Page 223 - Udaan Trial Book

Rabindranath Tagore, who was a visionary
It is interesting to know that the
far ahead of his time said during his
ancient Vedas have several
address at the opening, ceremony of Visva-
references in them on environmental
Bharati Cheena-Bhavan on April 14, 1937:
protection, ecological balance,
“We had, for over a century, been so
weather cycles, rainfall phenomena,
successfully hypnotised and dragged by
and related issues that indicate the
the prosperous West behind its chariot that,
high level of awareness of India
though choked by the dust, deafened by
during ancient times. The protection
the noise, humbled by our helplessness,
of the environment and sustainable
overwhelmed by speed, we yet agreed to
living was understood to be closely
acknowledge that this chariot-drive was
related the protection of the dyaus or
progress, and that progress was
heavens and prithvi, or earth.
civilization. If we ever ventured to ask,
Between these two lies the
however humbly: Progress towards what,
atmosphere and environment we
and progress for whom? It was considered
refer to as “paryavaran.”
to be peculiarly and ridiculously oriental to
entertain such doubts about the

absoluteness of progress.
The Rig Veda venerates deities like
Today we are emboldened to ask: what is
Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Maruts and
the value of progress if it make a desert of
Aditya, that are responsible for
this beautiful world of man?”
maintaining the fine balance of
Panchabootas, Khiti, Ab,Tej, Marut,
and Vyom – earth, water, fire, wind
The truly wealthy and successful is not the
and space.
person who chases instant gratification
and mindless competitive consumerism or
ostentatious display, but one who uses
wealth to create a mindset of sustainability
and wellbeing for the collective.

Our efforts begin as they must, at home, in
the precious small things, just as
Dhirubhai had done long ago with his
children.

Background Art: Rigya Mishra

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