"NOTHING CAN COME OF NOTHING.”

“NOTHING CAN COME OF NOTHING,” wrote William Shakespeare in his tragic play “King Lear.” I read these lines sitting in my balcony, overlooking the luscious green Ashoka trees, thinking plausibly how I could enlighten others with my radiance and bring a new morning in the broad daylight. I couldn’t help but ponder, what could possibly come of nothing if we continue with our relentless raptorial exploitation of the natural resources, literally leaving nothing for our future lineage. While global warming threatens more and worse cyclones, droughts, avalanches, floods with catastrophic consequences for food, water and livelihood, we decide to take offence at Ranveer Singh’s unclad pictures. We are celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav but where do ”we” as a society actually stand in our 75th year of Independence ? It is time to panic. The natural environment, the biodiversity, the ecological systems that sustain all forms of life are collapsing. We face criss crossing crises of climate change, sharp increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events with recent incidents of heatwaves gobbling Europe, news of Antarctica crumbling, Delhi’s infamous air quality index, increase in the rainfall in India, floods, drought in Jharkhand , extinction of species, increase in the number of endangered species, top soil erosion, acidifying oceans, and events of forest fires. Every year, nine million people die from air pollution, many suffer from coronary and respiratory diseases. As I write this essay, in the Trans-Himalayan ranges a Changthangi goat is being killed to weave fine pashmina. While we all are cognisant of climate change and the biodiversity crisis, somehow the alarming issue is always shrugged under the cashmere carpet. Sooner or later we will realise that the climate change monster generated by us is going to swallow us one day. India has to strive proactively to work for a healthy environment by preserving biodiversity and protecting natural resources. For India to achieve the vision of United Nations Biodiversity Framework, 2050 of “living in harmony with nature” and the “Low Emission Goals” set by the Paris Agreement and Kyoto Protocol, India not only has to reduce its greenhouse gases emission significantly but also actively shift from fossil fuel energy sources to non- fossil fuel energy sources for the generation of electricity and power. Clean and low emission economies promote manufacturing and adoption of renewable energy which lead to increase in the number of green jobs and clean energy industries. India articulated the concept of "Lifestyle for the Environment" at the Glasgow Cop 26, 2021, emphasising on rational and deliberate utilisation. The initiative calls for individual and collective action to tackle the climate change crisis by incorporating conscious choices in our provident lifestyle. Having had visited my father’s native, a remote village located near the Simlipal biosphere in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha called Khejuriah predominantly inhabited by the Santhal and the Munda tribal population, I recall the environmental friendly practices adopted by the tribes. The bottom of the wall of the tribal house is painted with black soil, the middle portion with white soil and the upper portion with red soil. The Santhals, Munda, Bhumija for years have lived in a symbiotic relationship with the environment. In recent years, the region has witnessed urbanisation, industrialisation and modernisation which has led to the depletion of the natural water resources and the disappearance of indigenous species including Pangolin and the Black Panther. The Rudimentary, yet essential lessons of conservation, preservation, reduce, reuse, recycle, driving less and walking more, sustainable living need to be learnt from our tribal brothers and sisters. On 15, August, 2022, India will celebrate 75 years of Independence and Freedom. As we advance into a new era of forbearance, empathy and growth, let's not forget our responsibility and duty towards preserving and conserving our mother nature. Human civilization is on the brink of losing the war against climate change and every mistake is one more nail in the coffin. sustainable steps to deal with the biodiversity crisis has become a compelling reality which requires several hands working together at the helm. With this I reach the end of my essay, overlooking the luscious green Ashoka trees, contemplating what could possibly come of nothing, only to realise nothing can come of nothing if sustainability, conservation, preservation are not incorporated into our mundane life, administration and governance. Written by- Sarvari Barik