Latest news with #KashmirRightsForum
News18
01-07-2025
- News18
This 69-Year-Old Dutch Woman Has Spent 5 Years Cleaning Kashmir's Dal Lake
Ellis visited Kashmir for the first time some 25 years ago and was immediately captivated by its natural beauty. Every year, thousands of people flock to Kashmir to experience heaven on earth. From the calm waters of Dal Lake to the lush Mughal Garden and scenic Gulmarg, these are fixed on everyone's itinerary. While many come and go, one woman, who visited the paradise more than two decades ago, fell in love with the place so much so that she decided to lead a quiet revolution to protect its beauty and environment. Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman, a 69-year-old Dutch national, has been winning hearts on the internet for her incredible and selfless efforts to protect Dal Lake in Srinagar. Affectionately known as the 'Mother of Dal," Ellis has been working tirelessly to clean up the iconic tourist spot for the past five years. She visited Kashmir for the first time some 25 years ago and was immediately captivated by its natural beauty. Over time, her love for the region only grew stronger. Five years ago, she decided to move to Kashmir permanently, leaving her home in the Netherlands behind. Since then, she has dedicated her time to just one mission: To keep Dal Lake clean and preserve its beauty. Ellis went viral after a video showing her picking up plastic bags and bottles from the lake surfaced online. Praising her hard work and efforts, Kashmir Rights Forum shared a post and wrote, 'Kudos to Dutch national Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman for her selfless efforts in cleaning Srinagar's Dal Lake for the past 5 years. This dedication serves as an inspiration to preserve Kashmir's natural beauty. Let's join hands to keep our paradise clean & pristine." Kudos to Dutch national Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman for her selfless efforts in cleaning Srinagar's Dal Lake for past 5 years. This dedication serves as an inspiration to preserve Kashmir's natural beauty. Let's join hands to keep our paradise clean & pristine. @ddprsrinagar — Kashmir Rights Forum🍁 (@kashmir_right) June 29, 2025 Not just an environmentalist, Ellis is also a passionate cyclist who often enjoys a ride through the city, spreading a message of eco-friendly living and healthy habits. Through her Instagram account, she also shares pictures of the people and stunning places of Kashmir. She even uses the platform for promoting her mission of protecting Mother Nature. Sharing a snapshot of a video of herself originally posted by The Kashmir Today, Ellis wrote in the caption, 'Cleaning up Kashmir, please, help me. Never underestimate the power of the smallest actions. Joining hands, we can clean up the whole of Kashmir within 2 years. Don't point fingers, don't blame either other people (tourists or locals) or governments (stop thinking in separation instead think in collaboration). Instead, do your own part by not throwing your waste everywhere, even collecting some waste of others as I do." Locals and environmentalists have appreciated her efforts towards preserving the natural beauty of Kashmir.
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
NDTV
01-07-2025
- General
- NDTV
Meet The 69-Year-Old Dutch Woman Who's Been Cleaning Kashmir's Dal Lake For The Past 5 Years
Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman, a 69-year-old Dutch woman affectionately known as the "Mother of Dal," has been single-handedly leading a quiet revolution to protect Kashmir's environment. Armed with nothing but her determination and love for nature, Ms Spaanderman has devoted over two decades to preserving the beauty of Dal Lake in Srinagar. Recently, a viral video showcasing her efforts, in which she picks up plastic bags and used bottles from the lake, has captured hearts online. Her connection to Kashmir began almost 25 years ago when she first visited the valley and was captivated by its breathtaking beauty. Over time, her bond with the region grew stronger, and five years ago, she decided to make Kashmir her permanent home. She then made it her mission to safeguard the iconic lake's splendour. Kashmir Rights Forum shared the video on X and wrote, "Kudos to Dutch national Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman for her selfless efforts in cleaning Srinagar's Dal Lake for the past 5 years. This dedication serves as an inspiration to preserve Kashmir's natural beauty. Let's join hands to keep our paradise clean & pristine." Watch the video here: Kudos to Dutch national Ellis Hubertina Spaanderman for her selfless efforts in cleaning Srinagar's Dal Lake for past 5 years. This dedication serves as an inspiration to preserve Kashmir's natural beauty. Let's join hands to keep our paradise clean & pristine. @ddprsrinagar — Kashmir Rights Forum🍁 (@kashmir_right) June 29, 2025 As a passionate cyclist and nature lover, she can often be seen pedalling through Srinagar's streets, promoting eco-friendly living and healthy habits. Through her Instagram, Ms Spaanderman also offers a glimpse into life in Kashmir, sharing stunning landscapes, cultural insights, and updates on her environmental efforts. Her posts have garnered widespread support and admiration, both domestically and internationally. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ellis Hubertina from Kashmir (@ellishubertina) Locals and environmentalists have also appreciated her dedication and quiet commitment to preserving Kashmir's natural beauty. One user from Instagram wrote, "What a courageous lady.... Following her. Passion and targets at this age. Impressed after I saw your profile."
