“When was the last time you spotted a house sparrow on your window?”, Rakesh Khatri asks this question in every workshop he does. Despite being the state bird of Delhi, today they are a rare species in the capital. No one exactly knows when did they last spot these little birds chirping outside their home.
House sparrows are always co-existed and lived with humans after the forest was cut down and the cities built. Unlike any other birds, they used to live with humans in their home, made their nests around switchboards, balconies, and any other livable place or small resting place anywhere around the home.
Rakesh Khatri, a resident of Delhi, spent his childhood in Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk. The Indian households built there are of old architectural designs and have enough spaces and rooms for sparrows to come and live with them.
Rakesh shares the story, “When I was growing up, sparrows would make their nests on switchboards, balcony, window panes, and we were told by elders not to run ceiling fans too fast because of fear of getting them injured.”
He spent his entire childhood with his little winged friends, he fed them grains when returned from school, played with them. That time was completely different, even those who didn’t have big houses had big hearts where these birds stayed.
Later, Rakesh moved from Old Delhi to Ashok Vihar, a developing part of Delhi. After moving to his new home he realized that his childhood little winged friends are slowly disappearing. The new architectural designs are built this way that leaves no room for these birds. They haven’t been able to keep up with the new architecture and lifestyle changes. Now the people have become intolerant towards the supposed ‘nuisance’ birds create.
Rakesh Khatri was a photographer & Short filmmaker by profession, he worked for the media industry. In 2008 when he saw that the number of sparrows is declining and becoming a rare species, he decided to quit his job and save them by building nests.
He got an idea of using the waste green coconut shells for making nests. Green coconut comes in abundance from South India and people usually throw it after drinking. He made a group program and collected those 10-12 waste coconut shells.
They filled the shells with newspapers and widened its opening, and covered it around with grass used in coolers. Tied all of them together, and placed an Azadirachta Indica stick near its opening for them to sit and then hung it on the tree.
They kept an eye on the nests for several days, but unfortunately, not a single bird came to accept those nests. Moreover, the nests also failed as they become completely dry after some days. People also mocked him and his ways by saying, “why would sparrows stay in your nests? They’ll build their own.”
But it didn’t stop Rakesh Khatri from doing what he’s doing. After several trial and error methods and research, he made a nest from thin sticks used in chick-blinds/window blinds by turning it into a globe shape and wrapped it with a jute roll.
He placed the nest on the tree and waited for birds to come. Every day he sat there with the camera in his hand to capture the moment. But even after 3 days, nothing happened. On the 4th day, he saw a male sparrow examining the nest, he then brought his partner to the nest. Both those sparrows adopted that new house happily.
After that people around Rakesh started asking him to build the same nests for them too, they would also like to place the same in balconies or front of their houses. Rakesh and his friends made around 20 nests and hung them everywhere in the neighborhood. Within a week all those were adopted not only by house sparrows but different types of birds.
Rakesh would stroll around his locality and city to identify different places where these birds are still fly in large numbers and then make several nests for them on trees.
Four years later In 2012, he founded Eco Roots Foundation in order to promote his mission and raise awareness. Rakesh then never looked back. He contributed his life to environmental preservation. He always says, “sparrows are my childhood friend, how can I left them to die.”
After that, he started doing various workshops and worked with schools, corporates, and residential welfare associations. His mission also includes teaching children and the young generation how to build nests, and bring them close to nature. Children and adults happily attended his workshops
He has conducted over 3 lakhs workshops and worked with over 4000 schools to teach children about environmental preservation. Until now he has taught around 300,000 children, adults, and elders how to build a birdhouse from jute bags, bamboo sticks, grass, and threads.
In every workshop, he says, “It’s the biggest blessing when someone resides in the home you built with your hand.”
He also said in one of his workshops, “There have been times when people have destroyed the nests built by my foundation. But that has not stopped me. If they destroy one, I will build another five.”
