Plant a Tree For Mother: Increase Forest Cover, Save Earth

 Forests, wildlife and our environment are our heritage. It has to be passed on in a better condition than what we received from our forefathers to our children and grandchildren.

Photo by author

Launching a campaign "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" (One tree in the name of mother), PM Sri Narendra Modi planted a "Peepal" (Ficus religiosa) tree in Buddha Jayanti Park, New Delhi. Calling upon people the world over, he wrote on X, "...call upon everyone, in India and around the world, to plant a tree in the coming days as a tribute to your mother...".  He urged people to plant trees for the broader welfare of society and the whole world. Following suit, UP CM Yogi Adityanath Ji rolled out a programme of grand plantation drive “Vrikksharopan Jan Abhiyan 2024” and declared a grand drive to plant 36.51 crores of saplings in Uttar Pradesh. 

Forests in Ancient India

India has been the land of Sages and Ascetics who used to contemplate and philosophise on various aspects of life, sitting in the lap of nature amidst deep forests. Indian culture, tradition and ethos revolved around forests which played a vital role in human lives sans their commercial exploitation.

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Hermitages were established in deep forests where spiritual rituals and Yagya were frequently performed besides running "Gurukuls" and imparting education to the seekers. Trees were equated with "Brahma" the Supreme, hence considered sacred and people were ordained to save and protect them. The religious affiliations protected and nurtured trees, forests, and appurtenances. Antediluvian Indian civilizations and cultures emphasized the importance of forests and their components including wildlife. Indian society and its ethos attach great importance to trees and consider them not only living beings but view them as God. There has been a harmony between humans and the natural world of forests since ancient times. It is evident from the facts that the priceless treatise, written in the solitude of deep forests came to be known as “Aranyaks”. 

Forests During the British Era

Till the arrival of the British East India Company followed by the clinching of British rule lasted for about two centuries, life remained in harmony with nature. With the advancement of time, however, the thinking tilted more towards the economic and commercial value of forests. The British perceived great potential in forests as wealth. With this primary aim in mind, they tried to extract the maximum and started milking the country's forests by institutionalising them. Conservator of Forest was posted in Bombay (now Mumbai) and a department was established. Insidiously the Forest Act 1865 was enacted which was further amended in 1878 to group forests under the head "Reserve Forest"; before that the forests had been classified as Reserve Forest and Unclassified Forest. Whereas the former was limited to the government, the latter was open to the masses. The restriction compartmentalised the forests and forbade access by the people. It was done to stop the local population from their rights which became their "privilege". Forests which had been their nourishers for centuries were restricted; accessing them was not organic for people. This was the point of time when the exploitation of forests and their resources started. Their values were degraded from a living entity to the object of consumption. Forests were ruthlessly cleared for timber which was to be exported to England.  

Forests After Independence

Post-independence, the Government of India promulgated a policy in 1956 on forests recognising the importance of people's necessities, ecology and the environment. Forest Policy of 1956 though could not meet the aspirations to conserve and repristinate them. It was later replaced by the National Forest Policy 1988 envisaging that 33% of the geographical area should be under tree or forest cover. According to the norm, 1/3 of the plains and 2/3 of the hill area needed forest/tree cover. As of now, the total forest cover in India is 7,13,789 square kilometres (2024). Considering the total geographical area of the country as 32,87,263 square kilometres, the total forest cover in India is 21.71%, much less than the fixed norms despite an increase in forest cover from 2019 to 2021. Parallel to it, with about 2,41,000 square kilometres of geographical area, Uttar Pradesh should have about eighty thousand square kilometres of forest cover. However, the forest cover in the state is a mere 14,818 square kilometres which is 6.15%, much less than Bihar which has 7.84% forest cover. It is a serious cause of concern and sincere work to stop forest destruction to mitigate the loss and grow new ones is required. 

Despite the grim picture of forests narrated above, the growth of forest cover in states/UTs like Lakshadweep, Manipur, Tripura, Goa et cetera is heartening. 

Vicious Cycle

Although there are many causes of receding forest cover, the most important one is increasing demand due to a constantly swelling population. Indiscriminate urbanisation and the resultant craving for housing needs along with appurtenants necessary for a civic society causing agricultural land to recede. The decreasing agricultural land causes encroachment of forests and it dangerously pushes the forest cover further. Consequently, it leads to habitat destruction, loss of edible grass for herbivores which are the staple food for carnivores and forces wild animals to venture out of the forests giving rise to avoidable man and animal conflicts. It is a vicious cycle which causes loss of human life and property apart from being dangerous for the survival of wildlife. Besides the evident causes, the illicit felling of trees and poaching of vulnerable wild animals to satiate cupidity becomes a catalyst in wiping the forest covers and loss of ecology. 

