Love Thy Neighbour... "!" "?"

“Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief in their heart.”

My sincerest apologies for starting the article on a melancholy note taken from the Holy Bible. Atal ji once said that one can change their friends but not their neighbours. India is the seventh largest nation in terms of area occupied on the planet, where reside 1/6th of the planet’s denizens. We have China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka, Bhutan, Myanmar and Maldives as our closest geographical neighbours. There has been constant effort from India to maintain a sound and sweet relations with every nation. Sometimes the efforts have been rewarded while at others, things have not gone as per the plans.
Our biggest neighbour in terms of area, population and economy is the Republic of China. It is needless to remind that the relationship that we share with China does not have a strong platform. China’s offensive policy against India is not favourable. China’s aggression on India in 1962, at a time when the two super powers had their heads stuck into the Cuban Missile Crisis and when India was a newly independent state, leaves a lot to be questioned on the prudence of a nation whose history has been a source of countless lessons to all. About three centuries ago, India and China were the two most prosperous nations in the world and statistically contributed about 50% of the world’s GDP. But then, gripped with imperialism, colonialisation and internal orthodoxy, they underwent a decline. History holds that India and China were shared good cultural relations and there were great exchanges of the intellegentsia. In early Tang period, Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese monk, scholar and traveler established an interaction with the Indians. Today the main area of dispute for the nations is the area of land held by them. While India constantly reiterates that it considers Tibet as an inalienable part of China, the Chinese treatment of Arunachal Pradesh as a disputed territory leaves a lot to be desired for the Indians. This is a clear violation of the deal no.6 in which both side agreed “Not to disturb the settled population”. It has led to a blow hot – blow cold roller coaster ride. Recently China has denied residents of Arunachal visa and they reason that “Chinese people do not require a visa”. China has always had an offensive strategy towards India. On general terms, China loathes the stronger neighbour and prefers weak & loyal subordinates- the shaking of hands in 1969 with the US when it had a clash with the Soviet Union bears a testimony to the same for then USSR was a mighty force. Many Indians live under the premonition of a possible Chinese attack on India. But that won’t be viable for the Chinese. The only positive to have come out from the war of 62 was that the Chinese realized that Indians do come together as one during any external aggression- what Chanakya called the concept of Chakravartin. India is no more the India of 62. We are a major world power. China is a bigger player with its GDP three times India’s, Per capita more than double and Defense expenditure roughly six times that of India. “Competitive” and “Comparative” advantage is the mantra to move forward for both the nations. There are about hundred Indian companies in China and sixty Chinese companies in India. Slowly, China has become the largest trading partner of India (and not the United States). Between appeasement and confrontation, there lie a hundred different steps. We should encourage trade and cultural ties. At the same time pragmatic diplomacy must be pursued. India can play well the Dalai Lama card who, having been snubbed in China, resides in India. Most of China’s energy needs are met through Indian Ocean. A sound strategy regarding the same would check China’s aggressiveness. We know China is the manufacturing hub. We can aim to countering that by enhancing our core competency – the Software aspect of things. We are a great nation. Though India and China are developing at the fastest rate, both still are developing economies and the challenges of similar nature surround them. Poverty, unemployment, malnutrition and Climate change are some of the major issues that face the two nations now. China is the biggest emitter of the green house gases and India too is catching up with the pace. The developing economies reason that the developed world has already utilized the resources to their path of glory and they have no right now to stop the developing nations from getting the fair share at a time when they are on their path to grandiose. But is it not too myopic? I guess if developing nations must take this as their moral and ethical responsibility, they would set an unprecedented example for the future generations. If the world were to go down with the nature’s fury, the entire planet would be engulfed in the rage and there won’t be any demarcation to the share of the wrath.

Unbiased at least he was when he arrived on his mission,

Having never set eyes on the land he was called to partition

Between two peoples fanatically at odds,

With their different diets and incompatible gods.

"Time," they had briefed him in London, "is short.

It's too late For mutual reconciliation or rational debate:

The only solution now lies in separation.”

