarakhand; Dinesh Kumar Mishra, an expert on the river network of Bihar; Ridhima Pandey, a young climate activist.

Currently in its 13th edition, CNN-News18 Indian of the Year is an initiative that recognises Indians who have made significant contributions to various fields and have had a profound impact on the nation. Since its inception in 2006, CNN-News18 Indian of the Year has firmly positioned itself as the biggest awards in the world of news television, celebrated for its unassailable credibility.

Over the years, the Indian of the Year award recipients have included personalities such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, cricket star Virat Kohli, the Indian women’s cricket team, NGO Stop Acid Attacks, Chess Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand, music legend AR Rahman, former PM Manmohan Singh, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, star boxer MC Mary Kom, actress Deepika Padukone and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, among others.