Forests are Vital

Forests are vital in keeping the water cycle running, help to hold and recharge groundwater plus optimally run the weather cycle. Additionally, they effectively help in carbon sequestration as they are also effective carbon sinks. Clearing them is bound to affect it all. Receding tree cover is manifested in the disturbed weather cycle.

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The weather is becoming harsh. During the past summer aestival, the temperature shot up sharply and touched fifty degrees Celsius in some areas of the country. It has been attributed to the fast-depleting forest covers. Likewise, the pluvial deluge and resultant colossal loss of life and property have also been credited to the waning forests and green cover. Tree felling has many severe side effects too. Besides ruthlessly killing a mute but friendly creature, it destroys the local ecosystem dependent upon that tree or trees. Nature recuperates the loss by her self-healing capacity, but the rapid pace of Holocene destruction gives scanty time for repair and replenishment. Human contribution, therefore, becomes necessary. 

Forests and Human Beings

The relationship of human beings with trees and forests is organic and primordial. The fringe villages around a forest take many advantages from them. Fuel wood, fodder and minor forest produce are the source of income and sustenance for the villagefolks.

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Banning the use of forests would mean cutting off the roots of many villagers from forests and in turn, causing difficulties for them. Realising it, a renowned ecologist Ajit Kumar Banerjee, developed the concept of JFM (Joint Forest Management) which became a big success and has since been implemented in the rest of the country. JFM has elevated the status of locals who became “co-owners” of the forests and had more rights rather than being treated as “trespassers” and “thieves”. This has underlined the need for people’s participation. 

In urban areas where the open spaces are scanty and houses are getting smaller, row houses do not permit space to plant trees around. It makes community plantation programmes imperative. The community plantation gives a sense of attachment to each participating individual with the planted trees and they happily take the onus for care and maintenance. 

  

A Necessary Evil

Various developmental works necessitises tree felling. No development, however, is greater than the loss of green cover. Whereas trees and forests make a well-knit ecosystem necessary for life and survival, development eases our lives; development and eco-balance, hence need to go hand in hand. A sapling needs years to become a full-grown tree. As far as possible, tree felling needs to be avoided. Keeping these vital things in mind, engineering drawings should be made. Meet the loss of tree cover, Compensatory Afforestation is an effective tool, but sometimes on the pretext of something or the other, the process used to be entangled in the bureaucratic cobweb and delayed. Compensatory afforestation is applicable on the forest land permitted to be used for non-forestry purposes. To speed up the process and manage the funds CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority) was established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016. The Authority has been functioning since 2018. The Authority is broadly responsible for Afforestation, Reforestation and conservation of forests in addition to managing funds for the purpose. It also helps States carry out the function.

Apart from compensatory afforestation in big projects, efforts to increase green cover have also been taken up by Municipal Corporations and Development Authorities at the local level. Large green areas have been created; some of them serve as parks for the recreation of people, whereas some are like open forests.  People have been sensitised and awareness drives have been launched impacting the mindset and people’s interest in planting trees to increase and conserve verdure cover. The involvement of people is essential for a programme to succeed; active or passive participation of people in plantation and awareness drives is crucial and contributes to planting and post-plantation care for saplings till they grow to become trees. It needs an honest effort not a mere show. Plantation is not an event; it’s a collective and genuine effort to repristinate the planet we call our home - Earth. 

Important Thing to Remember

The importance of trees and their protection doesn't need to be repeated. While doing community plantations in urban areas by the people, care needs to be taken so that no superficial, flippant organisation or body can usurp the cause for their gaudy show. The deafening cacophony of narcissistic din by certain has to be ignored. Forests, wildlife and our environment are our heritage. It has to be passed on in a better condition than what we received from our forefathers to our children and grandchildren.

"Hazaaron Saal Nargis Apni Benoori Pe Roti Hai; 

   Badi Mushkil Se Hota Hai Chaman Mein Deedavar Paida." 

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—END—

Aging: Dilemma of Elderly People and Problems of Adjustments

 

Photo: By author

“Crabbed age and youth cannot live together;

Youth is full of pleasure, age is full of care;

Youth is like summer morn, age like winter weather;

Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare;

Youth is full of sport, age breath is short;

Youth is nimble, age is lame;

Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold…”

-William Shakespeare

Years ago, when Shakespeare wrote the above lines, he might not have a realization that senectitude can also be bliss. It depends on the attitude of a person and his way of tackling the inevitable stage of life, which has to be accepted. Ironically, more often than not, people of middle-age constantly poke and ridicule the aged.  

