Ayan Banerjee has completed more than 2,400 kilometres on foot as he travels across India to spread awareness about environmental protection and compassionate living
While many climate campaigns unfold through conferences and social media posts, 24 year old Ayan Banerjee has chosen a different route. He is walking across India’s coastline.
The young climate and animal welfare activist has already covered 2,417 kilometres on foot as part of the Karuna Padayatra. The ambitious journey began in the Sundarbans of West Bengal on March 3 and will eventually stretch 7,000 kilometres before ending in Gujarat.
After completing 100 days on the road, Ayan reached Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. The milestone marks another step in a mission focused on climate awareness, sustainable living and kindness towards animals.
Ayan first gained national attention when he was named Volunteer of the Year by PETA India in 2020. Now he is carrying that commitment across nine states and four Union Territories through one of the country’s longest awareness walks.
“Walking is slow but that is why it works,” he says. “It gives me time to meet people and listen to their stories.”
Unlike many large campaigns, the Karuna Padayatra is not backed by commercial sponsors or political organisations. It relies largely on community support and the hospitality of people Ayan meets along the way.
His days often involve walking between 30 and 50 kilometres. During the first 50 days he travelled alone and organised school visits and community interactions by himself. A small support team now helps document the journey and share updates online.
The walk has also become a platform for environmental education. Ayan has conducted awareness sessions in more than a dozen schools and distributed over 2,000 packets of organic vegetable seeds. He hopes to hand out more than 9,000 seeds before the journey ends.
One of the key messages of the campaign is that small actions can create meaningful change. Planting a seed, reducing waste or helping an animal may seem simple. Together they can make a difference.
During his travels through Andhra Pradesh he visited Kondakarla Ava in Anakapalli district where he worked with a local social welfare organisation. There he encouraged communities to include plantbased meals in their routine as a step towards sustainable living.
Environmental concerns have surfaced repeatedly during the journey.
In Andhra Pradesh many residents spoke about the impact of aquaculture on local ecosystems. Farmers and villagers shared concerns about changing water quality, soil degradation and challenges facing traditional livelihoods.
Water scarcity and access to clean drinking water have also emerged as major issues.
From the Sundarbans to coastal Andhra Pradesh people repeatedly raised concerns about water availability and quality. According to Ayan these conversations reveal how deeply environmental changes are affecting everyday life.
The journey has not only highlighted environmental challenges but also stories of generosity.
Ayan says local residents have welcomed him into their homes and offered support without expecting anything in return. These experiences have strengthened his belief that communities remain willing to work together for positive change.
To celebrate 100 days on the road he launched the Day 100 Challenge. The initiative encourages people to walk one kilometre and perform one act of kindness. Participants are invited to plant a seed, feed a stray animal or share a plantbased meal.
For Ayan the walk is about more than covering distance.
Every village visit and every conversation adds another chapter to a growing story about climate action, compassion and community led change. As he continues towards Gujarat he hopes those stories will inspire more people to take small steps towards a better future.
“The biggest lesson from this journey is that people care,” he says. “When given the chance they want to help. That gives me hope.”