- Novanita Sharma
–
– “Nature’s Beckon’s philosophy believes that Earth is not just for human beings, everything on this planet cannot be for anthropogenic needs. Secondly, we believe in the welfare and well-being of all living beings, we wish for the happiness of even those who do not agree with us. Thirdly, we believe that people must strike a middle path when it comes to satisfying our need, human minds must remain conscientious of greed and overconsumption; the world is throng with endless problems because of this greed led race of human beings. Human overconsumption is the root cause of all wrong doings and negative works by the human beings. These three are the core philosophical principles of Nature’s Beckon, and we keep working continuously to uphold these principles through our work.”
– Soumyadeep Datta
(An excerpt from the book “Soumyadeep Datta – The Changemaker”)
India’s north-eastern states with large tracts of intact natural forests, mountains, rivers, and wildernesses constitute the nerve centre of India’s green heritage. Along with this rich biodiversity, this region has harboured one of India’s most successful biodiversity conservation movements, which effectively led to the protection of natural forests and wildlife amidst the challenging socio-political backdrop of the region. This green people’s movement has been led by extraordinary determination and vision shown by exemplary individuals who fought for years to uphold the cause of wildlife conservation and forest protection against burgeoning anthropogenic demands. These people known to us as collective names and platforms set a rare example of environmental leadership in India. A name that unfailingly occurs to everyone’s mind in this regard is that of Soumyadeep Datta, one of India’s finest environment activists and the Founder – Director of Nature’s Beckon – an environment activists’ group of Northeast India. Nature’s Beckon has successfully led one of the most unique nature conservation movements of India since 1980s. The journey of Nature’s Beckon since its inception in late 1970s takes one through an eventful 40 years of steadfast service in the field of biodiversity conservation. This journey conjures the diverse adversities, steep antagonism and continuous challenges faced by the organization in its zealous effort to protect the natural forests and biodiversity of Assam through effective advocacy, awareness, and people’s participation. It is marked with significant conservation milestones in India’s wildlife conservation history. This includes the creation of Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary in 1994, one of India’s first successful community conservation models for forest conservation and the iconic rainforest conservation movement which led to the creation of Dihing Patkai National Park in 2000, comprising the largest tract of rainforest in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam.
The fire of forest protection swept across Assam under the leadership of Nature’s Beckon since 1982, which soon grew into the biodiversity conservation movement of Assam, an exceptional environment movement that brought the beauty and essence of the Indian philosophy of nature conservation to the fore. Bestowed with the honour of many firsts to its cap, the Nature’s Beckon led biodiversity conservation movement had pioneered the beginning of non-human primate conservation in India with the ‘Save Chakrashila movement’ of 1980s, and further ahead Nature’s Beckon brought a paradigm shift in India’s non-human primate conservation with the identification and successful preservation of the largest tract of rainforests in Upper Assam as the Dihing Patkai National Park, which comprises the richest and most viable natural habitat of Hoolock Gibbon and several other non-human primate species of Assam. This biodiversity conservation movement also paved the way for a holistic model of wild birds’ conservation that pinpointed the urgency to work for the conservation of our indigenous wild bird species and its habitats in India. Nature’s Beckon advocated an inclusive approach for wildlife conservation in Assam since its beginning, when India’s wildlife conservation policies and practices were glued to mega fauna like Tiger, Rhino, and Elephant.
This biodiversity conservation movement empowered the Assamese society with the consciousness of nature conservation and have brought the people of Assam to the forefront of Indian environment movements. Nature’s Beckon’s four decades long biodiversity conservation movement has found vivid reflection in the socio-intellectual progress of Assam over the decades. Soumyadeep Datta’s visionary work has convened biodiversity conservation to become an integral part of modern Assam’s culture, and public psyche. The widespread participation of people from different corners of Assam, from across diverse groups like writers, intellectuals, journalists, artists, social activists, film makers, actors, teachers, educationists, politicians, students, youths, and villagers epitomise a dynamic people’s movement for biodiversity conservation.