The above lines from W.H. Auden’s Partition show the plight of partition. Ever since we parted as two different nations, India and Pakistan have had turbulent relation, with both regarding each other as the greatest threat. The blame for the fragile relations can be attributed to the state sponsored terrorist activities from Pakistan. From Kandahar to Delhi and from Ahmedabad to Bombay – there have been many a terrorist strikes planned and manned from men across the border which has resulted in many innocent lives lost and property damaged .We have fought three wars so far with a common loser called Humanity. Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) is constantly involved in plotting against India. Whereas India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Pakistan finds itself in jeopardy, struggling for existence. The seeds sown by Pakistan by allowing terrorists to function from its soil are backfiring for them. The greatest fear that one associates with Pakistan is the fear of Nuclear weapons. Pakistan has time and again been found involved in proliferation of Nukes. The instance of Pakistan’s missile man A.Q.Khan selling important information to North Korea and Iran is something to be concerned about. Pakistan, today, is a hub for international terrorism and the den for Osama Bin Laden. India must put pressure on Pakistan internationally to act against the perpetrators. Once there ate serious ground works done from their end, India should move forward with the dialogue process on issues including Kashmir. As per the Shimla Accord of 1972, Pakistan must try to resolve the issues bilaterally with India. America has been providing military and marshal aid to Pakistan to fight terrorist on western border and to build their almost bankrupt economy, but unfortunately Pakistan has used the aides for ‘martial’ purpose on the eastern border against India. Pakistan lost the moral claim on Pakistan long back when the international community lauded the efforts of India to conduct free and fair elections in the valley. Pakistan is a pseudo-democratic country with actual power residing with the Army. Pakistan must aim at being a truly democratic nation and developing cultural and economic ties with India, by leaving its evil pursuits. We should establish a mutually acceptable power equation in South Asia.
India shares a mystifying relation with Bangladesh for whose freedom twenty thousand Indian soldiers kissed their graves. After the liberation war of 1971, we gave refuge to 10 million Bangladeshi nationals to save them form the Pakistani atrocities. Despite the efforts of Indians, Bangladesh continues to create nuisance in the Teen Bigha corridor by allowing it to be used for anti India activities. Political scenario is such that by fanning Anti India sentiments, the leaders divert the attention from the more important problems that press the nation. There have been constant tussle between the BSF and the Bangladesh Rifles with the former accusing the latter of obstructing the fencing work. Bangladesh accuses India of playing games with respect to the Farakka Barrage. India should play the role of a big brother and stop cross border trafficking in drugs, arms and women from Bangladesh.
Srilanka’s role as neighbour has been very significant right from the age of Lord Rama. Indo-Srilankan relations have seen the best of times as well as the worst times. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is a constant thorn in our relation, who we need to fight together. We should realize the full objective of SAARC and work towards achieving the goals. When it comes to our relatively smaller neighbours, our efforts should be to act as a moral guide to encourage them to channelize their energy in the right directions. Myanmar, for instance, has one of the most brutal dictatorships resulting in many human rights violation. India should put pressure on Myanmar to instate democracy under National League for Democracy’s Aung San Suu Kyi. Nepal, on the other hand has been given the preferred nation status. Maoists functioning in Nepal have been a source of constant headache for India. Nepal must be coerced into taking form steps to dismantle all the anti-social activities. On the North East we have the picturesque Bhutan as our neighbour who has been supportive of India all the way through. India has a say in Bhutan’s affairs and is the largest partner of Bhutan in all sectors. India must be aware of the growing Chinese influence on the neighbours and try to curtail it. Maldives is best known for its beaches and blue waters. But the latest stand that it took in New York during the United Nations annual meet is something we must ponder about. They voiced the concern for climate which might engulf the island. We must support Maldives in her efforts to keep it “afloat”.
We must collaborate in the areas of renewable energy, agriculture and Information technology to make this region a more luring one for trade and commerce. We must take Human rights issue very seriously and there must be a collective effort to work for the good of the common man. We are but one people living under different shades. We must make sure that our collective efforts ensure that all shades are well managed. Peace is not merely the distant goal that we seek but the means through which we reach that goal.

