Only when the last tree has died
and the last river been poisoned
and the last fish been caught
will we realize that we cannot eat money.
- Cree Indian
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The declaration of dusk
The cool air resonates with the Malabar Whistling Thrush's Good Night Note,
The frogs follow in the orchestra,
The Swiftlets zig-zag overhead finishing their evening meal,
The crickets officially announce the breaking of dusk
(If Dawn can break,so can dusk)
The last ray of fading light brings the first ray of bats on the horizon,
The stars twinkle into position,
The spiders set their dinner plate webs for the great feast,
The fireflies flicker the party lights on,
The moths do their fluttery dance,
The moon smiles away at itself in every still pool.
Fireflies remind me of one of my favourite Tagore quotes, here it is -
The starts are not afraid to appear like fireflies.
Dina.
The frogs follow in the orchestra,
The Swiftlets zig-zag overhead finishing their evening meal,
The crickets officially announce the breaking of dusk
(If Dawn can break,so can dusk)
The last ray of fading light brings the first ray of bats on the horizon,
The stars twinkle into position,
The spiders set their dinner plate webs for the great feast,
The fireflies flicker the party lights on,
The moths do their fluttery dance,
The moon smiles away at itself in every still pool.
Fireflies remind me of one of my favourite Tagore quotes, here it is -
The starts are not afraid to appear like fireflies.
Dina.
Mammoth Loss
24May2009
Two elephants were found dead in the cardamom and tea plantations of Urlikal. The postmortem reveled poisoning due to consumption of pesticides as the cause of death. This was a herd which one of my colleges has been following for the past many years now. He informed that one more elephant from the same herd of 9, had died mysteriously 2 months ago. Now the strength of the herd comes down to 6.
We stayed on for the postmortem to collect tissue samples. Till this incident, I considered trade of animal parts as a serious crime. After i witnessed the postmortem followed by the removal of the tusks my idea of the criminal act of trade in wildlife parts changed completely. The removal of the tusks in this situation gave me an idea of how it would be when done in a different situation. The goriness of taking away an innocent animal's life just to chop trough its flesh, extract it's tusks, polish it and keep it in a showcase or use as a seal is revolting. Its the most shameful and ugly act any human can ever do.
The forest department collects tusks from dead elephants and their are emporiums where govt. Authorized ivory is sold. This looks like a very bad way to discourage the ivory trade. This means the lesser the supply and the rarer the availability, there is all the more demand for the trade to persist illegally.
Two elephants were found dead in the cardamom and tea plantations of Urlikal. The postmortem reveled poisoning due to consumption of pesticides as the cause of death. This was a herd which one of my colleges has been following for the past many years now. He informed that one more elephant from the same herd of 9, had died mysteriously 2 months ago. Now the strength of the herd comes down to 6.
We stayed on for the postmortem to collect tissue samples. Till this incident, I considered trade of animal parts as a serious crime. After i witnessed the postmortem followed by the removal of the tusks my idea of the criminal act of trade in wildlife parts changed completely. The removal of the tusks in this situation gave me an idea of how it would be when done in a different situation. The goriness of taking away an innocent animal's life just to chop trough its flesh, extract it's tusks, polish it and keep it in a showcase or use as a seal is revolting. Its the most shameful and ugly act any human can ever do.
The forest department collects tusks from dead elephants and their are emporiums where govt. Authorized ivory is sold. This looks like a very bad way to discourage the ivory trade. This means the lesser the supply and the rarer the availability, there is all the more demand for the trade to persist illegally.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The forgotten temple of knowledge
The wind rustles dead leaves and
termite wings through the deserted corridors,
The footsteps and shouts of children
are distant memories,
The only pupil now,
are a pair of nesting sparrows, a foraging myna
and an occasional goat.
The boards are smudged with remnants of
drawings and writings of little hands,
The windows and doors tightly shut
seem to be revolting in silence.
