Triple Stream

I.V. CHALAPATI RAO

World Environment Day is being celebrated on 5th June to reaffirm our faith and commitment to protect Nature. Isn’t it supreme silliness to while away our time in pursuit of urban pleasures, vanities, shams and shows which glisten like tinsel but do not comfort the mind or soothe the spirit? Living in concrete jungles in congested cities without lung space we are for ever drifting farther and farther from Nature. We lead a miserable existence in smoke-filled cities lavish in fast foods but lacking in green woods. It has become a fetish to designate a culture all activities of entertainment in which thought has no role to play. Instead of being the elites of aesthetic taste and creative thinking, our culture leaders today are the creatures of mass media, market place and publicity hype. Personalities of the show business and the political world have become cultural trend-setters in society. These are the standard-bearers of urban culture.

In the Sanskrit plays of Kalidasa we find picturesque descriptions of Nature which look like candid camera-shots. Today, unfortunately we have lost touch with Nature. Helen Keller saig: “It would be a blessing if each person were struck blind and deaf for a few days during the early adult life. Darkness would make him appreciate the value of light and silence would teach him the joys of sound. Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind. Hear the music of voices as if you would be stricken deaf.”

In ‘Gitanjali’ Rabindranath Tagore declared in a prayer “I will never shut the doors of my senses. The delights of sights hearing and touch will bear witness to Thy delight.” Enjoyment of Nature, cultivation of arts and physical culture in the open air were the regular features of Tagore’s educational programme in Shantiniketan.

            Chandogya Upanishad mentions the following incident: when Satyakama returned from the forest, his teacher asked “Verily my dear, you shine like one knowing Brahma. Who has taught you?” To this question Satyakama’s answer was “Other than men”. VARAHA PURANA says, “A person who grows ten fruit trees, ten flower plants, and sinks a well to water them, will never go to hell.”

St. Barnard said “What I know of the divine sciences and the Holy Scripture, I learned in woods and fields. I have had no other masters than the leeches and the oaks.”

What we hear and the silence of meditation can cause enlightenment with the aid of Nature. A professional fowler became Valmiki, the creator of Ramayana. Saul became St. Paul of his way to Damascus. Gautama became the Buddha under the Bodhi tree in the bosom of the forest.

The great poets and philosophers of the world extolled the beauty of Nature and their writings are replete with delightful descriptions of the fauna and flora of Nature.

Thoreau, the great philosopher who influenced Gandhiji, said “Let Shakespeare wait. Now I have an appointment with this dew drop.”

Whenever he saw a majestic rose in his morning walk, Emerson used to take of his hat and bow before it in admiration and reverence. Walt Whitman, called his collection of poems “Leavs of Grass”, he wrote “A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of my books.”

Wordsworth, the great Nature poet declared that nature was his teacher. He said. “One impulse from the vernal wood would teach more of man and of moral law than all the sages can. There are sermons in stones and books in running books.” Tukaram, the sant, said “Trees, creepers and the forest animals are our kinsmen.”

How many city-dwellers are in the happy position of watching the sunrise and the sunset in the colour-splashed skies? How many live in communion with the creatures of Nature, like Thoreau. Thoreau wrote: “I was on the alert for the first signs of spring to hear the chance note of some arriving bird on the striped squirrel’s chirp, for his stores must be now nearly exhausted or see the wood-cock venture out of the inter quarters. The wild goose is more of a cosmopolite than we. He breaks his fast in Canada, takes his luncheon in Ohio and plumes himself for the night in a southern bay. Even the bison keeps pace with the seasons.” For Thoreau the pond is more precious than Kohinoor (the costliest diamond) because “It is inaccessible to the greed of human beings.” Such are his love and reverence for the bird, beast and flower that he prefers their presence to human company. Every lover of nature and environmental protection should read in WALDEN, decidedly the best book of its kind.

The greatest tribute that could ever be paid to a poet was paid by Ben Johnson to Shakespeare:

“Sweetest Shakespeare, Nature’s child warbled his native wood notes wild.”

Joyce Kilmore explained the greatness and glory of a tree in the following poem:

“I think I shall never see
A Poem lovely as a tree
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet-flowing breast
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts its leafy arms to pray.

“A tree that may in summer bear
A net of robins in her hair
Upon whose bosom snow has lain
Who infinitely lives with rain -
Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree.”

All creatures suck the breast of Mother Nature. Man is the only one who commits matricide by cutting her with an axe and selling her limbs for selfish gain.

The vastness of nature and her hospitality are in refreshing contrast to scarcity of living accommodation in crowded cities. In the following poem, the American poetess Helen Harrington humorously describes Nature’s abundance.           

‘There is not a hedgerow or a vine, a shrub or tree
That is not hanging out these days a sign “VACANCY”.
They are motels along the route of all things headed North
and in green leaves, they put them large and small invitations forth.

“Room for Robins” claims the apple bough. A field remarks it can accommodate whole families now, of meadow lambs: Canaries can find quarters there beside that garden path. River reeds want ducks and will provide an added bath!

Yes, competition still is keen for bee and bird – ­

Another poet J.C. Solonay praises the workmanship and artistry of Nature:

‘Nature is practised old, with skill
Versed in the ancient lore of lace.,

Working with dignity, style and grace
working deftly alone until
Pattern of tree and stream and hill
Are crocheted in their destined place.

Our Dharma Shastra Says

‘One peepal tree, one neem tree
One banyan tree, ten tamarind trees
three wood apple, three bilva
Three amal, nine mango trees­
The person who grows these will not go to hell.’

It is part of our cultural heritage to project ‘Sacred groves’ which are maintained with great care and reverence. This tradition has been handed down from generation to generation and still respectfully observed in some parts of our country even today.

Apart from the ecological factors, it is necessary to preserve and protect our environment from destruction and pollution for economic reasons. Whenever a tree is cut down, the loss is to the tune of Rs. 30 lakhs or more. A tree that lives for 50 years produces 5.31akhs of rupees worth of oxygen, recycles Rs. 6 lakhs worth of fertility and control of soil erosion, creates Rs. 10.5 lakhs worth of air pollution control and Rs. 5.3 lakhs worth of shelter for birds, animals and human beings. In addition to these, it supplies delicious fruit, beautiful flowers and useful timber. So those who destroy trees are traitors. We are glad to note that World Wide Fund for Nature (W.W.F.) is doing good work.

In addition to Nature cure, research has shown that ‘Garden therapy’ is of immense benefit to patients of certain ailments. Flowers directly influence human behaviour by soothing the ailing psyche of a person, thus cutting many diseases. Dr. G.S. Randhawa and others have asserted that green foliage and multi-coloured flowers will cheer up the patients and give a boost to their will to live. The pine tree helps in the cure of lung diseases. The several uses of the neem tree include the cure of skin diseases. Resting the head against the oak tree provides relief to people having a head ache. Proximity to trees releases certain fluids and chemicals from the human body thus accelerating recovery. Flowers and surroundings of different colours bring joy and cheer to the mild. People feel more peaceful and restful in white and violet surroundings. Men and women who live in drab surroundings, in congested cities should frequently visit near-by countryside or Public Parks. All the colours are found painted by Nature in the sky during the sunrise and the sunset.