Kiran Purandare - KIKA
Kiran Purandare has actively participated in over 5oo educational programs related to nature and environment. He has served the as the Education Officer of the Pune Division of the World Wide Fund for Nature-India, from 1986 to 1996. He represented the organization at the Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow, Scotland and successfully completed their environment education course. He was a part of ‘Save the Western Ghats movement’ in the year 1994. He has been the guide and navigator of organizations like Nature Walk, Yuvashakti, Aasamant Benevolence Foundation, and more.
He has an exemplary command over his native Marathi language and has a number of books to his credit, which describe nature in his inimitable style. Books such as ‘Kapshichi Diary’, ’Muthevarcha Dhobi’, ’Anganateel Pari’ may be termed masterpieces of Marathi literature. His books ‘Aabhalwatanche Pravasi’ and ‘Sakha Nagzira’ have received the Government of Maharashtra Awards for the best literary works (non-fiction) in Marathi, in 1995 and 2007 respectively. Around 300 articles and write-ups authored by him have appeared in various publications and are well-known here.
He has been The Founder of organizations like ‘Nisargvedh’ and ‘Ruturang’ in the year 1996 and 1997 respectively, which created a platform for him to work independently. These organizations have tied the tight tassels of the lay public – both young and old – with nature through audiovisual presentations, talks, nature excursions and nature orientation camps conducted by Ruturang.