Interview: Dr Mukesh Kwatra, founder of Smiling Tree

An interview with Dr Mukesh Kwatra, founder of Smiling Tree & Social entrepreneur

Dr. Mukesh Kwatra, a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist, stands at the helm of Smiling Tree, a pioneering venture in the realm of sustainable innovation. With a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship and community empowerment, Dr. Kwatra has revolutionized the landscape of eco-conscious businesses.

His journey from a seasoned professional to the founder of Smiling Tree is a testament to his unwavering dedication to creating a better world. Through this interview, we delve into the remarkable story of Dr. Kwatra’s entrepreneurial odyssey, exploring the inspiration behind Smiling Tree and the transformative impact it has had on both industry and society.

Can you share with us the inspiration behind founding Smiling Tree? What motivated you to start this initiative?

Dr Mukesh Kwatra: SMILING TREE’  is a green initiative started by my son Nirbhay Kwatra in 2012. He was at that moment a 10 year old, fifth standard Modern School student, who had a savor for our planet Earth.

As a momentous ‘first step’ a ‘SMILINGTREE GO GREEN WALK’ was organized on the 15th of January,2012 at Lodi Gardens, Delhi. The event was a great success thanks to an overwhelming and ardent response from the masses.

People from all age groups were not only inquisitive about the cause but were very ‘appreciative’ too. They were surprised to notice a young ten year old kid having such awareness and zest for a clean and green environment.

I, Dr Mukesh Kwatra, have been supporting Nirbhay throughout and now as he is busy with his studies and career development in Vancouver, I took over the initiative to carry on the good work.

My passion for nature and my love for mother Earth inspired me to keep alive ‘SMILING TREE’, that has managed to make its presence felt in past few years in spreading awareness of the threat faced due to Climate Change and motivating masses especially the younger generation to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle and conserve the environment.

In honour of my work, I was also awarded a doctorate (PhD) in Environmental Entrepreneurship by Ecole Superieure Robert de Sorbon University in France in September, 2018. Besides, I have written a number of articles for a slew of reputable websites and magazines focussing on the need to save environment. I have also written a book ‘Awakening: Sailing through the 2020 Pandemic’.

I keep on getting motivation from every tree planted, every tree adopted, every person who takes pledge ro avoid using plastics and for every drop of water and energy conserved.

How does Smiling Tree contribute to social activism and environmental conservation?

Dr Mukesh Kwatra: Smiling Tree has successfully planted nearly eight lakhs plants and trees over the last twelve years and above. We have also motivated hundreds of people to adopt trees and care for them.

Our Plantation Drives, Environment Drives and Anti-Plastic Drives have helped spread awareness among masses, especially the younger generation, about the threats of climate change, problems and solutions to various environmental problems, how to avoid using single-use plastics in daily lives and how to follow an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle.

Pandemic and the subsequent lockdown helped the cause Smiling Tree has been fighting for. People realized the negative and harmful effects of unsustainable urbanization.

Smiling Tree’s founder Dr Mukesh Kwatra wrote a book titled “Awakening – Sailing through the Pandemic”. He wrote thirty poems, each one of them inspiring people to think positively and love nature. The following verses from one of his compositions stand testimony to his thoughts –

“Let’s reinvent our lives or Earth will pause, We will adapt and adopt, it’s a green cause. Sustainable living and deforestation tamed, May the Earth know that we have changed”

What are some of the key initiatives or projects that Smiling Tree has undertaken in support of environmental causes?

Dr Mukesh Kwatra: Committed to the cause of environment, Smiling Tree has thus far planted nearly eight lakh trees in and around Delhi-NCR region. It takes pride in innovating a range of products and designs such as vertical gardens made out of recycled used plastic bottles, planters carved out of car tyres, shoes & other waste materials, and much more.

Smiling Tree has voluntarily installed Vertical Gardens made using old plastic bottles in scores of schools and colleges.

Thousands of saplings have been planted at Hansraj College, Ramjas College, Delhi School of Economics, Indraprastha College for Women, Vivekananda College, Lakshmibai College, Ambedkar Hospital, KR Manglam University, Roshanara Club in Delhi, Mother Teresa’s Nirmal Hriday in Majnu Ka Tila, Modern School at Barakhamba Road, British School at Chanakyapuri, St Xavier’s School in Civil Lines, Modern Early Years School, Elders Home Society in Rohini, Hari Nagar Leelawanti Saraswati School, Sri Ram College of Commerce, Gyan Bharati School, DDCA, Arya Samaj Center, Lalit Mahajan SVM School, Baba Randev Sarvodya Kanya Vidyalaya, Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya (Ludlow Castle), Krishna Rattan Sports Academy, and at many more places.