Today Rakesh Khatri is a renowned environmentalist and has been awarded several times for his extraordinary mission and dedication towards saving sparrows. He and his team made into the Limca Books of records two times for the highest number of workshops conducted and the largest theatre event on climate change.
He’s also been recognized as ‘The Sparrow Man’ and ‘The Nest Man of India’.
Eco roots foundation and the people in his workshop continue building various types of eco-friendly nests. Rakesh Khatri and his NGO also built several nests from recycled waste like Tetra packs.
He’s been also awarded by International Green Apple Award in the house of commons in London (2008) for best practice on sparrow conservation in India. Not only this but even a dedicated chapter based on Rakesh Khatri’s work is also included in ICSC English textbook for the 4th standard.
Recently, his name was recognized by the London World Book Of Records for creating 125,000 nests using jute and tetra packs.
Now, he and his NGO have the vision to build birdhouses throughout the country and are also involved in Water conservation and various other missions to environmentally sustain the ecosystem and ensure the habitation of all its elements.
His story is truly inspiring for today’s environmental situations. We often ignore these changes and issues because of our busy lives, but they also require equal attention. You already know how many of these species are on verge of extinction.
The future generation might not be able to see them ever. But if we have people like Rakesh Khatri who know how to make noise before it’s too late, then our nature keeps breathing. But why can’t we be the one? How long will we stay quiet and leave these species in unnatural extinctions?
Sources-
Do let us know about the Unsung heroes you know that are doing or did tremendous work for the betterment of society. We’ll be glad to do more research about them and will write a tribute dedicating to them.
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View Comments
Great man… great work🙏🙏🙏
Its really a great work he's doing.
Nice post..
Much appreciated.
To say I love your post is massive understatement, I love it!!!
BIg YOU!!
Joanna
Thank-you for this compliment, Joanna. It really means a lot.
Have a great day
Thank you. Care of these little birds is to be commended. Danger of their disappearance is becoming real everywhere they are labelled as nuisance. Thank you for this encouraging post.
Thank-you Faye.
You are right, care for them should be addressed. Otherwise they'll go extinct and only we'll be responsible for it.
As it said, you won't realizes the value of the thing until it become a memory.
Good one
Thank-you for your kind words.
😄
Very inspiring story 👌🌷🙏 very nice to read about the loving birds 👍🏻🌹😊
Thank-you for your words.
His story is really an inspiration and have a lot to teach us.
True, very loving story 👌🌷🙏you are most welcome 🌹♥️😊
Beautiful soul, beautiful idea!
I understand what he means. I had bird and squirrel friends at my previous home. They recognized my car and would fly and run home as I drove through the alley to the driveway. Thank you for sharing that a man so loves the tiny birdies too. I call them "Little Hoppities" because they don't walk, only bounce on those itty bitty legs. They need humans like him, they're such happy creatures.
I know you, you are as kind as this man towards all living beings on this ecosystem.
There is no doubt that their love is pure, when they consider you as a friend. I can only hope every human think like this and become like you or any person who knows the value of nature and its beings.
Always the kindest words. Perhaps one day every one will appreciate every thing.
Hope with all my heart
What a wonderful soul ❤ and kudos to you for telling us more about him !!! I belong to the small city and here I can spot a lots of birds 🐦 flying, chirping, we keep water and food for them and its a really a great feeling seeing them around 😀
That's really nice of you. Only few people understands their feeling and what they're going through (especially in the summer), otherwise people mostly avoid them becuase of their nuisance.
Its good to see you're doing something good for them.
Thank-you for sharing your words.
Loved the way you wrote!! I have been following your post on Instagram too!! Absolutely amazing. 😊😊❤
Thank-you for your kind words and support. It really means a lot.
You are most welcome 😊✌
I appreciate rakesh khatri and his work.. I don't find any word for him because thanks is very little word in front of him. He prove that when you do something different people will mocked at you but don't listen..keep going .. When you do people shut their mouth.. Thanks sir for this amazing, inspiring, story .