Nature’s Beckon completed 40 years of this journey in June, 2022. This incredible journey of Nature’s Beckon has unknowingly set a precedent of biodiversity conservation for rest of India with its successful trail across one of the richest biodiversity zones of the world. This journey of Nature’s Beckon which began with the youthful energy and vision of Soumyadeep Datta, while he was a young naturalist, have grown to its present stature because of the continuous support and participation of youths from different parts of Assam in this movement all throughout its journey since its beginning in Dhubri, Assam. This conservation movement is a humanitarian movement of Assam and is one of the most successfully led non-violent youth movements of Northeast India. The youths of Assam have proved the positive strength and vitality of their minds with this successful movement. This youth movement for biodiversity conservation was strengthened by Nature’s Beckon’s environment awareness & nature-conservation based education programs which has been carried forward by the organisation since its inception. These educational campaigns have touched countless individuals, organisations, schools, colleges, varsities, villagers, forest fringe communities, and youths while it changed many minds over these years. It has strengthened the biodiversity conservation movement in Assam with a continuous growth of sensitisation and education of people regarding the importance of nature conservation. Moreover, the simultaneous drive of Nature’s Beckon for the progress of prakriti sahitya has enhanced the impact of these educational programs by making effective educational materials like books, posters, brochures, etc available for the local people in vernacular languages of Assam.
I
Nature’s Beckon completed 40 years of this journey in June, 2022. This incredible journey of Nature’s Beckon has unknowingly set a precedent of biodiversity conservation for rest of India with its successful trail across one of the richest biodiversity zones of the world. This journey of Nature’s Beckon which began with the youthful energy and vision of Soumyadeep Datta, while he was a young naturalist, have grown to its present stature because of the continuous support and participation of youths from different parts of Assam in this movement all throughout its journey since its beginning in Dhubri, Assam. This conservation movement is a humanitarian movement of Assam and is one of the most successfully led non-violent youth movements of Northeast India. The youths of Assam have proved the positive strength and vitality of their minds with this successful movement. This youth movement for biodiversity conservation was strengthened by Nature’s Beckon’s environment awareness & nature-conservation based education programs which has been carried forward by the organisation since its inception. These educational campaigns have touched countless individuals, organisations, schools, colleges, varsities, villagers, forest fringe communities, and youths while it changed many minds over these years. It has strengthened the biodiversity conservation movement in Assam with a continuous growth of sensitisation and education of people regarding the importance of nature conservation. Moreover, the simultaneous drive of Nature’s Beckon for the progress of prakriti sahitya has enhanced the impact of these educational programs by making effective educational materials like books, posters, brochures, etc available for the local people in vernacular languages of Assam.
In its latest drive to bolster the base of nature – conservation education amongst the students, youths and people of Assam, Nature’s Beckon launched a first of its kind mind movement for biodiversity conservation titled, ‘Ahum Basudhame Krite Mangaljanak’ on 4th June, 2022 marking the completion of 40 years of the Nature’s Beckon. This program awakens a new pledge, a new thought of self-empowerment and commitment to biodiversity conservation for the students and youths of Assam; it involved lakhs of school students across Assam, from Sadiya to Dhubri with its statewide launching in 2022. Over more than 100 schools from different districts of Assam enrolled in the first phase of this program and participated in the special launching with the oath, ‘ Ahum Basudhame Krite Mangaljanak’ (Moi prithivir babeiy mangaljanak) which translate as ‘I am beneficial/ prosperous for the Earth’. The oath comprises of the following five resolutions:
1. I pledge to remain committed to protect and preserve the forests, wildlife, and environment of India throughout my life.
2. Nature is our mother, Bharat is our ‘Janmabhumi’ and Assam is our ‘ Karmabhumi’. The security, integrity, peace, and prosperity of our motherland is our goal. I am marching ahead towards this goal.
3. I pledge to consistently walk on the path of my progress and development. I will remain truthful, and will refrain from consumption of intoxicant substances.