Sadly the above is not only true during the summer holidays, but symbolic of the school days too. A chat with the Head Master revealed the state of this school (Govt. Boys School, Valparai) where summer holidays doesn't really mean students have worked hard and, are ready to go to the next grade. The school management has asked to promote every student who attempts the year-end exam. This way there is a 100% passing rate until students face the 10th and 12th Std public exam. The external evaluation results in 0-1% passing rate. The HM said that students and their parents (mostly tea-estate workers) do not pay much attention to schooling, as a result hardly any parent turns up for PTA meetings. Now he does not know who to blame – the students if they refuse to inform parent about PTA meetings or the parents who refuse to turn up, its hard to say. The HM also complains about lack of enthusiasm, interest and a negative attitude in students working against their progressive learning. He also says that, no student out of this school can go beyond being an electrician or plumber.
People seem to be mechanically carry out their duties in this school,all including students, teachers and the management. We hope to initiate our nature education programs and manage to pump some energy into the spirit of learning through activity and fun based programs.
Enthusiasm in the key to the door of innovation and progress, without it, no productive headway is possible.
termite wings through the deserted corridors,
The footsteps and shouts of children
are distant memories,
The only pupil now,
are a pair of nesting sparrows, a foraging myna
and an occasional goat.
The boards are smudged with remnants of
drawings and writings of little hands,
The windows and doors tightly shut
seem to be revolting in silence.
Sadly the above is not only true during the summer holidays, but symbolic of the school days too. A chat with the Head Master revealed the state of this school (Govt. Boys School, Valparai) where summer holidays doesn't really mean students have worked hard and, are ready to go to the next grade. The school management has asked to promote every student who attempts the year-end exam. This way there is a 100% passing rate until students face the 10th and 12th Std public exam. The external evaluation results in 0-1% passing rate. The HM said that students and their parents (mostly tea-estate workers) do not pay much attention to schooling, as a result hardly any parent turns up for PTA meetings. Now he does not know who to blame – the students if they refuse to inform parent about PTA meetings or the parents who refuse to turn up, its hard to say. The HM also complains about lack of enthusiasm, interest and a negative attitude in students working against their progressive learning. He also says that, no student out of this school can go beyond being an electrician or plumber.
People seem to be mechanically carry out their duties in this school,all including students, teachers and the management. We hope to initiate our nature education programs and manage to pump some energy into the spirit of learning through activity and fun based programs.
Enthusiasm in the key to the door of innovation and progress, without it, no productive headway is possible.
Bat Tunnel!!!
One of my very good friend here in Valparai is working on bat diversity. I had the pleasure of accompanying her on an exploratory visit to a 14 mile long man-made water tunnel that by word of mouth, contained thousands of bats. So we arrived at the mouth of this tunnel after an exciting encounter with a herd of Gaur and a common monitor lizard on our way. 
We walked into the tunnel nervously as we did not know the timings for the opening of the flood gates. As we entered, we were in for a bat bonanza!!! 30 meters into the tunnel we saw many clusters of bats roosting on the ceiling. They shifted away from the torch beams as we scanned the ceilings, crevasses and crannies. 
(The best i could get with a 1600 ISO)
Little into the tunnel the clusters gave way to a sea of bats.My friend confirmed the presence of at least 3 species of bats belonging to the genus Rhinolophus, Hypoderma and some fruit bats.
After about 600 meters into into the tunnel we could see a galaxy of eye shines and sensed vibrations that shook the surroundings. Our mind raced to the flood gates and we geared to face the rushing water......But the water level remained the same, instead a wave of disturbance was felt above head. Hundreds of bats were fluttering their winds and moving around to find darker spots. It was not a very pleasant place for people with a good sense of smell either. The floor was splattered with bat droppings. We were not too eager to meet the concentrated swarm of flying bats and so we decided to turn back. As the entrance of the tunnel came into view, we saw bats that looked like large black butterflies at the light end of the tunnel.
