India and Conservation

'India has an environment-friendly rich civilization that has always revered nature and cherished ecological balance. While modern societies have been making efforts to find solutions of environmental degradation in modern science, Indian traditions hold the key to sustainable development based on cultural wisdom, respect towards nature, and ecological balance.'

- DINESH PRASAD SAKLANI The writer is Director, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi

The world celebrates Environment Day on 5 June. This day provides us with opportunities to encourage awareness and sensitivity for environmental protection. For decades, many countries across the world have been facing problems such as air pollution, plastic pollution, illegal wildlife trade, sea-level increase, etc. These countries have been looking for sustainable solutions.

India has an environment-friendly rich civilization that has always revered nature and cherished ecological balance. While modern societies have been making efforts to find solutions of environmental degradation in modern science, Indian traditions hold the key to sustainable development based on cultural wisdom, respect towards nature, and ecological balance. In some cases, unregulated urbanization has strained environmental resources, but rural areas in India have been contributing towards protecting the environment and addressing climate change.

From the Vedic era to modern pursuits, India has always believed in the importance of protecting the environment. Ancient texts like the Vedas and Upanishads prescribe environmental conservation. The Rigveda, one of the oldest texts, describes rivers in feminine (Goddess/Maa) terms and trees as divine beings, thus asserting the view that humans have been custodians of the Earth and not its exploiters.

The following shloka from the Atharva Veda encapsulates India's reverence for the Earth:

"Mata bhumih putro aham prithivyah"

(The Earth is my mother, and I am her son.) — Atharva Veda 12.1.12