19 June,2026 09:21 AM IST | Mumbai | Rumani Gabhare
Swapnil Thakur with his musical instruments
This writer remembers a friend casually saying, "The city [Pune] finds its way through potholes, and every day feels like a game of Subway Surfers." From forests and rivers, to neighbourhoods and livelihoods, every mega project seems to arrive with a blueprint in one hand and controversy in the other.
For Swapnil Thakur, a 32-year-old Jabalpur native who moved to Wakad, Pune, a decade ago, the conversation begins at the Mula-Mutha River, which covers 17 kilometres across the city. Before becoming an environmental artiste, Thakur worked in an IT firm. A road accident in 2019 left him with nine fractured bones, which eventually resulted in a routine that would shape both his music and his purpose.
Thakur sits beside the Mula Mutha river in Wakad, where he finds inspiration for his music. The river stretches for 17 kilometres through the city of Pune. Pics courtesy/@onemansymphony
"After the life-altering accident, I often found myself by the Mula-Mutha River near Wakad and that slowly became a part of my healing routine. Then, in April 2025, I learnt about the proposed Riverfront Development project, a massive, ongoing urban renewal initiative to transform 44 kilometres of the city's riverbanks into accessible public, recreational, and ecological spaces. It felt personal. The river has found its own course over thousands of years, and the forests along its banks have grown naturally. Why should we alter that in the name of development?" recalls Thakur.
Instead of joining clean-up drives, Thakur turned to music. The self-taught musician can play nearly 24 instruments, and performs with seven at the same time, carrying nearly 14 kgs of equipment that includes a mouth organ, guitar, bass drum, snare, hi-hat, cymbal, and tycoon. He has also written songs around the issue, including Roti Hui Nadi Ko Apne Chutkule Sunaunga, Bohot Bada Ghotala Hai, Band Karo Yeh RFD (Riverfront Development). During his performances in and around the city, he also plays an instrument-led version of Indian Ocean's Bandeh.
Thakur cites the example of the River Thames in England, which was declared "biologically dead" in 1957 after decades of industrial pollution and untreated sewage. Through better sewage treatment, stricter pollution controls, and years of restoration, the river has made a remarkable recovery and today supports around 125 species of fish.
"Cleaning a river is not the solution. You can't clean it every day; it is practically impossible," explains Thakur. "The real solution is to make people care enough that they stop polluting it in the first place," he adds.
>> Skip products with microplastics: Choose personal care products without plastic microbeads and reduce the release of microfibres from synthetic clothing.
Example: Opt for a natural face scrub instead of one with plastic beads, and use a laundry filter or wash polyester clothes only when necessary.
>> Compost floral offerings: Avoid immersing flowers, garlands, and leaves in rivers after religious rituals. Use designated collection bins. Example: Dried marigold flowers from a puja and add them to your home compost instead of throwing them into a river.
>> Pick phosphate-free cleaners: Use eco-friendly detergents and cleaning products that are less harmful to aquatic life. Example: Switch to a biodegradable dishwashing liquid or phosphate-free laundry detergent for everyday use
>> Keep storm drains litter-free: Don't sweep waste into roadside drains, especially during the monsoon, as it flows directly into rivers and creeks.
Example: Collect fallen leaves in a bag for municipal collection instead of pushing them into the nearest drain.
>> Reduce polluted runoff: Use fertilisers, pesticides, and car-washing products sparingly to prevent chemical pollution of water bodies.
Example: Wash your car at a professional car wash that treats wastewater instead of on the street outside your home.
Information Courtesy: Swapnil Thakur
14 Kgs of equipment, including a mouth organ, guitar, bass drum, snare, hi-hat, cymbal and a percussion, features in one single performance
24 instruments mastered since the age of eight
