Neither a mystic nor alone a romantic dreamer, the well-read and village- fed Rajbir Deswal, 66, is a blend of numerous traits of a prolific author, columnist, artist, administrator, policeman of national recognition and a man given to finer pursuits in life. He is credited with 21 books and over 4000 articles published in leading English dailies. He is recognised as National Police Trainer by the Bureau of Police Research & Development, M.H.A., New Delhi and is a widely travelled police officer who has been Superintendent of Police, D.I.G. & I.G. in State Intelligence and Telecommunications, Police Commissioner, I.G. of Karnal Range, Joint Director of Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban, and Addl. DGP Human Rights & Litigation, Haryana. He has also been the Managing Editor of the prestigious Indian Police Journal. Having been an accomplished police officer, presently Rajbir Deswal practises law at the Punjab & Haryana High Court.
There goes a story about the hill people in Himachal Pradesh, that they brought their cattle back home before the evening fell, in apprehension of the imminent rains. This was possible for them to ascertain, after watching the ants return to their colonies before time since they instinctively knew that it was about to rain. The hill people trusted what their forefathers had told them and were proven right every time. But this does not happen anymore. Reason? Neither the hill people now remember all that folk wisdom, in the onslaught of the so-called modernity robbing them of the cultural practices they carried out for centuries, nor are the fauna and flora the same, as they might have been years ago. The entire bio-diversity has gone lopsided, thanks to the modern-day man’s turning a blind eye to the concerns of the environment. Undoubtedly man wants to eat up the earth and leave nothing for their progeny to subsist with. Not only this, we are blissfully unaware of the climatic holocaust that has put our own lives exposed to catastrophes of the most disastrous magnitude, surely affecting not only mankind but all organisms in animals and vegetation.
This writer saw in a village called Salt Springs, an island in Canada that all residents lived in an environment where there was almost no aberration or violation of the rules of nature whether it was agriculture, business or even having painting studios. They do not use chemical fertilizers rather all orchards proudly proclaim ‘Organic’ and grow accordingly. Wood is recycled and energy preserved. They opposed laying an oil pipeline being laid through their land. The residents had the courage to tell the tourists to avoid eating ‘those genetically modified potatoes’ called crisp or chips. There were small farms with dairy, poultry, looms, and pottery—all in their eco-friendly avatar. Elsewhere in the US, enthusiasts in fact adopt highways for their upkeep and keeping clean and dirt free.
Contrast this with our own country. Do we despite a ban abstain from burning the stubble after the crops have been cut? Do we recycle carry bags? Do we care about water depletion? Do we say no to non- biodegradable stuff in polyethene, etc? Do we stop mining? Do we adopt rotational cropping? Do we use compost manure in place of chemical fertilisers? Do we plant enough trees and stop their feeling? Do we save electricity produced by hydroelectric projects? Do we manage our floods? Do we indulge in conventional ways of saving and storing water? Do we have appropriate solid waste management plans executed properly? Do we have covered excreta latrines and toilets? Do we reclaim land rendered infertile due to alkali using appropriate techniques? Do we not litter garbage? Do our industries have enough effluent-treating plants? The scenario is not only lacking in proper environmental concerns but is horridly shocking.
We need to address these concerns. Pollution of air, water and soil by chemical compounds takes many years to break down. Most of these chemicals are the bi-products of our modern lifestyle and are created by industry and motor vehicle exhaust. The resultant depletion of the ozone layer is the mother of all concerns. Since 1990, half the world’s rainforests have been destroyed. The world’s population has tripled during the past sixty years. The number of consumers of natural and manmade resources is increasing. Climate Scientists believe that human activity is affecting climate change. Add to this the loss of biodiversity. This ‘Sixth Extinction’ is going to affect the world for millions of years. Every year, humans convert an estimated 120 million tons of nitrogen from the atmosphere into reactive forms such as nitrates, mainly in the production of nitrogen-based fertilizer for crops and in the use of food additives. This amounts to both, use and abuse. Nearly one-third of the human population has inadequate access to clean water. Over the last 250 years, the aloe surface acidity of the ocean has increased by an estimated 30 per cent.
Conventional energy sources like fossil fuels, gas, crude oil, coal, etc are being ruthlessly consumed caring two hoots for sustainable development. We do not exploit the non- conventional energy sources in water, sun, geothermal and biogas. Our transportation system and industries are again the biggest sources of creating an environmental imbalance. We do not cater to the concept of ‘Green Buildings’. There is a need to address the use of solar energy and adopt what the National Solar Mission must prescribe in this regard.
In a village in Africa, they had a problem with insects. The flitting insects made the lives of the people hell and there seemed to be no alternative than to either stay indoors or have enough covering around one. The mayor harped on a novel plan. He had poles erected all over on which there hung bird houses and enough feed. There were many birdhouses on each pole placed vertically over one another. The birds started visiting these houses and began to stay there. The mayor ensured that none killed the birds. In less than a few months, the birds finished the insects and saved the environment.
I conclude on a promising note, I can say that we humans are the wisest species on earth. But the irony is that mankind is causing the threat and greed often takes over sensibilities. The green growth is the need of the hour and it focuses to ensure that the blessings of nature dispense their full potential on a sustainable basis. That includes the provision of clean air, water, and resilient biodiversity. Mother nature is the utmost indulgence, let us pledge to save it!
