Dr. Vandana Sharma
Days are in vogue these days – Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Friendship Day, Valentine’s Day, Rose Day and so on. The way our celebration of days is increasing it would not be preposterous to assume that very soon we might get short of days and to our dismay, there comes a trend of celebrating half a day and quarter a day. Nevertheless, none of us will ever snicker if Day is celebrated for a meaningful cause like Earth Day.
Things as they are, on the occasion of celebrating Earth Day, let me take this opportunity to be polemical and speculative about the key take-away from Eastern and Western tradition of observing Earth Day. Foregrounding the fact that our planet is an amazing place and it needs our concern and help to thrive, Earth Day originated as a movement in 1970s when a United States Senator organised a national demonstration to raise awareness about environmental issues. Subsequently by 1990s Earth day evolved as a global event mobilising 200 million people in 141 countries lifting environment issues on the world stage.
50 years on, On Earth Day 2022 as each organisation, community, citizen and netizen is engaged in fighting individually and collectively against environmental degradation, pollution, oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, the extinction of wildlife by making meaningful contribution in making our Earth survive for posterity, let us muse over the polemics of eco-consciousness which has been an integral part of Indian Vedic tradition but resuscitated with our encounter with the West. The decades that led to the first Earth Day were the years when the world was consuming vast amounts of leaded gas and industries were belching out smoke and sludge. Since imagination has been a central component of social movements, the stage for Earth day was set for change with the publication of Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962. The book represented a watershed moment, selling more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries as it raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and the inextricable links between pollution and public health. Carson’s popular dictum, “In nature nothing exists alone” gave the message loud and clear that everything we do has an effect somewhere else. One thing can’t live by itself because it is interconnected to everything else. It needs support, but it also gives it.
Nevertheless, when we look at our Vedic tradition, it warms our heart and elates our mind that Vedas have several references on ecological balance, weather cycles, rainfall phenomenon which ostensibly indicates the high level of awareness of our Indian saints, sages and seers who perceived the creation of universe in a scientific manner and revealed the mysteries of cosmic evolution with profound wisdom and theories. The ancient scriptures present in great detail, the evolution of earth, the science of rainfall, its measurement and forecast, climatology, meteorology, hydrology, water use and management, environmental protection and agricultural planning etc.. In Rigveda ‘Aranyani sukta’ is addressed to the deity of forest. Forest should be green with trees and plants. ‘Oshadhi sukta’ addresses to plants and vegetables as mother. The Atharvaved mentions certain names of Oshadhis with their values. The Rig-Veda instructs that forests should not be destroyed. The sacrifice ‘Yajna’ of Vedic philosophy in broader sense is a part of Vedic environmental awareness. In Rigveda and Yajurveda ‘Yajna’ is describe as the “navel (nucleus) of the whole world” which cleans atmosphere through its medicinal smoke, and provides longevity, breath, vision etc.
Therefore, on Earth Day 2022, Let us all recall the eco-conscious measure of thinkers like Rachel Carson coupled with a sense of reverence of our Vedic tradition which not only gave reference to the presence of a protective layer, which we now call Ozone layer but also viewed every entity of nature with the eyes of a friend ” Mitrasyaham chakushaa sarvaani bhutaani sameekshe”. Admittedly, Vedic message is clear that earth belongs to all living beings, so it needs protection by all, for the welfare of all.
(The writer is Head, Department of English, Central University of Jammu)
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