"Peace is not only better than war, but infinitely more arduous" -- George Bernard Shaw

Dogs and Poor are Not Allowed

“He is critical, he doesn’t have it….doesn’t have the finances. Either ask him to arrange for it or ask them to take him away. Just give him the pain killer. We cannot allow this.” It is amazing how a middle class Indian is so boisterous when we talk about quality service that is fast becoming the new watchword of the new India. But what we ignore in this subliminal happiness is the fact that we presume that the provision of these services and the quality (forget about the intent behind their provision) breaks through the socio-economic class barrier. The opening sentence is not one trying to compete with that of George Orwell’s 1984’s, instead it is a direct reference to the conversation I heard a lady representative of one of the ‘finest’ hospitals in NCR make on the Bell machine- the telephone. The person being talked about belonged to the labour class and by virtue of his proletarian orientation could not afford the treatment a bourgeois would undergo when hanging between life and death. The bottom line is that the quality of service provided is reserved for those ornamenting the upper strata of public life. There is an implicit board hanging in front of these organization, reading “Dogs and Poor are not allowed”.
Lincoln, when he was the most powerful man of the world (not only by his virtue of being the commander in chief of the most powerful nation of the world, but his ethics assimilated into his style of working as well), went to meet the dying soldier of the Civil war at the request of the latter’s brother’s request without even blinking his eye. He never donned on the royal robe of conceitedness but wore the sweat laden shirt of ‘help and care’. Circumstances have changed from it used to be in Lincoln’s time. But have the virtues and vices of what qualifies one as human also suffered a change? The pursuit of human happiness is entirely given to the possession of materialistic pleasures. It may give you an impression that I am being overly negative in my approach in this article and life itself, but it’s better that one sees the half glass empty and tries to fill it to the brim than see half glass full and be complacent, doing nothing about it.
We live in a world where democracy ethically equates the people of various classes till money do them apart. Sounds an ambiguously contradicting statement, eh? Well it’s far simpler than the reality. The new air conditioned in Delhi buses are meant for only a handful of those who can afford and those who can afford still prefer their own cars. They are not meant for the common man or not at least for those who travel in the stuffed blue line buses, risking their lives to serve the family and the nation at large. It costs almost double to enjoy an air conditioned ride. You might point the logic behind that –“Pay higher for upgraded service”, right? But friends, let me ask you a simple question. What is the main motto of any business or undertaking? To earn profits in the most acceptable manner as possible. They say profit is the difference between Revenues earned and costs incurred. So why cannot the government increase the revenues by a nominal increase in the ticket price rather than a 150% hike? Does the mud laden blue collar worker not deserve a luxurious ride to his work place and back to home? The Ministers of Delhi might argue that the new bus service is a luxury coach made for those who could afford comfort. But why not for those who need comfort? For those, they would say you have the green CNG buses with brilliant shock absorbers. Japan’s love for her workers is evident to all and there is no harm in looking westward up to the land of the rising Sun. There remains no logic behind celebrating the 1st of May if we do not respect these Karmyogis. In fact the situation is such that instead of being respectful of these people, we snub them and take their life as a chapter to teach the kids that “if u don’t study, this is what will happen to you”. They do not live life king size, but do we?
The (in)ability to be rational (if logic is a tough route) reminds me of a bus journey that I took to Gurgaon. It was a yellow DTC and I had the chance to (or to be frank my only chance for a seat) sit near the good old conductor sir. The bus happened to cross a place where we could see the skeleton of a mall. I asked the conductor if it was a potential new area to be one of the hubs for a series of malls. The informed conductor with an efficiency of a seasoned lawyer told me the Supreme Court had ordered for its demolition for it violated certain legal norms and was almost (if not entirely) unauthorized. And then, as a passionate Indian, he went on to express his concern over such an extravagant wastage of money, resource and the time. “This is why we can’t catch those western world countries”, he said. “We almost have it in our blood to be a champion in wasting resource and time. Why the authorities in charge couldn’t have prevented such an extravagant wastage when the first brick was laid?” His views were definitely charged with the indignation almost as that of a betrayed taxpayer. The wastage is a prevalent thing also at our homes. Our legs ache to shut off the tube light of the next room or to switch the television set off even when we are not manifesting our instinct of a couch potato. One teacher, while teaching us the essence of respecting time, remarked that one minute wasted in a class of sixty students translates into sixty national minutes wasted. Let us learn to respect time.
The situation is not all that glum though. There have been many good things too. DMRC has been on time or before in completion of almost all the projects undertaken. Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata have been exemplary and have been doing a commendable job of helping the needy for long. When I referred to the hospital when I started this article, even then I was appreciative of the work done by the nurses there. The only question is why cannot the ordinary Indian with the salary of up to ten grand per month avail himself of the best facilities available? He doesn’t even aim at owning a Mercedes, but can’t we, belonging to the taxpayer family, through one of our mechanisms also known as the government, provide public utilities that are in position to rival the efficacy of the services provided by the high cost providers? Last known we were a mixed economy, then why have we forgotten the virtues of a socialist wing in the wild pursuit of capitalist dreams? May be we can’t answer or may be we don’t want to…

