Latest news with #EllisHubertina
India Today
01-07-2025
- General
- India Today
Dutch woman cleaning Dal Lake for 5 years documents life in Kashmir. Watch videos
A 69-year-old Dutch woman has been quietly cleaning up Dal Lake for years. Now, the internet is finally catching up to her Hubertina has no official title, team, or banner. But in Kashmir, she's earned a name that speaks volumes - the 'Mother of Dal'. For the last five years, the Dutch national has made it her mission to keep Srinagar's Dal Lake made headlines after a video of Ellis rowing through the lake and picking up waste went viral on social media. The video was originally shared by The Kashmir Today on Facebook. Watch the video here: The clip was re-shared by the Kashmir Rights Forum on X and struck a chord with users, many of whom said they felt inspired and humbled.'Kudos to Dutch national Ellis Hubertina Ellis for her selfless efforts in cleaning Srinagar's Dal Lake for the past 5 years,' read the post, adding, 'This dedication serves as an inspiration to preserve Kashmir's natural beauty.'Take a look at the post here: But Ellis's journey with Kashmir didn't begin with activism. According to reports, nearly 25 years ago, she visited the Valley as a tourist. The trip changed her life. She kept returning - until, five years ago, she decided to stay for good. advertisementSince then, she's worked quietly and consistently, treating discarded bottle or floating wrapper as her to reports, locals say her presence around the lake has become spotted riding her cycle through the streets of Srinagar, she uses no megaphone to preach. Instead, she leads by example - living simply, advocating clean habits, and keeping the environment front and also documents her life on Instagram, where she shares views of Kashmir's landscapes and glimpses of her clean-up efforts. Her account has drawn support from both locals and followers abroad, with many applauding her a look at a few Instagram posts here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ellis Hubertina from Kashmir (@ellishubertina) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ellis Hubertina from Kashmir (@ellishubertina) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ellis Hubertina from Kashmir (@ellishubertina)Ellis Hubertina's story indeed cuts through the noise and reminds everyone that care, not noise, drives real change.- Ends
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
69-year-old Dutch woman collects trash from Srinagar's Dal Lake, earns praise. Watch
A viral video showing a Dutch woman on a boat picking up trash from Srinagar's Dal Lake has won hearts online. The foreigner, identified as 69-year-old Ellis Hubertina, has reportedly spent over two decades around Dal Lake and is now working to save the iconic lake's beauty. She first came to Kashmir nearly 25 years ago as a traveller but chose to stay, touched by the beauty of the valley. The clip shared on social media showed the foreigner slowly floating the boat and gathering plastic bags and used bottles from the lake.(X/kashmir_right) However, seeing the deteriorating condition of the Dal Lake, she decided to take matters into her own hands. 'As long as I have strength in my arms and breath in my body, I will keep rowing. Dal Lake gave me peace when I needed it. Now it's my turn to give back," she told The Wire. The clip shared on social media by local journalists and groups showed Hubertina slowly floating the boat and gathering plastic bags and used bottles from the lake, collecting them on her boat. Take a look at the video here: "Kudos to Dutch national Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman for her selfless efforts in cleaning Srinagar's Dal Lake for the past five years. This dedication inspires us to preserve Kashmir's natural beauty. Let's join hands to keep our paradise clean and pristine," Kashmir Right Forum said, sharing her video. The Dutch national claimed that when she first visited Dal Lake, the water was cleaner and there was no garbage. 'What breaks my heart is that this plastic wasn't here when I first came to Kashmir. Dal was clearer. The water was cleaner. Now, every day, I pick up garbage that will take hundreds of years to decompose," she added. Her efforts have earned praise from locals and tourists alike. A local vendor called her an inspiration to all residents and especially tourists. "It's shameful that someone from so far away cares more about our lake than some of us who live here," he added.
