SIRSI, May 5: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday said India’s ancient civilisational ethos and Vedic culture have long championed sustainable living, adding that this wisdom holds the key to addressing modern ecological challenges.
“This land is a confluence of spirituality and sustainability. Sustainability is not just vital for the economy-it is vital for healthy living. Our Vedic culture has preached sustainability for thousands of years,” he said, addressing students and faculty of the College of Forestry during a special programme on the Role of Forestry in Nation Building.
Cautioning against reckless exploitation of natural resources, the Vice-President said, “There is no alternative to sustainable development,” and stressed the urgent need to shift from consumption-driven practices to environmentally responsible stewardship.
Calling for a deeper ecological consciousness, Dhankhar declared, “We are the trustees, not consumers, of Mother Earth. We are duty-bound to pass this on to future generations.” Stressing the gravity of climate change, he warned that the crisis is “alarmingly cliff-hanging” and that humanity has “no other planet to live on apart from Mother Earth.”
Highlighting the vital role of forests, he noted that they are indispensable to public health and environmental balance. “If a country’s forests are in good shape, its people will enjoy good health,” he remarked. While agriculture is the nation’s lifeline, forests, he said, regulate climate, buffer disasters and support the livelihoods of the poor and marginalised.
Warning that environmental degradation affects all forms of life, not just humans, Dhankhar said, “Today, we face a critical test: to protect and preserve the environment, and to find ways to overcome the grave crisis that is unfolding.”
He emphasised the need for interdisciplinary education, stating, “We must adopt an inclusive approach to learning. Medical, engineering, management, environmental and forest education can no longer exist in silos.”
Urging students to embrace curiosity and innovation, the Vice-President said, “The subject you are pursuing today holds the key to remedies and production. You can truly become an effective crucible of research, especially when it comes to forest produce.”
Admiring the natural surroundings of the College of Forestry, Dhankhar said Sirsi, nestled in the Western Ghats, is among the richest biodiversity zones in the world. “The classroom here doesn’t end at four walls-it extends beyond them. This is an open classroom, breathing and brimming with life,” he remarked.
Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj S. Horatti, District-in-Charge Minister Mankal S. Vaidya, MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, and Dr PL Patil, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, were present on the occasion. (UNI)
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