INDIA of My Dreams

Homer once said-“I, for one, know of no sweeter sight for a man’s eyes than his own country.” Nothing happens unless first a dream. If you don’t know where to go, any road would take you there. It is a privilege to be born in a India which is going through a phase of transition for the common good of her citizens. We are a great Nation and paraphernalia of different cultures and races. We all should be actively working for the future as young India does realize that we have to spend rest of our lives in the embrace of a future whose shape depends on the tinkers like you and me! Young I call her as two third of the population is below the age of thirty-five. “The future is something that everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour; what he does, whatever he is.” When the great C.S Lewis said these golden words, it was not only in context to individuals, but also Nations. I DREAM, and I dream for INDIA.
India is a firmament under which reside the heads of a billion gemstones. We have inherited from our great ancestors, a Nation rich in cultural heritage and a pioneer of vision for future. Our vision for future has to based on our development and challenges that we face in present and overcame in the past. King Porus was the King of Paurava. He fought the Battle of the Hydaspes River with Alexander in 326 BC. The battle is often considered to be Alexander's hardest fought battle so hard that it caused his army to mutiny against him afterwards. In a famous meeting with Porus - who had suffered many arrow wounds in the battle and had lost his sons, who all chose death in battle rather than surrender - Alexander asked him, "How would you like to be treated?" Porus replied, "As befits a king." Alexander was so impressed by the brave and powerful response of King Porus that he released him back to his Kingdom and gave him the captured land of a neighboring Kingdom whose ruler had fled. There are two lessons to be learnt from this great piece of history. We must respect the courage shown by our great ruler and at the same time must be analytical of the reasons of Porus’s defeat in the battle. History attributes it to the way Indians fought, lacked the team spirit. We must realize that Nation Building is a process that requires entire country’s labour force. Team Work is the mantra. India of my dreams will not be the greatest democracy just by the sheer size of the population but also the greatest by her conducts and initiatives. The fragile flower of Democracy would be cultivated by our politicians whom the country would idolize. Nothing is more rewarding for a democracy than to see a cent percent voter turn out. I see India conducting free and fair elections where every Indian exercises his right of adult suffrage to caste a vote and put the best souls in. Politics would mean INDIA and no biases would find a place on the basis of caste, creed, sex or religion.
Women are the backbone of any society and play a pivotal role in nurturing of a family. There would be an adequate representation of women not just in the Assemblies but in all spheres of life. Mythology has it that Bhagiratha had to toil hard to make Ganga appear on Earth. Indian rivers would be as pure and crystal clear as they were in the ancient times. The polluting vehicles would be replaced by eco- friendly electric cars. The fate of empires depends on the education of youth. India will teach every head. This nation would be haven for those who have a mind to go beyond stars. India would give birth to authors and poets extraordinaire who would challenge the supremacy of the Shakespears and rival the class of the Premchands.Universities on the lines of Nalanda and Taxila would catch eyes from all around the globe. Great discoveries require convergence of minds. When people would talk about the outer world, the name of ISRO would automatically emerge. A tricolour on every planet would be revered by the Indians. We would be pillars in the field of science and technology. But most importantly, in this race to be ahead, India would maintain its values. Our National emblem reads “Satya mev jayate” which means Truth alone Triumphs. Every Indian would work with this motto. There would be peace everywhere. Bharat would shun the jingoistic measures of any country.
Everyone – be he a millionaire or a rickshaw puller - would walk with his head held high. Poverty would not dwell. No one would have to sleep without food and shelter. In the India of my dreams, no kid would have to satisfy his appetite by tasting the thin air, he would but run to the ice-cream parlour to help himself with his favourite flavour. India would be diplomatically supreme and no nation would be intimidated by a peace loving strong India and neither would any Nation be in a position to threaten India’s sovereignty. Clean roads and pathways would reflect how well we incorporate the virtues of family life in National cause. People’s views would be respected. “Corruption” - would be an extinct word and one fine day grandparents would tell tales of a ferocious dragon named Corruption which was hunted and killed by a mob of a billion people. National honour is a national property of highest value. India would worship her freedom fighters. The men in uniform would be seen as celebrities. Efficiency and effectiveness of the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary would be exemplary. Monuments of worship would include the Courts. Media would be authentic source of all productive NEWS, justifying their sobriquet of being the fourth pillar of democracy.
Nature worship is a long followed tradition in the country. Forests would be preserved. India would be a safe haven for various species and the Royal Bengal Tiger would be heard roaring with all its might. There would be ample of sanctuaries and migratory birds would travel miles to reach a land that smells Home to them. India would be a force in world affairs and a voice of more than 1 sixth of world’s denizens. We would have a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council and would utilize our prowess in making this third rock from the sun a safer and more vibrant place to live in. India would be an economic power second to none and the most developed country not just in terms of materialistic infrastructure but also in human capital. India would be on the charts of every tourist who plans to see the world. Cruise liners would showcase India as the hottest tourist destination. Kids would be fascinated to find a Disney Land in the proximity of their houses. India would excel in all fields. Olympics might have originated in Greece, but the major force would be India. The Indian film industry would make world class films catering to the world wide audience. We would revitalize the ancient crafts and people would pay millions to buy a piece of Madhubani paintings. Meritocracy would be the watchword. Primary schools would make the pupils recite shlokas and Gayatri manta would be chanted world wide. Hindi would be a chief language, on summit of its glory. The indefatigable vigour of Indians would make her self sufficient in Power and other resources. We would channalise our resources to meet the requirements of common man. Nuclear energy would fuel the growing need for energy rather than flaming the fire of fury. There never was a good war or bad peace. We would be a nation characterized by the importance we put and value we give to every individual life form. India would be a nation of courageous people and all the virtues would mount on the ladder of chivalry.
I don’t vision an India the might of which would be known by the military prowess or the arsenals that it has. Our India should bring more smiles than mint money. Let smiles be the measure of a country’s progress. I hear an India who wishes to express herself in the immortal words of Robert Frost

