Mumbai's Mahilas: Rashneh Pardiwala
Brigid Connell (BC): Can you tell me a little bit about what you do for a living and how you got into it?
Rashneh Pardiwala (RP): I am an ecologist by training, having completed my MSc and PhD in Climate Change from the University of Edinburgh, UK. I returned to India in 2002 and established the Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CERE), a Mumbai-based not-for-profit organization that promotes environmental sustainability through formal education, corporate partnerships, public awareness campaigns and legal advocacy. We have successfully completed many rural and urban, national-level research and development projects, are advisors to different government departments, CSR consultants to multi-national corporations in India, have published 28 titles and produced short films on Global Warming.
My most favorite part of my job is constantly innovating, creating new models of sustainable practices and pushing the envelope without falling over the edge. Recently CERE has undertaken the First Carbon Footprinting exercise for a full-length Hindi Feature Film in India - Aisa Yeh Jahaan - and helped it achieve carbon neutrality through a tree plantation drive in Mumbai city.
BC: Who or what do you think has been one of your biggest influences, both personally and professionally?
RP: One of my biggest influences is my Co-Founder and mentor Mrs. Kitayun (Katy) Rustom whom I met while completing my Master's program. Katy was a fierce environmental activist spearheading a rural NGO opposing the establishment and expansion of a power plant in an ecologically-fragile area of India called Dahanu, north of Mumbai. I was assigned to evaluate the marine biodiversity along the coast of Dahanu Taluka and this was my very first, hands-on experience of working with a grassroots-level environmental movement. This experience changed my life forever. I deferred my PhD program for 18 months, got closely involved with the Dahanu campaign and decided to return to India after my studies to promote "sustainable development". Katy supported my ambition, taught me the ropes, introduced me to every known resource and contact, pushed me to aim higher and dream bigger without fear and taught me the art of questioning literally every convention and everyone. I sincerely believe, in the words of Issac Newton, "If I have seen a little further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants," and my giant has been Katy.
BC: What was the most recent book you read?
RP: 'Dream with Your Eyes Open' by Ronnie Screwvala.
BC: What type of advice would you give to young women living in India right now about how to succeed?
RP: The advice I would like giving young women living in India right now is to (a) have absolute and single-minded faith in your beliefs and convictions in order to succeed in the face of naysayers, (b) be willing to work hard, very hard because there are no shortcuts in life, (c) be open to all knowledge / information and be willing to learning varied skills ranging from specific domain knowledge to managing finances to dealing with contractors so that no one takes you for a ride, (d) invest in human capital, which pays rich dividends in the long term, and finally (e) have fun and enjoy your work so that it's never drudgery when the going gets tough, which it often does, but you need the resilience to hang on during the rough times because rewards are right round the corner. Don't ever give up without a fight.
BC: Have you had any personal experiences with gender stereotypes in your profession or your industry?
RP: All types of stereotypes exists in every society but one needs to move on without showering undue attention to non-issues. More than gender, when I established CERE, most people found it very difficult to accept such a young "Founder & Director" and age was against me. Even now, I walk into stiff Boardrooms and greying eyebrows shoot through the glass ceiling or I walk into lecture halls only to be told Prof. Dr. Pardiwala was still to arrive and I should grab a seat. Now perceptions are slowly changing with many more young social and business entrepreneurs emerging and gaining public recognition.
BC: What is something that you've worked on that you're particularly proud of?
RP: Every time CERE changes the rules of the game, repositions the goal post or disrupts a business-as-usual scenario, even slightly, I feel that the effort has been well worth it. The only factor constant in life should be CHANGE. We have to evolve newer and better systems, in sync with the carrying capacity of nature, in order to achieve sustainable development that allows for co-existence by all species on this single planet. If one can change a thought or behavioural pattern of a single person or inspire another person to become a true environmentalist, then it would be an achievement to feel proud of, but I don't have a barometer to check if I've achieved that as yet.
Rashneh Pardiwala is an Asia 21 Young Leader.
Mumbai's Mahilas is an interview series conducted by Brigid Connell, Programme Development Intern, Asia Society India Centre. The series explores the diversity and drive of Mumbai's women, both personally and professionally. All women, especially those who are leaders in their field and who create change in their communities, were encouraged to participate. Interviews cover women's backgrounds, professions, successes, interests, reflections, and advice for other women. Any views or opinions presented in this series are solely those of the individuals and do not represent those of the Asia Society India Centre.