Of many funny things, one which is cyclically seen, especially on the social media platforms, is suggestions about how to feel juvenile, young or agile after 60. It targets the gullible ageing population. Needless to say that such thought processes show a phobia of increasing age and also a weak mentality. The social media posts often highlight the latent fear and desperation that people start getting into their psyche. Phrases like 'How to feel like 16 after 60', 'Age is a matter of numbers', ‘Life starts after fifty’ or likes are seen frequenting in bold-face. This tendency ought to be slough off. Sooner the better. 

The psychological symptoms start appearing the day one becomes a sexagenarian. It is the officially announced cut off date for being bracketed as ‘Senior Citizen’. The negative factor of uselessness stealthily creeps in, especially in those who retire after more than three decades of service. Increasing age-related problems are mainly, if not completely, due to aversion resulting from rearing feelings of insecurity and helplessness. Endless do and don'ts inhibit aged people to live a tension-free life. They always remain on alert about their food, its quantity and their way of living. The duels of reality and fiction leave them in the lurch. While their mind is engrossed in the ways to behave and feel like a teenager, dotage and senile conditions combined with decrepitude lead them to behave differently. It leads to exasperation. This is not done, it is ridiculous. Senior Citizens ought to be serious in their attitude. 

The age-shaming and passing ludicrous remarks on the aged people dishearten them. Ostracizing parents from homes, inhumane behaviour with them and constant demeaning by adult children frequently come to light. The brawl is often dragged to courts that pass judgements/orders on such cases. 

Ageing is a global phenomenon. It is natural. One who is born has to pass through it. It is an intermediary stage between life and death. In India, with the improved lifestyle, increased and advanced health care system, effective disease and pandemic control the ‘Population ageing’ has become significant, contributing to the progressive increase in the elderly population. As per NSO data, while in 1962 the elderly were 5.6% of the total population, they are now 10.1% in 2021. The number is estimated to reach 194 million in 2031. 

The phase has to be accepted with grace, not with panic and exasperation. Keeping in mind the uncertainty of life, an old person must endeavour to keep fit and agile. Pessimism should be a big no and kept at bay. A positive approach with a healthy and happy lifestyle should be adopted. Good or bad, the aged people have had their time. They led lives as per their desires during their heydays. It is time they should gracefully give way to the younger generation. By the same token, decent behaviour, affection and care by the younger generation of the family buttresses the confidence of sexagenarians and above. 

Among various do and don'ts, mentioned earlier, the frequent bogeyman is that of death by heart attacks due to ‘High Cholesterol’ and ‘Fats’, contained in certain food items. Without going into details about the disease and chemicals the foodstuffs contain, suffice would it be to say that feeding habits are area-based. It depends upon the geographical and climatic conditions of the country. In a fast-shrinking world where the globe is becoming a large community, cultural blending and experimenting with food is common. In the past, we have seen numerous blendings that catalyzed the evolution of varieties in food items. The blending, however, was according to the need and gradual. It gave ample time to assimilate and become part of culture and climate. Unlike the present scenario, it was not bombarded. People are now being lured and forced to adopt new food by constantly harping them through aggressive marketing gimmicks. They are forced to change their belief in the favour of so-called ‘Fast-food’; insidiously cultivating a feeling of being left out if they do not adopt new habits including food. Projected as a symbol of modernization and change, it is linked with the economy of employment generation. People are trying to beeline and ape without giving it a thought.

Blindfold aping leads to body malfunctioning and serious ailments including serious health issues or even death. Elderly people are no exception. Adoption of alien food without reasoning is unhealthy. Pizza, Pasta, Burgers et cetera are the staple food of Italy and other West European countries. They, however, consume it with lots of green vegetables without much saute. Majorly they use raw virgin oil for dressing their food. What to eat and what not is purely a personal choice. People are free to choose the type of their diet. However, the choice according to age and physical condition is the best. It applies to senior citizens, especially those who are in a vulnerable position due to their weak health. 

Impacting the mind and compelling people to take up new foodstuffs is a marketing gimmick. They try to adjust their junk to suit Indian taste buds by making it spicy and hot. Their thrust is on taste, not nutritional or calorific value. First, they create liking, provoke to consume, then start giving hype and terrorize about their side effects. It is obvious why despite so much hype against health risks, multinational fast-food outlets are on a rampant hike. The brands manufacturing and selling aerated drinks and other such products are also popular. It is a vicious cycle resulting from the nexus of the system and multinational/pharma companies.

