Last year on this very day (September 4th), Steve Irwin (of Crocodile Hunter fame) passed away. He breathed his last doing the thing he loved the most - filming wildlife. His shows on Animal Planet was loved by all who watched them. He brought wildlife to our living room couches and sentitized us to the treasure wildlife is. All his life he crusaded for conservation & preservation of Mother Nature's bounties.
Unfortunately today, especially in India, this spirit is waning. It is no less than the Indian Tiger that is at threat. Their numbers have diminished and the clock is ticking.
Fuelled by the demand of their skin and their bodyparts in the international market (primarily Tibet, China and Taiwan), tigers in India are today being slaughtered. Of course economic reasons, more than anything else, is at play here. Apart from the poachers, villagers living in the forested areas also participate in the mayhem by poisoning water bodies - all for less than 10 US$. For a poor man picking wood from the forests, that is indeed big money.
But apart from the economic perspective, I believe there is something more at play. Now, I know there are still quite a few people who love Nature and being one with it. There are trekkers who even go on treks alone, just to be one with Nature. There are some people (notably Valmik Thapar) who has carried alone crusades for conservation India's natural habitats & for tiger protection.
But there are also many, no less in the privileged & educated classes, that just don't care. They somehow don't really appreciate & enjoy the enormous fulfillment and peace Nature gives us. For example, I have seen many instances of a picnic/group holiday to a beautiful tranquil place being marred by loudspeakers blaring 'item numbers' at full blast. To me, it just plain hurts somewhere.
I don't believe this feeling of being one with nature can be taught to anyone. You either have that sensation, or you don't. A few posters/hoardings there and a Born Free movie there simply does'nt do it. I wish Steve Irwin was reborn in India and through his shows inspired that love for Nature again. It is the little minds that can be changed - and they are our future.
I consider today's (urban & educated) children in India singularly unfortunate. Most of the time they are weighed down by huge burden of books, or are being dragged along by parents to activities they don't enjoy. I see playgrounds going empty and children spending their time playing FIFA 2007 on their computers instead. We need an icon like Steve Irwin to make it happen. He was a lovable, adorable maverick who can mix education with entertainment to touch childen's hearts. He is hard, almost impossible to replace. But there is always hope - if not for the Indian tiger in the forest, but for one on the screen.
Unfortunately today, especially in India, this spirit is waning. It is no less than the Indian Tiger that is at threat. Their numbers have diminished and the clock is ticking.
Fuelled by the demand of their skin and their bodyparts in the international market (primarily Tibet, China and Taiwan), tigers in India are today being slaughtered. Of course economic reasons, more than anything else, is at play here. Apart from the poachers, villagers living in the forested areas also participate in the mayhem by poisoning water bodies - all for less than 10 US$. For a poor man picking wood from the forests, that is indeed big money.
But apart from the economic perspective, I believe there is something more at play. Now, I know there are still quite a few people who love Nature and being one with it. There are trekkers who even go on treks alone, just to be one with Nature. There are some people (notably Valmik Thapar) who has carried alone crusades for conservation India's natural habitats & for tiger protection.
But there are also many, no less in the privileged & educated classes, that just don't care. They somehow don't really appreciate & enjoy the enormous fulfillment and peace Nature gives us. For example, I have seen many instances of a picnic/group holiday to a beautiful tranquil place being marred by loudspeakers blaring 'item numbers' at full blast. To me, it just plain hurts somewhere.
I don't believe this feeling of being one with nature can be taught to anyone. You either have that sensation, or you don't. A few posters/hoardings there and a Born Free movie there simply does'nt do it. I wish Steve Irwin was reborn in India and through his shows inspired that love for Nature again. It is the little minds that can be changed - and they are our future.
I consider today's (urban & educated) children in India singularly unfortunate. Most of the time they are weighed down by huge burden of books, or are being dragged along by parents to activities they don't enjoy. I see playgrounds going empty and children spending their time playing FIFA 2007 on their computers instead. We need an icon like Steve Irwin to make it happen. He was a lovable, adorable maverick who can mix education with entertainment to touch childen's hearts. He is hard, almost impossible to replace. But there is always hope - if not for the Indian tiger in the forest, but for one on the screen.
1 comments:
Very Well written, Steve Irwin is a nice example to show what we need. The issues are concerning and we have to act immediately.
One suggestion on your posts, your thoughts are linier sometime. From the literature point of view it is perfect, but little more climax and finishing need, but I am sure that you will do it one day.
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