Recognizing Changemakers, Inspiring Action
The first-ever BSG Awards for Excellence in Sustainability opened a new chapter in BSG’s outreach efforts. Hundreds gathered to celebrate what is possible when ordinary people choose to act with extraordinary courage.
From the entrance of the venue to the doors of the auditorium, BSG members lined up with radiant smiles, clapping and extending a heartfelt welcome to every guest and attendee. It set a joyful, celebratory spirit that carried through the entire evening.
Presiding over the Awards ceremony was the Chief Guest Mr. Amit Chandra, Co-founder of the A.T.E. Chandra Foundation & Chairperson – Bain India Capital. Alongside him, a distinguished jury brought their insight, experience, and vision to the awards:
- Prof. Bijayalaxmi Nanda — Principal, Miranda House College, University of Delhi
- Ramveer Tanwar — Founder, Say Earth and Pondman Enterprises
“Embracing sustainability is not just a choice but a responsibility; it’s about creating a thriving future for generations to come. Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities for a greener planet.”
- Dr. Ruby Makhija — Founder, Why Waste Wednesdays Foundation.
“Sustainability is not a choice, it is our responsibility to the future. A greener world begins not with policies, but with daily practices.”
- Gaurav Shah — Co-founder and Director, Indian School of Development Management (ISDM),
“Sustainability stems from the idea, we owe the generations to come, a planet they can safely call their own. It is not an idea that is good to do but an absolute imperative which can’t and should not overlooked.”
- Vikas Verma — Regional Head, UNDP North India.
“SDGs are the last hope for humankind. Since all our problems are man made we also have the capacity to act on solutions, transform ourselves and save the planet by 2030.”
The ceremony began with a joyous youth performance on the Soka Gakkai song ‘Step Forward’.
A short BSG for SDG film then traced BSG’s journey in sustainability.
Inaugural Address
BSG Chairperson Vishesh Gupta opened the evening with an inspiring message on the idea of “humanitarian competition”, a vision rooted in Soka humanism.
“These awards embody a rare form of competition,” he said. “They are not about outdoing one another but about amplifying impact, inspiring change, and building hope together.” His words set the tone for a ceremony where every story matters, and every effort counts.
Keynote Address
The evening’s Chief Guest, Mr. Amit Chandra delivered a powerful keynote.
“No law or policy can succeed unless we choose to live mindfully,” he said. He urged everyone to embrace simple, daily actions: refuse what you don’t need, reduce what you can, support local supply chains, and use surpluses to serve society’s needs.
The Live Quiz
Just as the room settled into its rhythm, the evening took a lively turn. Surbhi Sharma from BSG, stepped on stage to host a sustainability quiz that had the entire auditorium curious and engaged.
Celebrating the Changemakers
The heart of the evening came alive as the awards were presented. Each name called to the stage carried a story of courage and compassion. From restoring ecosystems to reshaping industries, the Awards celebrated a diverse range of changemakers.
| Category | Winner(s) | Special Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Leadership Award | Firstsource Solutions Ltd., Mumbai | Jaivica Kushwah |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation | Nature Environment & Wildlife Society, Kolkata | — |
| Responsible Consumption & Production | Ziro Festival, Arunachal Pradesh | — |
| ESG Leadership Award | Shailesh Haribhakti, Mumbai | — |
| Sustainable Finance & Green Investments Award | Munify Datatech Pvt. Ltd. , Hyderabad | — |
| Sustainable Technology & Innovation Award | Navocem Infra Industries Pvt. Ltd. , Udaipur | Rajkiran Madangopal, Hyderabad |
| Sustainability Excellence Award – Corporate & Institutional | Punjab Renewable Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd. (PRESPL), Mumbai | — |
| Sustainability Champion – “Power of One” Award | Tulika Suneja, Faridabad; Shirshendu Das, Assam | — |
| Community Engagement & Education for Sustainability | Sterlite EdIndia Foundation, Mumbai | — |
| Excellence in Healthcare & Well-being | St. Jude India ChildCare Centres,Mumbai iKure Techsoft Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata | — |
| Sustainability Storytellers & Digital Advocates | Recanteur, Kolkata | — |
| Leadership Towards Fostering Gender Equality | Avtar Group, Chennai; KARM for Young Indian Woman, Delhi | Charkha Development Communication Network, Delhi |
| Collaborative Action for Sustainability Impact | Gramya Vikash Mancha, Assam | — |
| Sustainable Human Behaviour (SHB) Award | Piramal Foundation’s Aspirational Bharat Collaborative, Mumbai | — |
Each announcement drew cheers. Each achievement inspired the room.
Reflecting on the evening, jury member Ramveer Tanwar shared:
“Every time I come to BSG, I am moved by the warmth and passion here. The energy is contagious. What makes this evening truly special is that the awards recognised grassroots changemakers — people creating real impact on the ground. It will inspire them to do even more. I feel proud to have been part of this journey.”
Honouring Our Special Guests
The evening was graced by several distinguished guests whose work and influence continue to inspire change in society. Each guest was presented with a memento of appreciation as a token of BSG’s gratitude for their presence and support.
- Padma Shri Ms. Shovana Narayan — renowned Kathak dancer
- Padma Shri Ms. Prathibha Prahlad — celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer
- Dr. Setu Kumanan — Chairman, Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women, Chennai
- Dr. Amit Bhalla — Vice President, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions
- Dr. Santosh G — CEO, We Plant, Delhi
- Ms. Sanyukta Gupta — Promoter & Member Executive Group, Catalyst Now, India Chapter
- Dr. Vibha Dhawan — Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
- Mr. Vikas Gupta — DD News
Closing Reflections
In her heartfelt vote of thanks, Dr. Jaya Rao, Head of External Relations, Media and Sustainability at BSG, brought the evening to a powerful close:
“Caring for the planet and caring for people are not two different things. They are one and the same. Tonight has reminded us that while human beings created these challenges, we also hold the power to solve them.”
For many in the audience, the evening was deeply personal. Manvi, a guest, shared:
“The event was so joyful and inspiring. I already knew about sustainability, but seeing so many people working so passionately made me want to do more. Even the quiz made me reflect on unsustainable habits. Now I’m going to make small changes in my daily life. This event has motivated me to act.”
SOHA Exhibition
The celebrations continued beyond the awards. Visitors were invited to experience the Seeds of Hope & Action (SOHA) exhibition, which was conducted right after the ceremony. Members of BSG’s SDG Clubs from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (Technical Campus), Delhi, and Miranda House, Delhi University, guided participants through the panels.