Food impacts physiological and psychological conditions of the body and is related to geriatrics. Contextually, Indian food is balanced and proper. Freshly cooked food is free from contamination and infection. In India, people do not frequently use canned, frozen or preserved food items but habitually consume freshly prepared food. Light, easily digestible and healthy food is good at the advanced stage of life. Even occasional intake may harm them. Affected by media hype and family conditions, senior and aged members may not get food properly. Elderlies need independence and financial security. 

Ancient India had had a scientifically designed system of ‘Ashram’ for the regulated and disciplined human life. The four compartmentalized stages - ‘Brahmcharya’, ‘Grihastha’, ‘Vanprastha’ and ‘Sanyaas’ - were for the proper and graceful performance of duties in life. In Ramayana, king Dushrath thought and decided to transfer his kingdom to his eldest son Ram and retreat to the forest when he saw his greying sideburns in a mirror. Ageing is not a curse, as Shakespeare had said in his poem nor it is comparable with any stage of life. Every stage is unique and short-lived and needs to be enjoyed. It is the bliss of life; live the present to the fullest. 

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History: Fiction or Facts - An analysis in Indian context

                                        Ruins of Residency, Lucknow Photo: by Author

                      "History is written by the victors." 

                                                                            -Winston Churchill 

History is the chronology of past events which are curated to lead to a logical conclusion about the past happenings. The word has its root in the Greek word “Historia” meaning “to know”. The knowledge acquired about the past, after due enquiry and examination.“History is a narration of the events which have happened among mankind, including an account of the rise and fall of nations, as well as of other great changes which have affected the political and social condition of the human race”, says John Jacob Anderson. However, it is also full of tainted, exaggerated facts galvanized with fiction and present a lopsided account. In a sense, history, albeit an account of the past, may not be a faithful representation of facts. One has to dig deep to get to the correct situation. 

In the recent past, controversy over the way history was been taught in India has become louder and harsher. History has been regarded as a mere subject and was being taught accordingly. India needed an honest account of its history post-independence, but writers were not unbiased. History was written as per the requirement and whims of leadership. The historians of free India are bisected into left and right-wing camps. It reflects in their arguments and the presentation of historical facts as well. While the left-wing historians treat the so-called "Saffronisation" of history with disdain, the right-wing section sternly objects to the leftist outlook alleging that the historical facts were distorted and shadowed. They put forth the argument that several freedom fighters like Savarkar, Bhagat Singh and Chandra Sekhar were deliberately doused besides showering undue praises to the invaders of the medieval period, who let all hell loose on the poor natives of the land.    

Brick temple near Kanpur: Photo by Author

Ruins and temple at Kushinagar: Photo by Author

History is not only a chronological sequence of events, it is a connecting link of the present with the past and a parameter for comparison between two as well. It is a way to learn from the past and take the correct way. Recording or writing a dispassionate account, albeit, is a daunting task but a prerequisite for the logical assessment of a situation and minimizing mistakes in a given condition.

The analysis, when meticulously done with utmost accuracy, becomes scientific work that aims to present a perfect picture of the past by joining fragments of evidence and testing them with advanced techniques. Fossil excavations of plants and animals of aeon tell clearly about the then environment, nature of vegetations and life as a whole on the earth without the scope of speculation. It is a scientific study based on facts and undistorted facts. Arrangements of the scientific findings in a sequence reveal the story, unfolding intricacies about the origin of the earth, the phases it passed through and evolutionary processes in totality. It also helps in understanding various unexplained phenomena. Likewise, it becomes a topic of anthropological and social importance when discoveries and studies deal with human beings - their society and ways of living. 

Prehistoric wall paintings of cave-dwelling humans, pot shreds, tools and plinths of their houses tell a lot about their way of life. By the same token, documents, letters, royal orders (“Farmaans”), paintings, ruins and edifices tell about the life and happenings of the comparatively recent era. These pieces of evidence are the bedrock of historical accounts. 

                             Ruin of Residency, Lucknow: Photo by Author

Cannon used in the war of 1857: Photo by Author

Controversies are natural and usual. The fragmented pieces of evidence and materials give ample scope for the assumption. The Mughal period in India will be helpful in elaborating the point. Undeniably, Mughal were invaders. However, unlike other invaders, they settled in India and established their empires. Albeit, a section of historians, particularly those of left-wing ideology, portrays them as great, benevolent and secular the right-wing section portrays them as lunatic mass murderers. Such divergence in views is understandable. It is why history, for some, is a bundle of baffles and lies. 

Mixing facts with fiction is yet another factor. Writings like Illiad and Odyssey by Homer are literary works that gave a notion of historical facts. These literary works of fiction made characters larger than life. Hector and Achilles became historical that amaze people. Trojan war appears reality. The story of Rajpoot queen Padmawati and her sacrifice, as per some, is a fiction created by the court poet of Akbar - Abul Fazal. The facts need to be examined without prejudices. That is why excavations of Sinauli (India) which have impactful effects need to be looked at in the light of the facts, not on fiction. 

