Nabanita Saha

SUBLIME ECOSYSTEM: IS THIS A DREAM WE FORGOT

Today when I step out of my cozy home in suburban Mumbai, India. I step into a world of concrete jungle. The paradox of life is that jungle has lost its meaning today. Where are flora and fauna which are the basic components of a jungle? In past 40 years of my existence in India, I have seen the ecosystem of India changing from once a sublime state to an alarming degradation. And it is well known to every citizen of this country but majority of us just shut our mind and procrastinate this acute problem. If by chance we are confronted with these changes them we blame government, builders, industries, developing authorities and every other person known to us for these changes.

I am quiet disturbed with these irreversible changes. Way back in 2009 I have started my sole journey to give my contribution whatever in a small way by working for the cause of making my dream of reversing the depleting ecosystem to a sublime ecosystem. And this will be my only purpose of life. I have in past 7 years travelled across India especially in Western & Northern India and to my home state west Bengal and have captured the struggle of common people along with flora & fauna to meet new challenges.

This summer of 2016 whole of India is reeling under severe drought and on an average more than 77% of potable water bodies in India have dried out. The ground water level in majority of the cities have gone three folds in depth and if satellite images are to be believed the ground water in India is depleting very fast. What an irony when the earth is constituting 77% of Water and only 1% is potable, we in India are at the receiving end. Even a good monsoon cannot improve our situation. Who are we really blame to for this situation? I think the biggest challenge to us Indian is not poverty, terrorism or corruption. Our biggest challenge is revival of ecosystem.

Do you know that in past decades so many changes happened in Indian ecosystem? There are several rivers died. Death of a river is not known in Indian society and hence, it was commonly neglected by media and common man. After all we Indians will only react to what is shown to us. Several species like sparrows, vultures, common birds like cuckoo, parrots are simply vanished from all the cities. We all go to enjoy the ecosystem during our holidays and now that is also a distant dream as tourism is also causing harm to whatever is left out.

Well enough can be said about preservation, forestation, ground water harvesting, and conservation of ecosystem etc. but what is the ground reality? The paradox of life is that we all are just pushing the remedy to next generation. We are really concern about smoking cigarettes and have creatively taken position to inform the users of its harmful effects. I wonder had we taken the same level of creativity in preserving the ecosystem, then our sisters in rural villages could have been spared from spending 12 hours a day in collecting water for their livelihood. It is a fact that many families spend almost their whole day in water collection in rural & urban India and are living with this harsh fact. Children are losing their right to education and in fact their childhood is lost in this life saving cause. So are the plights with ladies of the house. I believe this situation will cause a perilous effect in Indian society in the coming years.

Why are we so ignorant and insensitive? The facts are known to all and so are the remedies. Then why we chose to respond to stimuli. We can have debates and discussions, but we need to act fast. The Indian society needs to open their eyes, we cannot close our minds and run for our individual solutions like I did by installing a spare tank for my apartment. We need to find a holistic solution where every one of should voluntary contribute and make an effort to bring it to the state of sublimity which once I relished and cherished forever.

Charity begins at home. Hence, my artistic responsibility have encouraged me to work for this noble cause and I’m passionate about bringing changes through my work. I’m sure whatever small influence I can make will definitely bring a change and this drop like many more from our fellow brethren can make our ecosystem sublime and worth living for.