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

Saving Our Mother....Sons to the rescue

All Nature’s wilderness tells the same story-The shocks and outbursts Of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Geysers…Storm Of every sort – Each and all are the beauty making the love beats of Nature’s Heart.

Picture this – A naked Himalayas deprived of its snow peak mountain ranges, An Alaska with no Grizzly bears, An Antarctica with no snow and no penguins to stroll around its icy shores, An Amazon with countable number of trees and a Sunderbans that lacks the roar of the Royal Bengal Tiger – These surely doesn’t give a picturesque description, does it? Our Universe was formed about fourteen Billion Years back and it gave birth to our Earth eight billion years later. This third rock from the Sun is surely an amazing place- it’s not just a planet…it is Home to tens of Thousands of species that adorn her surface. We, humans, are a proud member of a family called Earth and have the distinction of being the ones with best minds and with an ability to put it to good usage.
In early times, we were involved in Organic Farming. The conventional knowledge and wisdom used to be transferred from one generation to the other. This vision was prudent and well in line with the ecological necessity. But, then man invented machine. 19th Century saw an intense transformation in almost every sphere of human operation. The Industrial Revolution was seen as a giant leap for the progress of Human race. But, to be frank, we were myopic and failed to see the future implication of our greed for technology and minting money. The vices and virtues of traditional farming started fading away giving rise to ‘commercial’ farming. Things became worse during the World Wars when man started spraying Insecticides and used various pesticides on crops. This depleted the nutrient content of various food items. With the Green Revolution, India too bid adios to Organic Farming. The opportunity Cost of all these changes was too high for the various life-forms on Earth. In a blind chase for money, power and prowess, we started to ignore the fundamental and federal rules that govern life on our mother planet. The conventional jungles are being replaced by Concrete Jungles at an inconveniently fast rate. Gone is the time when an Indian would proudly ask a foreigner to take a plunge into the Yamuna as now she suffers from an illness given to her by her sons & daughters. The picture is not so good even with the Ganges. Industries’ and Human Society’s irresponsible behaviour might see the purity of the Ganges reduced to a text book literature. We have been felling trees for ages and this has arisen out of human necessity, but why can’t we plant two for each felled? The climate is changing, even as I write this and even when you read this. Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist had predicted that human activities would interfere with the way the Sun interacts with the Earth, resulting in Global Warming and Climate Change. As per certain statistics, our Earth is 0.3 to 0.6 degree centigrade warmer that what it was hundred years ago and to make matters worse, scientists fear a 1.0 to 6.0 degree centigrade rise in the global average temperature in the 21st Century. Sea level, consequently, may rise by 9cm to 88 cm during the same time period. This would alter the evaporation and precipitation patterns and would lead to serious problems pertaining to water resources. Global Warming leads to destructive coastal flooding, fierce storm surges and erosions. A primary study on the impact of 1 meter sea level rise on India’s coastline indicates that 0.41% of India’s coastal area will be inundated. Reports also suggest that Cochin Region is found affected by Petroleum Hydrocarbons. Australia, has, for ages taken pride in The Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system in the world. But these coral formations are adversely affected by rising e temperatures. With the increase in the sea temperature, Coral bleaching has become a more frequent phenomenon than ever before. Ship breaking, transport, tourism and other industrial activities including oil spills and discharge of effluents are proving to be detrimental to the purity of our water bodies. The Coastal zone management plans around the globe seem to be inadequate or lack conviction on the part of those who implement it. There are also various types of solid wastes that include heterogeneous mix of papers, plastics, clothes and many more. Toxic substances like Sulphur Dioxide are not only cause of illness for human beings but they also affect the beauty of our adorable monuments like the Taj Mahal.
