Puran Chand Sharma
Nature is said to the power of God and created for sustaining all living beings. By virtue of Nature, almighty has provided us everything to live a wonderful and purposeful life on the Earth planet but the modern man at this critical juncture is awfully busy in so many insignificant things unaware of the phenomenal wonders of Nature which feels, thinks and acts like a true mother to us but to the contrary we are so impure, ignorant and over powered by false egoism and ignorance and get stuck up in the quagmire of the transient world. The unfortunate thing in this mortal world is that at this critical juncture we have transformed ourselves as prodigal sons and have engaged ourselves in destabilizing the divine functioning of Nature and grossly ridiculing her bounties and beauties which is tantamount to absolute ignominy and disrespect. If the man had been responsible, respectable and accountable to mother Nature ,then the scenario would have been all together different. The ancient and the spiritual approach was to live in perfect harmony with nature and take all necessary measures to ensure not to offend and displease her at any cost. sincere effort shall be made to highlight the reasons and tendencies which are responsible for causing the imbalance and unwanted disharmony between the huge treasures of Nature and the worldly users in the form of human beings and other related fellow travelers such as animals and birds etc. In view of the emerging, very alarming situation it has become our top most national duty and moral responsibility to stem the rot, turn focus on living in perfect harmony with Mother Nature for happy survival in the temporal world. Let us navigate further and hammer out the possible solutions for peace and prosperity.
At this critical moment it is observed that mother nature is extremely displeased and offensive. States like Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, M.P, North Eastern states etc. are worst affected suffering huge loss of lives and property. It appears as if Nature has aggressively revolted against her undesirable exploitation at the hands of very greedy, exploitive and socalled enlightened creation of God. So far Nature is concerned it refers to the entire physical world and its phenomena inclusive of atmosphere, land, oceans, plants, animals and ecosystems. It encompasses everything not created by human beings, from the tiniest microbe to vast galaxies. It is both life sustaining and life governing , operating through delicate interdependent systems and universal laws. In spiritual and cultural terms, Nature is respected as Mother Nature that nurtures us by providing Air, Water,Food and shelter. In scientific terms, it is self -regulating system finely tuned over billions of years to maintain balance.
Why presently Nature is so ‘angry’: Of course, Nature itself is not conscious or angry in a literal sense. But the rampant destruction, imbalance and disasters we see today appears to be Nature’s ANGER because of excessive exploitation and gross neglect by human beings.
Key Reasons for the present Ecological Crisis
Climate change: Uncontrolled carbon emissions, deforestation and fossil fuel dependence have heated the planet leading to extreme weather, floods, droughts and rising sea levels.
Deforestation and biodiversity Loss:- Trees are cut recklessly, forests cleared for industriesand agriculture, leading to habitat loss, extinction of species and ecological imbalance.
Pollution of Air, Water and soil:- Toxic industrial waste, plastic, and chemicals are poisoning rivers, oceans, and land affecting both wild life as well as human health.
Urban overgrowth and consumerism: Modern man’s obsession with infrastructure , convenience and over convenience and overconsumption has led to massive waste, over exploitation of natural resources .
Neglect of traditional wisdom:-Indigenous cultures that once revered and lived in sync with nature are being marginalized . Worshiping Mother Nature in the families and the society as a whole has been the part and parcel of our basic Sanatan sanskriti. It suffered a bit of decline during the prolonged British period but slowly and steadily, the things are improving and the thought process is changing on a brisk note with the realization that living in harmony with Nature is our spiritual obligation and indispensable need in the sense that our very existence in this world shall be severely endangeredif Mother nature is not diligently protected, cared for and protected. Nature symbolizes the nurturing , life- giving and protective aspects of the natural world. She is the source of all life on earth, from the tallest mountains and deepest oceans to the smallest grain of soil and the whispering breeze. The phrase ‘Mother Nature’ is not merely poetic; it reflects the vital role that nature plays in sustaining our existence. In today’s era of Industrialization and environmental degradation, reflecting on the significance of mother nature has become more urgent than ever.
MODERN MAN’S DISCONNECT FROM NATURE:- Despite her generosity, modern humans have increasingly exploited her resources, often forgetting the sacred bond we once shared with the natural world. Deforestation, pollution, over mining and greenhouse gas emissions have pushed her to the brink. The consequences are visible; climate change, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, global warming and extreme weather effects/events. Unlike ancient civilizations that lived in harmony with natural laws, modern lifestyles prioritize convenience and profit over sustainability. Skyscrapers replace forests and rivers turn into drains. Frequent natural disasters are nature’s warning signals. The melting of glaciers, declining wild life populations, and worsening air quality indicate that the Earth is under stress. Human health is also directly affected through diseases caused by pollution and contaminated resources.
LIVING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE:- For the purpose of preserving nature, we must adopt sustainable living practices. This includes reducing waste, using renewable energy , conserving water, planting trees and minimizing our carbon foot print.Governments, industries, and individuals all have a role to play in restoring ecological balance . As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs but not to every man’s greed.”
LIVING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE:- This is burning need of the hour and the if not addressed on war footing, humans along with all other species would become extinct in the shortest possible time. In nutshell we must respect and protect nature, not just for ourselves, but for future generations.
” In every walk with nature , one receives far more than he seeks.” JOHN MUIR
(The author is President, Ved Mandir)
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