Let's go back to nature, be with nature

God’s own country is facing God’s own fury. Nothing left! Everything lost in the water fury. Lives lost and damage beyond repair. Some of the damages are permanent and irrevocable! Never before has Kerala seen such a dominance of river over land.

In the midst of devastation and floods no religion or caste exists in Kerala. There is only one religion; Humanity. In fact, it’s not just humanity, it is devastated humanity. No matter how big or small the houses are; no matter how much has been spent to build it, no matter how expensive the interiors are; all have been vulnerable. Everything perished and marooned under water. Elders say that they have never witnessed such landslides and floods in their lifetime. Generations after them have only witnessed it happening in neighbouring states and cities. The people of Kerala have shown extraordinary courage and will to fight the crisis. The army, navy and air force, volunteers and the local people are working round the clock to save the lives of the marooned people. Each area or city has become an island in itself and all connectivity lost with airports, railway and road services coming to a standstill. Humanity has been put to test.

The poor and the rich alike are facing the same problem. The national media as usual did not focus much on Kerala till Aug 14 when they realized the extent of damage caused by the floods. The devastation is just beyond imagination. The need for the hour is immediate aid for the affected people. The affected includes a huge proportion of population of the elderly population whose children are working abroad. Aid in the form of fimamncial support to the government, relief, and supplies to the people and the volunteers are the need of the hour. It is a responsibility we need to share to reach out to Kerala. This is the time to show solidarity to the people of Kerala and stand with them. Let everyone contribute whatever they can however big or small it is.

Once lives are saved, resurrection of the affected infrastructure will be a huge task. Only the army has the capability to build it at a lightening pace. Many bridges have collapsed, roads have been washed off with no trace of their existence and facilities to connect one city to another are to be worked out at a lighting scale. The state that could boast of its infrastructure gains has been left aghast.Let us be in harmony with nature; not confront with it. We have taken the nature for granted. It is this state that is one of the richest in flora and fauna. A small weed; difficult to recognise for many, called as ‘Kizharnelli’ in Malayalam is the best cure for jaundice. Same with many other herbs too! It is found all around here. But what is alarming is the slow decline of such herbs and plants. Slowly the people are losing their ability to recognise such herbs and even understanding of it. Man’s ability to be with the soil has immensely reduced in Kerala. It is becoming a life that is leading to nowhere! Post flood there are lot of lessons to be learnt.

Prof. Madhav Gadgil report on environment was an eye opener who predicted this and warned Kerala against all forms of environmental dangers if the basic fabric of river-land-forest equation is altered. Unfortunately the builders and political lobby torpedoed the report and he was shamed. Today Kerala is facing a disaster, which is largely man made. Of course the 153 per cent increase in rainfall has added to make the situation worse. Never in the history have all the shutters of all the dams being opened in Kerala.

Let us go back to nature and be with nature. It’s a blessing. All achievements in tune with nature are a dream. Let’s move closer to it and make our children too move closer to it for we owe the future world to these kids.