Well said Diyasha. There are ceratin people among us who contributed their life for the betterment of society we all live in, and their story & work need to be recognised.
Im glad you find his story inspiring. Thank-you for visiting
Your welcome and it's really a inspiring story
Superbly written 👏 what a wonderful soul 🤍 so glad to know this story!
Thank-you so much.
Btw you're so close to your 100 days challenge. 👏
Thank you! Honestly it was tough at start and now my willingness to write is more but topics, not so much :)
Thats the problem with everyone here. But ideas always comes instantly anytime.
And I know you've got this.
This is a great initiative to save these beautiful sparrows. I love birds especially sparrows, infact my day starts with the chirping of these wonderful creatures on my window and then feeding them since I was young. They also have nest outside my house, which always makes me feel delighted 😊
Well, thanks Ritish for sharing with us the story of The Nest Man of India. Keep Going 🙂.
Starting day with chirping of birds already filled you with positivity for the rest of your day.
Its good to see you have that ambience around you.
Thank-you so much Aditi for your kind words.
That's true... when chirping of birds wakes you up, it's the most beautiful way to start your day. And when fireflies in and outside your window lightens up your dark room before sleeping, you forget all tiredness of the day 🙂
We often forget nature, but nature never forget showering its love and affection to us.
True words. Nature's love is eternal. But we being an intelligent species forget our responsibilities towards it.
This was such an interesting story, thank you so much for sharing. It's absolutely incredible how Rakesh was able to work so hard to save the sparrows. To quit your own job so that you can dedicate your time to helping them is a huge commitment. It just goes to show that anything can be accomplished if you care enough.
Well said Simone.
Its really an inspiring story how one man can save lakhs of sparrows innocent lives.
You really can change the world if you care enough.
What a great story you shared Ritish and a great man to give these birds a resting place. My yard is a sanctuary of a variety of small birds to hawks and even Owls. There song and nesting is a gift and I do have to save them from my cats on occasion. Thanks for the great share and raising awareness to keep these birds alive and well.💖💖💖💖❤️
You have an amazing gift around you, Cindy. Watching birds, interacting with them can relieve stress.
Being a Yoga lover, you already have a beautiful ambience. That seems so peaceful.
Thank-you Cindy. Have a great day.
i do, I do and im', so grateful Ritsh.
Oh that's very kind of you. It really goes hand in hand.
You're so welcome and lots of love o you💖
Thank-you Cindy ❣
of course. 💖
Lovely. <3
Much Obliged, Anna.
Slendid job done by him. Creating environment awareness is the real need of the time!!
Well said. We often miss out on
the common issues that prevail in silence
but need equal attention.
Most humans are too engrossed in leading their own lives that they just don't bother about what's happening around. Fortunately those numbers are dwindling as more and more people are inclining towards environment and sustainability. We need many leaders like The Nest Man of India to show the way. Thanks for highlighting his works.
Though I agree, that those numbers are dwindling, but still it is isn’t even close to enough. There is immeasurably more needs to get done.
Its not only to the govt. But the moral duty of all.
However its good to see, people are now begin fixing the problems that threaten the ecosystem. And people like Rakesh make some noise and we open our eyes and acknowledge the problem.
Thank-you for sharing these positive views.
Indeed!!👍
What a wonderful, beautiful goal to have, and so fulfilling, and then to come up with actual working solutions..... just amazing. I'm inspired to help. I'm sure many others are too. :)
Yes, I really amazed by the solution he gave, especially making nests out of waste tetra packs. Its really amazing.
So glad you find this inspiring. Thank-you.
What an inspiring post! Anyone who treats creatures so nicely make me a fan. Thanks for sharing.
Thank-you so much.
You're right about being a fan, anyone who loves other creatures are the kindest poeple.
I love that when someone destroys a nest, he builds five more. ;) (Romans 12:21)
Yep! It was all his determination.
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." ❣
Inspiring insights and proud of Rakesh for his contributions.
Same thoughts.
Glad you find his story inspiring. 😀