Scientists have noted depletion in the Ozone layer- the layer that protects us from the harmful Ultraviolet rays of the Sun. The reason for its depletion is attributed to the release of CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) and ODS (Ozone Depleting Substances) as these are relatively stable and do not dissolve in the rain waters. A single molecule of CFC destroys Hundred thousand molecules of Ozone. This leads to a greater risk of eye and skin related diseases. One of the worst affected regions by this depletion is the South Pole. Mumbai’s flood bears a testimony to what wrong we are doing. The planet is hit by series of earthquakes and tsunamis on a scale which was never seen before. Hurricane Katrina ripped apart several houses in America. Scientists used to say that South Atlantic region was insulated from Hurricanes but Brazil was soon hit by one. Arctic ice caps have acted as mirrors that reflect the sunlight so as to keep the earth’s temperature in balance, but, they are melting now. The land based ice is melting fast, raising the water level across the globe. The Pine Beetle and the spruce trees in Alaska may soon be seen only in picture books. There are several other ill effects. What we must understand is that it is our responsibility as citizens of the planet to protect her. We must pay attention to the warnings and must follow the recommendations of the scientists.
The resolve of one person in America led to the abolishment of slavery and that of another in Africa led to the end of racial apartheid. Mahatma Gandhi led a Nation to achieve her Independence by peaceful and non-violent means. A united world saw the fall of the tyrant Hitler and the tearing of the Berlin Wall. These incidents restore the faith of an ordinary human in the unity of Human Civilization. Whenever we have stood united, we have achieved our desired goals. Today’s situation may be perplexing, but sure has a way out. Our conviction should transcend all geographical and political barriers in favour of man kind. The United Nations must be involved into the issue more seriously as we cannot afford more meetings with No outcomes. Nations like the United States of America and Australia must sign the Kyoto Protocol to help check the emission of harmful gases from their soil. USA accounts for about thirty percent of all hazardous gases released in the atmosphere. We must make up our mind so that our path of development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable Development should be the watchword. We should take the initiative on a personal level. We should make use of public transport and minimize the use of personal vehicles. It should be our moral obligation not to smoke and not to use plastic bags, than a legal one. Industries must use filters and other techniques to make sure that they do not harm the environment. We must make more eco-friendly appliances and check the redundant usage of electricity. No matter what stream we belong to, we must make sure that there prevails a strong political will in favour of changes that would help our future generations. I see no reason why we can’t do this. Coming generations have as much right to see the different wonders of the world as we do. Let them see the sweeping eagle over the winding river, the lilies of the field and the turtles of the sea for they would be glad that their ancestors were prudent and cared for them. William Wordsworth, in “Written in Early Springs” writes:

I heard a thousand blended notes

While in a grove I sate reclined,

In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts

Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link

The human soul that through me ran;

And much it grieved my heart to think

What Man has made of Man.