(Black Butterflies)
On our way back we ran into the same herd of Gaur and got 2 see individuals play-fighting -
After a couple of days we returned to count the bats that exit the cave. A count of 1000+ individual bat exits were recorded. 1000+ entries were also recorded in a span of 2 hours after dusk.
We walked into the tunnel nervously as we did not know the timings for the opening of the flood gates. As we entered, we were in for a bat bonanza!!! 30 meters into the tunnel we saw many clusters of bats roosting on the ceiling. They shifted away from the torch beams as we scanned the ceilings, crevasses and crannies. 
(The best i could get with a 1600 ISO) Little into the tunnel the clusters gave way to a sea of bats.My friend confirmed the presence of at least 3 species of bats belonging to the genus Rhinolophus, Hypoderma and some fruit bats.
After about 600 meters into into the tunnel we could see a galaxy of eye shines and sensed vibrations that shook the surroundings. Our mind raced to the flood gates and we geared to face the rushing water......But the water level remained the same, instead a wave of disturbance was felt above head. Hundreds of bats were fluttering their winds and moving around to find darker spots. It was not a very pleasant place for people with a good sense of smell either. The floor was splattered with bat droppings. We were not too eager to meet the concentrated swarm of flying bats and so we decided to turn back. As the entrance of the tunnel came into view, we saw bats that looked like large black butterflies at the light end of the tunnel.
(Black Butterflies)On our way back we ran into the same herd of Gaur and got 2 see individuals play-fighting -
After a couple of days we returned to count the bats that exit the cave. A count of 1000+ individual bat exits were recorded. 1000+ entries were also recorded in a span of 2 hours after dusk.
Monday, May 4, 2009
10 Things to do before I die
1. Spend time in exploring and conserving natural treasures of the Western Ghats and Himalayas
2. Learn Swahili and spend couple of years in East Africa
3. Take a road trip from Manali to Leh through all the high altitude lakes
4. Spend a month meditating in a Buddhist Monastery
5. See and photograph spring in a desert (after rains most arid regions burst into blossoms)
6. Learn wave surfing
7. Make a wildlife documentary film
8. Learn sculpting
9. Scuba dive with wild dolphins and take underwater shots of waves crashing above.
10. See and photograph the mid night sun and aurora in Iceland
Flight to reality-
1 and 2 in progress.
2. Learn Swahili and spend couple of years in East Africa
3. Take a road trip from Manali to Leh through all the high altitude lakes
4. Spend a month meditating in a Buddhist Monastery
5. See and photograph spring in a desert (after rains most arid regions burst into blossoms)
6. Learn wave surfing
7. Make a wildlife documentary film
8. Learn sculpting
9. Scuba dive with wild dolphins and take underwater shots of waves crashing above.
10. See and photograph the mid night sun and aurora in Iceland
Flight to reality-
1 and 2 in progress.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
What I love about Little Hill Towns
The stream gurgling in the valley,
The sparrows dust bathing in the street,
The church bell at 12,
The ferns on the old stone wall,
The ice-cream man on hot afternoons,
The road winding up the hill,
The lambs nibbling on the hedge plants,
The corner tea shop,
Waiting for hours in a scenic bus stop,
The white daisies nodding in the evening breeze,
Million twinkling stars in the night,
The owlet calling from the mango tree.
White daisy
One of the most precious looking things around here.
The above poem is dedicated to Mercy who helped me discover the joy behind little things. This perspective has really transformed my world.
The sparrows dust bathing in the street,
The church bell at 12,
The ferns on the old stone wall,
The ice-cream man on hot afternoons,
The road winding up the hill,
The lambs nibbling on the hedge plants,
The corner tea shop,
Waiting for hours in a scenic bus stop,
The white daisies nodding in the evening breeze,
Million twinkling stars in the night,
The owlet calling from the mango tree.
White daisy
One of the most precious looking things around here.
The above poem is dedicated to Mercy who helped me discover the joy behind little things. This perspective has really transformed my world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
