Rajendra Kerkar grew up in a village in Sattari taluka in Goa. One of the most picturesque areas in Goa, Sattari is known for its dense forests, wild life and waterfalls. Kerkar’s village, surrounded by the Sahyadri range on one side and close to two tributaries of Mandovi, Kalati and Valvanti on the other, must have been heaven on earth. It’s no wonder that he is so passionate about protecting and conserving this precious area. “I grew up listening to songs about these rivers,” he says.

A history and sociology major, Rajendra Kerkar was a teacher for the first 20 years of his life. However, the passion to protect the environment and dedicate his time to educating people on environment conservation made him give up this noble profession. Rajendra is part of several initiatives including the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan and the National Board of Wildlife of India among others. He also started the Vivekanand Environment Awareness Brigade (VEAB) in 2001, a non-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness on the environment. 

The Mhadei, as the Mandovi river is known as for some of its length, has been at the centre of a long standing dispute between the Goa and Karnataka governments. The river is much revered in Goa but with the neighbouring state government’s plan to divert the water and the proposed dam constructions, there is much concern. The river has been the lifeline of Goa in terms of drinking water and maintaining the biodiversity and ecological balance. Rajendra Kerkar has led the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan for several years now and has toiled hard to put a stop to this diversion of water. “We have been aware of the water security problem since 1998. Also we have helped the Government of Goa strengthen the case on this issue and helped them take it to the Supreme Court,” says Kerkar. 

Kerkar has also been actively involved in protecting the Mhadei and Netravali Wildlife sanctuaries and the tigers in this corridor. Rajendra has been actively involved in a study to identify the tiger population in this region. At present, 5 tigers each have been sighted and documented in the Mhadei and Netravalai sanctuary areas. This study was conducted in response to the government’s claims that there was no tiger population in Goa at all. Rajendra, ably supported by his wife, Pournima have worked closely with the media and local population to ensure that these sanctuaries are not de-notified and the tiger population is protected. Kerkar has also been part of an initiative to ensure that the state government recognises and includes the 748 square kilometre wide section of the Western Ghats as a UNESCO world heritage site. So far Goa has not been part of this recognition.

Rajendra Kerkar’s long term vision also includes the work done by his organisation, VEAB. It involves around 30 to 40 young members who take charge of the activities of the non-profit. With this organisation, he aims to transform and channelize the energy of the youth into something constructive. The focus of VEAB is environment education, in addition to documenting the various facets of biological, cultural and traditional diversity of Goa. VEAB leverages several options such as workshops, nature trails, street plays, slide shows, and nature orientation camps to propagate environmental awareness among school and college students. 

Kerkar says, “I come from a long line of fighters. My great grandfather was part of the last revolt against the Portuguese rule in Goa and my father was in the Goa Liberation Army.” Whatever the lineage, it cannot be denied that we need more crusaders like Kerkar. The ecological balance is being rapidly disrupted with the forest cover, rivers and wild life fast disappearing. What Kerkar is doing is notable since he is not only involved in protecting it today, but is training the future generation in taking up this cause.