4. I pledge to protect the plants, trees, and wildlife living in my surroundings. I will remain mindful to never cause harm to myself and anyone else through my actions.
5. I pledge to remain respectful towards my school, my Gurus, my teachers, my mentors, and everyone who helps me in my education and progress.
This is a historic event for the nature conservation movement of India, this is first time that school students in such large numbers have come forward to participate in any nature conservation initiative in our country with such enthusiasm. This is perhaps the first time that the thoughts and philosophy of biodiversity conservation is been led by a mind movement in India. This mind movement initiated with the oath of ‘Ahum Basudhame Krite mangaljanak’ (‘I am beneficial for the Earth’) is one of the most thought-provoking environment programs ever launched in Assam. This meaningful oath connects the participating students with a new journey for nature conservation with the practice of mind-training; wherein they commit to practice compassion, perseverance, diligence to contribute effectively towards positive development of self, and the protection of forests, natural resources of the country thus pave the way ahead for peace and progress of the country. This program inspires the future leaders of the country to become compassionate individuals, responsible citizens, happier communities, and thus build the foundation of a peaceful world ahead.
The graphic symbol of the program is represented with a five leaved branch of Banyan tree perched in a divine earthen pitcher- the symbol of growth and fertility, held upon a blooming lotus flower. These five Banyan leaves signify the five golden vows of ancient India, and the lotus flower symbolises wisdom and enlightenment. This initiative of Nature’s Beckon to bring a mind and heart training through nature conservation beautifully reconnect us with the ancient Indian tradition of ahimsa, karuna and maiytreyee which once swept the entire world with its truth and radiance. Many schools whole heartedly participated in this movement, a yearlong lecture series spread the message of ‘Ahum Basudhame Krite Mangaljanak’ amongst the school students all across Assam from 2022, many colleges collaborated with Nature’s Beckon by supporting this movement with their infrastructure and helped bring the school students from remote areas of Assam to participate in these lectures.
In 2024, Nature’s Beckon dedicated a second phase of the movement to sensitise and involve the students in different colleges, and universities of Assam with an awareness cum educational program titled “Bharatar Amritkal Joibo Boichitra Sanrakshan Chetana aru Vidyarthi Jagaran Yatra”. A special booklet named after this campaign was published in Assamese language and widely distributed amongst students to strengthen the campaign with a greater reach out. This mind movement is also connecting the students with nature-based training modules like forest visits, summer camps, workshops & discussions, conservation trainings for wild birds’ conservation, sessions on prakriti sahitya, essay competitions, information dissemination through educational materials, etc. These activities for the capacity building of the young minds are directed to implant a purposeful direction for young India. Nature’s Beckon envisions to guide the young minds towards empowered environment leadership in future through this program.
The next 10 years from 2022 will see a greater involvement of more people, mostly Indian youth in dynamic programs to connect and contribute to the cause of biodiversity conservation and environment protection in Assam and NE India, thus propelling the future generations towards a meaningful bond with Nature and this planet. This purposeful 10 years is in celebration of the 50th year of the ‘Nature’s Beckon movement’, to be completed in 2032.
The ‘Ahum Basudhame Krite Mangaljanak’ mind movement is spreading farther in new areas of eastern India. In a recent development on 12th June 2025, the Eastern Dooars Tourism Development Association has collaborated with Nature’s Beckon to launch this mind movement among school students in Madarihat and Kalchini, situated in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal with ‘Ami Prithivir Janye Mangaljanak’ campaign in Bengali language. India must wake up to this rising mind movement which is illuminating eastern India by instilling renewed hope and purpose amongst the young generations for biodiversity conservation and self-realisation. Every Indian must come forward to share the responsibility of guiding the young Indians on this path of peace and happiness. It is a collective responsibility of everyone to empower our future generations with positivity and purpose. Nature’s Beckon leads Assam towards peace and progress with this new awakening. Let the nation rise to this new awakening in the East.
Ahum Basudhame Krite Mangaljanak
Moi Prithivir Babeiy Mangaljanak
Ami Prithivir Janye Mangaljanak