Nurturing Roots and Growing Change: A Journey of Environmental Passion and Community Responsibility - Niranjan S

Far from the bustling cities, lies my rustic hometown named Dharmapuri. It is where I was born, went to school, and lived until I turned 18. My native place is famous for its cascading Hogenakkal waterfalls, formed by the Kaveri river. Surrounded by hills and forests, it is a haven of rich biodiversity. Most of the people in my neighbourhood are involved in weaving. They are hardworking men and women who can be seen working even on Sundays. The rhythmic sound of power looms filled the air during the day. We also had power looms at our home back then. Right from childhood, I was in love with books as they opened up the world for me. I would gratify my mother for nurturing me to read those children's magazines, where each page was a portal to new horizons. In those days, I spent most of my leisure time reading books, and they have had a profound impact on my life, shaping the way I see the world. My next hobby was gardening. Right now, staying in a hostel far from my home, I sometimes regret not doing it currently. I started with terrace gardening. I still remember how I pestered my parents and elder cousins to take me to a plant nursery to buy plants, soil and grow bags. We grew different vegetables and flowers, fertilizing them with only compost and homemade growth concoctions. When I was 15, I had the opportunity to grow trees. This time in our agricultural field. I have had the bliss of sitting under the shade of the tree I planted. Isn't it one of the finest moments for a gardener? In school, I was particularly interested in science subjects, especially those topics related to the environment. I think my passion for environmental topics stemmed from my love for growing and taking care of plants at home during my childhood. Though my school education didn't have a specific focus on environmental education, I developed a strong interest in it. I was fortunate enough to have had encouraging biology teachers who supported my curiosity towards the environment. It was about the same time I started to read books on nature, especially those written by Peter Wohlleben. I was imbued by nature's intricate network. I realized that it's important to appreciate and take care of our ecosystem throughout my life and not to take it for granted. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” quoted Nelson Mandela. I wholeheartedly agree. I haven't heard about any other means that have the power to make a truly positive impact on society. It's imperative that students, not just of our nation but around the world, should use that mighty wand to bring about the changes that are needed in their society apart from the sole pursuit of landing a job. Sure, I admit that people have to look after themselves. But it shouldn't stop there. We should start working for the welfare of our community. One must understand that not all the folks in your community received the same level and quality of education as the former, at least in my case. Some might have had the opportunity to gain a better education than others. Shouldn't those try to think about the ways they can give back to society? The right action need not be big to start. We can start small but let us not remain complacent with our smaller actions but aim for progress to make a larger change. I want to emphasize the importance of environmental conservation. Currently, our earth is undergoing what scientists call the triple planetary crisis- climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Weather patterns are changing, the ecosystem is being thrown out of balance and our air, water and soil are suffering from pollution. We have to note that for all of the above-mentioned issues, humans are the primary cause. I do understand and accept that the people in power all over the world have a greater responsibility to act swiftly. But the onus is also on us. It's our home that's burning. There's a false dichotomy between systemic and individual change. When it comes to sustainability, both are important. The Internet provides a lot of information but there are caveats. We should identify and analyse the right action and implement it. We should be careful in this regard because some seemingly good options might be counterproductive. Let's empower ourselves to take environmental action in our community, advocate for better policies, and urge the government to take the right actions to ensure a healthy future for us and the generations to come.