The historical facts are not imaginary. On Aryans, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru says in his book “Discovery of India”: 

     

        "The Aryan migrations are supposed to have taken place about a thousand years after the Indus valley period; and yet this is possible that there was no considerable gap and tribes and people came to India from the north-west from time to time, as they did in later ages and became absorbed in India. We might say that the first great cultural synthesis and fusion took place between the incoming Aryans and the Dravidians, who were probably the representatives of the Indus Valley civilization." 

Later, the ‘fact’ that Aryans were invaders was turned out to be a fallacy. 'Convinced' scholars claimed that Aryans were indigenous to India; they did not migrate from outside. The theory and counter-theory appear more imaginary than facts. Western historians tried to establish that Aryans were 'progenitors of European civilization'. 

Ancient India was rich in culture, literature, art and temple construction. Invaders came and tried to impose their faith, but failed. People and culture stood up again to flourish. The gradual growth of maturity of Indian society was shadowed while describing history. In overenthusiasm of creating hype on ‘secularism’, words like “temple”, “worship” and “Hindu” et cetera were meticulously omitted while writing history. It appeared to be a systemic assault on facts. The Mughal period was given a glamorous seat in the annals of medieval India. The material of Mughal chronology and history are based primarily on the autobiography/biography of monarchs and/or the account of court poets. The autobiographies might be honest accounts but the facts might have been contaminated as well because of their vitiated source. Finding the centuries-old original writings/records is often difficult, if not impossible. The distorted or inappropriate translation of the text, pirated copies of the text add misleading concepts about the main character, furnishing sufficient material for future conjecture. It is also a fact that the court poets were highly lopsided and used to write exaggerated poems about their monarchs to please them and acquire facilities and wealth. Such work of fiction cannot be the basis to arrive at a definite conclusion. 

A mausoleum: Photo by Author

Aasafi Mosque in Imambara precinct: Photo by Author

The archaeological evidence should be viewed in the light of other related facts. There is minimal or no scope for prediction when the evidence speaks loudly about the instances. Excavation of a plinth of Hindu temples and other fragments of archaeological importance at the site of the erstwhile mosque in Ayodhya and the other temple sites in northern India are glaring examples of their bigot autocracy. Mughals used their power to desecrate the holy places and demolished them. They did not do it to earn glory but they did it because of their religious intolerance. They proselytized the native population and felt elevated as 'Ghazi' after beheading the vanquished army generals, soldiers and the people; making a heap of their heads and bodies to terrify the masses and show their strength. It cannot be justified by the figment of the imagination of a select few historians who present a concocted fact to paint them, heroes. 

Frog temple: Photo by Author

Roomi gate: Photo by Author

There were Rajpoots in Akbar's army, they argue to establish his benevolence. Akbar married Rajpoot women, not because of his liberal views but for political compulsions and to strengthen his empire. He has had about 40 queens (Begham) and innumerable numbers of concubines. To establish their superiority, they used the religious bases to buttress and justify their gory act. Their whimsical acts categorize them as autocratic and brutal monarchs. Ridiculously, a section of Indian ‘intellectuals’ sings ode in praise of Mughals painting them compassionate and generous. Such narratives are a sinistral move to establish false agenda. 

The concocted facts cannot be history. In free India, an attempt was made to write the facts as per the whims of the then ruler. Late Mrs Indira Gandhi tried to bury a ‘Time Capsule’ - Kalpatra - within the premises of red-fort ostensibly for the future generations to know about her glory. It gave rise to a severe controversy. Historians like T Badrinath openly refuted the contents saying that it was the misrepresentation of historical facts. 

India, the land of composite cultures with a kaleidoscope of vibrant customs and beliefs has a long and illustrious history. It was trampled several times but they could not rout its spirit. Invaders and the British who enslaved India tried to demean it by their false propaganda. For long India was being treated as the country of ignorant snake charmers, exorcists and sadhus. The rich culture, philosophy, medicine, astronomy and mathematics are but few branches of knowledge, India was blessed with. Unfortunately, the actual history was deliberately suppressed. Even after independence, India was devoid of its due and the governments did nothing substantial to refurbish its image. They rather contributed their share of the parochial agenda. Under the cloak of ‘secularism’, they promoted appeasement. Historians have a mammoth task. The Indian history needs to be rewritten impartially so that the coming generation feel proud of their beautiful nation.

A cupola in the vicinity of Tajmahal: Photo by Author