Over seven and a half lakhs of trees, shrubs and plants stand testimony to the selfless plantation drives carried out by Smiling Tree. It has been partnering with the Government too for plantation drives in Namami Gange Programme, a national mission to clean river Ganga, with Delhi Police having built an eco-friendly garden at Roop Nagar Police Station in Delhi, with Karur Vysya Bank, Rotary Club, Navyug Each One Teach One foundation, Platinum Motocorp of Maruti Suzuki, Knowledgentia Consultants, ACME Mobility Solutions, Help and Feed India Association, and many other organizations and institutions to carry out Plantation Drives and or gift plants at various other venues in and around Delhi. It has successfully motivated hundreds of people to adopt trees and care for them.

Smiling Tree has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with KR Mangalam University, Gurugram, Haryana. The primary objective of this MoU is to carry out plantations in villages adopted by KRMU and do periodic assessment of trees planted.

Together they will be educating farmers organic way of farming and explain the harms of pesticides and chemical based fertilizers. They also undertake to jointly conduct Anti-Plastic Drives, environment awareness programs and motivate students to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Smiling Tree promotes the concept to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic and holds workshops to teach innovative ways in which plastic bottles can be upcycld or recycled. It introduced Ecobrick to students of schools and colleges. The idea behind Ecobricks was to ensure that plastics that are poorly disposed of are put to better use. Smiling Tree demonstrated how Ecobricks are a feasible alternative to construction material.

In sync with the Fit India Movement launched by our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Smiling Tree organized a ‘Fit India Plogging Event’ on October 2, 2019.

The participants belonging to all age groups ran, walked on a stretch of app.5 kms. and alongside also did their bit for the environment by collecting plastic waste littered around which was disposed off later in a garbage bin.

Smiling Tree also holds initiatives to recycle paper. It encourages students and people to bring in old books, magazines, newspapers, notebooks, notepads or any other paper stationary, for recycling. These are later recycled into text books and donated to underprivileged children.

Smiling Tree promotes Water Conservation and Rain Water Harvesting. We engaged with some young children and displayed a demo model for water harvesting where rain and waste water is collected, stored and later used for productive purposes like gardening, washing clothes and cars etc.

Smiling Tree has been sustainability and green partner for various International Conferences organized by Department of Commerce, Delhi School of Economics, Sri Aurobindo College, Department of African Studies of University of Delhi.

Additionally, we have planted hundreds of saplings in honour of Indian sporting achievements in Olympics and Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, to commemorate their victories and accomplishments from time to time. Smiling Tree has also been planting saplings in homour of martys of Indian soldiers.

On all important festivals or Days like Diwali, Christmas, New Year, Republic Day, Independence Day, Earth Day, Environment Day etc, on birthdays, on anniversaries, Smiling Tree and Dr Mukesh Kwatra make sure to gift plants to not only commemorate the occasion, but also to inculcate a culture of planting trees.

As a social activist, what do you see as the most pressing issues facing our society today, and how can individuals and organizations like Smiling Tree address them?

Dr Mukesh Kwatra: This is hard to answer. To an environmentalist, all issues which harm or are a threat to the environment are most pressing. Be it climate change, deforestation, unsustainable use of natural resources, plastic pollution, loss of biodiversity, water conservation, gas emissions, fossil fuels burning, all are of big concern.

Individuals and environmental organizations like Smiling Tree can address environmental problems by raising awareness. And this is utmost important for the younger generation as they are the future torch bearers. This is precisely the reason Smiling Tree lays more focus on conducting Drives in Schools and Colleges primarily.

Individuals should volunteer for environmental organizations like Smiling Tree, participate in tree plantation drives, anti plastic drives, environment awareness campaigns, cleanliness and conservation projects.

Together we can raise awareness about environmental issues through education campaigns, workshops, seminars, and social media, by lobbying government officials, participating in public hearings, and working with lawmakers to promote sustainable practices and protect natural resources.

Individuals can reduce their carbon footprint by consuming less and making sustainable choices in their daily lives. This can include using reusable products, recycling, composting, and reducing energy consumption. And Smiling Tree is always there to help such people.

By working together, sharing resources, and implementing effective solutions, individuals and organizations like Smiling Tree can play a crucial role in protecting the environment, preserving natural resources, and creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.

We at Smiling Tree aim to make our Earth green and will always give our best for that.

How do you envision the role of technology in promoting sustainability and social change, particularly within the context of Smiling Tree’s work?

Dr Mukesh Kwatra: The fact that this question has been asked and answered on one of the leading and India’s fastest-growing digital marketing platform for Indian entrepreneurs, SugerMint, aptly explains the importance of technology in promoting organizations like Smiling Tree which are advocates for sustainability and social change.

