Sacred Earth, Shared Future

On World Environment Day, India blends ancient ecological traditions with modern innovation, offering the world a blueprint for sustainable living grounded in cultural wisdom and collective action

- DINESH PRASAD SAKLANI

Today, as we celebrate World Environment Day, we should all remind ourselves of the urgent need to protect our planet. While modern science seeks answers to environmental crises like pollution and climate change, India's rich cultural heritage has long offered sustainable practices rooted in harmony with nature. From the Vedic era to today, Indian traditions have revered rivers, trees, and wildlife as sacred, promoting ecological balance. Even as urbanization strains resources, rural India continues to play a vital role in environmental conservation.

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

This philosophy emphasizes the respect for nature, deeply seated in Indian culture, whereby the Earth is recognized not only as a resource but as a sacred force that nurtures all forms of life existing on Earth. Among the most distinguished conventions, tree and river worship is of great importance. The Peepal tree and Banyan, or sacred fig, symbolize longevity and wisdom. Likewise, the Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada and other rivers are considered lifelines of civilization, emphasizing the interrelationship between human beings and water resources.

Several Indian rituals also reflect more than just the day-to-day existence of sustainable practices that have been a visible part of life for many generations. Ahimsa is a commonly known value that translates to non-violence, and the concept of Ahimsa is stretched to cover all forms of life. This broadens the concept to include the conservation of biodiversity.

In the past, agriculture in India was organic, practiced agroforestry, and employed water conservation techniques like step-wells and rainwater harvesting, whereby some of these methods are now being promoted by contemporary environmentalists.