Can something as simple as a calendar be used as a tool for education and awareness? A chunk of us who are used to stocking multiple freebie copies by organizations and brands might be apprehensive. But Tamanna Balachandran thinks otherwise. The 16-year-old from Malad has created an A5 desk calendar for 2021 that showcases the magnificent marine life that surrounds us with her hand-painted illustrations along with an interesting fact about each creature.

Take for instance, the Parrotfish, which plays a key role on the coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean region. Did you know that it blows a bubble of mucus every night only to use it as a sleeping bag? Creating this calendar was a journey of discovery for Balachandran, too. But she has immersed herself in nature since childhood; as a 10-year-old, she became the youngest certified scuba diver in the world.