-Novanita Sharma
It has been more than a month from October 2025 since I returned from my maiden visit to the exquisite Himalayan Forest of Bengal Duars, known to all as Buxa Tiger Reserve, but the memories and experiences from this visit continues to enthral the heart and mind of the eternal forest lover in
me. And, as I look back at this rich unforgettable experience, I realise that it was not just the breathtaking Duars landscape and the splendidly rich wilderness of this forest area alone which created this soul stirring forest experience for the ones like me, it is greatly attributed to the way this tour was conducted by Nature’s Beckon. It was a field based educational tour organised by Nature’s Beckon for a group of students pursuing their graduation and post-graduation studies in the Botany department of B. Borooah College (Autonomous), Guwahati. The entire group of students seems to have undergone an overhaul in their approach towards forests, and the philosophy of biodiversity conservation after completing this tour. This educational tour was much more than an opportunity to learn and gain knowledge for its participants, on the contrary, it was an
incomparable experience that connected everyone with the immensity and the limitless scope of learning that hides in the oldest and the greatest university on this planet, the university of Mother Nature. From science, history, spirituality, compassion, gratitude, human bonding to field based functional learnings, this university teaches everything that we seek to learn from it. But most importantly, it exclusively connects us with certain rare values of life and the universe which are not found in any other educational set up of this world.
An interesting facet about such learning experiences is to realise the significance of the philosophy that embraces all in this unstructured, yet guided learning process where the Guru, the leader, or the philosopher leads everyone towards empowered curiosity, creativity, discovery, self-realisations, and a rare bonding with Nature which arises only amidst an active and mindful interaction with Mother Nature. Nature’s Beckon’s Forest based educational model based on the concept of ‘nature camp’ is exceptional in this regard. , Nature’s Beckon has successfully led a unique model of forest based education in eastern India since 1982 through the thoughtfully carved, and effectively implemented
model of ‘nature camp’ among different groups of students, youths, and other people to impart trainings and learning experiences of nature conservation, biodiversity conservation, flora and fauna studies, community interactions along with holistic education of life skills, human values, social responsibility, leadership training, motivational education, Indian philosophy, and so on. This educational model has been driven by the beauty and strength of the Indian philosophy of nature-conservation that found its most vibrant proponents in Assam because of the fearless and compassionate leadership of environment activist Sri. Soumyadeep Datta, who gave a completely new direction to the biodiversity conservation movement in eastern India since his early years when he launched Nature’s Beckon. Among its rich contributions to biodiversity conservation over the past four decades since 1980s, Nature’s Beckon has carved a niche with its innovative forest based educational model which has lit many hearts, have ignited many minds through its unique field based pedagogical ways like ‘nature camp’ that provides a retreat, therapy, and purpose
to everyone who participates in it.
Many great Indian minds, our Gurus, and philosophers like Mahamuni Gautam Buddha and Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore had professed and shown the world the efficacy and beauty of nature-based learning. The glory of Indian cultural heritage, Indian knowledge and wisdom is derived entirely from India’s age-old traditional nature – based educational system which sadly is been ousted in India by other models in the modern era. In such a scenario, the Nature’s Beckon led innovative forest based educational models like ‘nature camps’ provide a chance to revamp forest-based education in India, and possibly bring back our young generations to identify with the strength, and potential of the greatest university of all time, the university of Mother Nature.