The brook ran perennially across the village fresh and abundant. The water ponds were evenly distributed clean and clear for the cattle. This abundance of the water was enjoyed for time immemorial as privilege in the village. People planned nothing for future, but to enjoy what is abundant in nature now. To make the matter worse, destroyed it. This is the SUSTAINABILITY issue.
Man could write no words, read no sentence, understand no concept and fear no writ. He had but only greed on the razor blade of heavy axe and long sword. If it meets the end, he would care nothing but to chop down whatever stands before his might.
Slashing-and-burning, trees were fallen and vegetation removed just to feed the hungry mouths for a year round. The hamlet like never before received erratic rainfall and untimely harsh weather events. The barren earth exposed to harsh weather, beaten by the heavy monsoon downpour caused stretches of landslide giving birth to gullies and uneven landscape. The harsh realities were given no attention. People thought it is as usual manifestation of seasonal weather events.
Over the years, the community observed decrease in water volume. People living downstream fell sick all of a sudden. Ponds started drying up. People had to rush for the water stock, and the long queue was soon joined by the cattle and horses exacerbating the situation. Acute shortage of water had bred confusion and conflicts within the close community. Myriads of problems aroused over the years and long built harmony and relationships were ruined over the quest for water.
Famine and the death wreaked havoc in the village, yet, knew no cause and remedies.
The man still with an axe started clearing the trees and destroyed all the catchment areas of the ponds. Within no days of his destructive force, his limbs got swollen and numbness ruled his body. Almost crippling to death, he had rashes all over his genital parts with tanned skins of the balls.
Upon consulting a veteran shaman of the nearby village, the cause of the ailment was pronounced for the very first time. “The deities and spirits residing in the areas are upset of your destructive activities” and he continued “ If only you appease him through reforestation and cleaning of the catchment areas will you be released from this deadly ailment” advised the Shaman.
The community immediately gathered their unanimous forces to do the restoration activities and thorough cleaning of all the water catchment areas. Hundreds of trees were replanted, human wastes were cleaned and necessary rituals were performed to appease the non-human spirits of the place.
This has seen swift recovery of the patients and after years of reforestation the flow of water was restored. People rejoiced the prosperity and learned the lessons enabling harmonious co-existence with nature. Babbling brook was heard, the birds chirping and people prospered.
Man could write no words, read no sentence, understand no concept and fear no writ. He had but only greed on the razor blade of heavy axe and long sword. If it meets the end, he would care nothing but to chop down whatever stands before his might.
Slashing-and-burning, trees were fallen and vegetation removed just to feed the hungry mouths for a year round. The hamlet like never before received erratic rainfall and untimely harsh weather events. The barren earth exposed to harsh weather, beaten by the heavy monsoon downpour caused stretches of landslide giving birth to gullies and uneven landscape. The harsh realities were given no attention. People thought it is as usual manifestation of seasonal weather events.
Over the years, the community observed decrease in water volume. People living downstream fell sick all of a sudden. Ponds started drying up. People had to rush for the water stock, and the long queue was soon joined by the cattle and horses exacerbating the situation. Acute shortage of water had bred confusion and conflicts within the close community. Myriads of problems aroused over the years and long built harmony and relationships were ruined over the quest for water.
Famine and the death wreaked havoc in the village, yet, knew no cause and remedies.
The man still with an axe started clearing the trees and destroyed all the catchment areas of the ponds. Within no days of his destructive force, his limbs got swollen and numbness ruled his body. Almost crippling to death, he had rashes all over his genital parts with tanned skins of the balls.
Upon consulting a veteran shaman of the nearby village, the cause of the ailment was pronounced for the very first time. “The deities and spirits residing in the areas are upset of your destructive activities” and he continued “ If only you appease him through reforestation and cleaning of the catchment areas will you be released from this deadly ailment” advised the Shaman.
The community immediately gathered their unanimous forces to do the restoration activities and thorough cleaning of all the water catchment areas. Hundreds of trees were replanted, human wastes were cleaned and necessary rituals were performed to appease the non-human spirits of the place.
This has seen swift recovery of the patients and after years of reforestation the flow of water was restored. People rejoiced the prosperity and learned the lessons enabling harmonious co-existence with nature. Babbling brook was heard, the birds chirping and people prospered.
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