Any amount of good work be it by Smiling Tree or any other organization, if people are not aware of that, the whole effort can go waste. Digital platforms and social media empower Smiling Tree to engage with a broader audience, raise awareness, and mobilize support for it’s green endeavors.

Besides, the use of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and IoT devices, can help us optimize resource management, track environmental impact, and make data-driven decisions. We can operate and make strategies more efficiently by using technology to monitor our efforts and ecosystems.

Can you discuss any challenges or obstacles you’ve encountered while leading Smiling Tree, and how you’ve overcome them?

Dr Mukesh Kwatra: Motivating people to plant, to adopt trees and avoid using plastics has been a challenge.

There is lack of awareness in the general public of the benefits of our environment friendly initiatives and they are too busy in their complex daily routines, so we look forward to make all out efforts to build trust and collaborate with communities for the success and sustainability of our endeavors.

Another challenge is securing adequate funding and resources to support large-scale plantation, environment drives and sustainable initiatives. Smiling Tree over the last many years has been funded majorly by Dr Mukesh Kwatra.

His family has been utterly supportive throughout. In March, 2021 Smiling Tree has been registered as a NGO under the heading “Smiling Tree Foundation”. Smiling Tree has been seeking donations to expand its operations and also seeking CSR partnerships.

Moreover, ensuring the long-term survival and growth of planted trees and saplings  or ecosystems pose a challenge. For that we generally plant only in institutions where there are adequate care takers and our volunteers keep a tap on the well being of the plants and trees.

We also provide adequate knowledge, fertilizers and regular feedback to such institutions and their staff to ensure healthy growth of the saplings. Infact the challenge is to teach them organic ways of fertilization and maintenance of the greenery.

Smiling Tree has always been a pioneer in motivating people to avoid using chemicals and pesticides. For instance, it asks them to use banana peels as fertilizers and use garlic and red chillies solution as sprays instead of insecticides.

Sometimes it seemed that the effort is like a drop in the ocean. But as Mother Teresa quoted, “Even the ocean would be less without that missing drop.”

What advice would you give to individuals or other organizations looking to make a positive impact on society and the environment?

Dr Mukesh Kwatra: Well, as per my experience, I would sum up my advice for individuals and other environmental and social organizations in one word – ‘Perseverance’.

In the face of obstacles, setbacks, and slow progress, perseverance allows individuals and organizations to stay committed to their goals of promoting sustainability, conservation, and environmental protection.

It fosters a sense of dedication, passion, and determination that is necessary to overcome inertia, complacency, and apathy in society. It empowers individuals and organizations to continue advocating for policy changes, raising awareness, and implementing sustainable practices despite the obstacles they may face.

What are your hopes and aspirations for Smiling Tree, and what steps are you taking to realize them?

Dr Mukesh Kwatra: Smiling Tree sincerely hopes of creating a more sustainable and ecologically balanced world, where nature is protected, biodiversity is preserved, and communities thrive in harmony with the environment.

We have a vision that our future generations are fully aware of the necessity to adopt an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle and can successfully find solutions to the various environmental issues confronted by the planet.

With this goal in mind Smiling Tree is primarily focused on promoting environmental awareness amidst students in schools and colleges.

We look forward to form alliances with other environmental organizations, government agencies, businesses, and local communities to amplify our impact and work towards common targets of implementing conservation projects, habitat restoration initiatives, and reforestation programs to protect ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources.

What is your success tips for social entrepreneurs

Dr Mukesh Kwatra: Social entrepreneurs are of a different breed as they aspire to bring in positive change by addressing social or environmental issues through innovative business solutions.

And for any entrepreneur to be successful, honesty, hard work and discipline are important traits. As for ‘social entrepreneurs’, they must combine passion, purpose, and profit, prioritize tracking and communicating the social impact of their work, build strong partnerships, be flexible and open to change in a dynamic environment, adapt to challenges, involve and empower the communities they serve, and remain resilient.

By staying committed to their mission, social entrepreneurs can create lasting and meaningful change.

In conclusion, the interview with Dr. Mukesh Kwatra, the visionary force behind Smiling Tree, has shed light on the profound significance of sustainable entrepreneurship and community-centric initiatives.

Dr. Kwatra’s unwavering commitment to environmental integrity and social responsibility serves as an inspiring example for aspiring entrepreneurs and change-makers worldwide. As we navigate the challenges of the modern world, let us draw inspiration from Dr. Kwatra’s journey, harnessing innovation and compassion to build a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.

Smiling Tree stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that with determination and empathy, we can indeed carve a path towards a more equitable and harmonious world.

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