- Novanita Sharma
मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः।
यत्क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधीः काममोहितम्॥’
Mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhā tvamagamaḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ
yat krauñcamithunādekam avadhīḥ kāmamohitam
Every Indian relates to this first shloka composed by the great Indian sage Maharishi Valmiki which means “You will find no rest for the long years of eternity for you killed a bird in love and unsuspecting”, this verse initiated the Adi kavya (world’s first written literature) which is none else but the revered Ramayana, the epic tale of Rama. The stories of Ramayana were popular oral literature in India for many years before it found its written form, this was written for first by the Adi Kavi Maharishi Valmiki who uttered this shloka on being outraged with grief that engulfed him at the banks of Tamasa River upon witnessing the tragic killing of the male Crane bird of a happy mating Crane pair by the arrow of a vyadha (hunter). Moved by the grieving female Crane bird who desperately shouted in agony and met death in the sorrow of its deceased mate, Maharishi Valmiki cried out the first verse condemning the killing of the unsuspecting Crane bird by the hunter. This tale about Maharishi Valmiki’s visit to the Tamasa River with his disciple Bharadwaj for his daily ablutions and his encounter with the unfortunate killing of the mating Crane bird by a hunter and the subsequent emergence of the first shloka by Maharishi Valmiki is an integral part of India’s traditional oral literature for ages. This incident got engraved with the beginning of literature in Indian civilization, Maharishi Valmiki set to compose the entire Ramayana in the same meter as his first shloka which arose spontaneously out of his insightful rage caused by the killing of the Crane bird by the hunter during the mating time of a Crane pair. This verse set the beginning of literature for entire world. While all Indians are aware of the contributions of Maharishi Valmiki to literature, spirituality, and religion; many significant contributions of Maharishi Valmiki especially related to his first shloka has remained distant from scholarly study for all these years. Moreover, the impact of this shloka was hardly analysed beyond the fields of religion and literature. This first verse of Maharishi Valmiki had a deep-seated cultural influence in Indian civilization which calls for further studies in the modern times. Sri. Soumyadeep Datta, the renowned environmentalist and writer from Assam have enriched a deeper understanding of Maharishi Valmiki’s first shloka by unravelling a completely new philosophical essence of his teaching embedded in this verse, for the first time since the composition of this sholka by the great sage in the ancient times of our country.
Sri. Soumyadeep Datta writes about the unmistakable teaching of Maharishi Valmiki on birds’ conservation, gifted to the entire human world through his first shloka, Sri. Datta has eloquently stated his findings in his first article in Assamese language, related to this study titled “Maharishi Valmiki asil prithivir pratham sorai sanrakshak aru pratham prakriti sahityik”, published in ‘The Seed’, Nature’s Beckon’s e-magazine on 12th June 2024. He put forth an entirely new aspect of Maharishi Valmiki’s first shloka as he writes “Mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhā tvamagamaḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥyat krauñcamithunādekam avadhīḥ kāmamohitam is world’s most ancient teaching related to awareness for protection and conservation of wild birds and at the same time this shloka is the first narrative of nature writing literature in the world, that means Maharishi Valmiki was world’s first birds’ conservationist and the pioneer of nature writing literature in the world.” Sri. Datta elaborates on his findings as he writes “this revered shloka conveys the significant teaching of wild birds’ conservation which is integral to the of Indian consciousness of nature conservation. The hunting of birds by vyadha (hunters) during those days was common, vyadha’s occupation was to hunt wild birds and other wild animals but this shloka pinpoints the injustice and unethical exploitation involved in killing of wild birds and wild animals during their natural mating season. Maharishi Valmiki conveyed this teaching to the entire vyadha community as well as the entire human world through his shloka – killing of wild birds’ and wild animals during their mating time or during the seasonal mating period is an unwholesome act which everyone should refrain from doing…..Maharishi Valmiki was the first person to raise voice against the killing of wild birds in the world.”
Sri. Soumyadeep Datta is perhaps the first person to connect everyone with this fundamental ancient teaching of birds’ conservation carried to us by Maharishi Valmiki thousands of years ago. The philosophy of nature conservation is basically an ancient Indian philosophy, we find vibrant examples of this in the myriad religious and cultural practices across the diverse ethnic fabric of India which flourished in the glow of the Sanatana philosophy of Indian civilization. The doctrines of nature conservation science and environment studies of the modern world are indebted to the ancient Indian scientists, scholars, philosophers, and teachers for their repository of knowledge and wisdom which guided human world with teachings, philosophies, and scientific knowledge to work for nature conservation, biodiversity conservation, water conservation, and environment protection since the ancient days of the Indian civilization. In India, we revere these ancient teachers as great Rishi Munis, and Adi Gurus of Bharat. India prospered with plethora of natural bounty since time immemorial, this land of abundance faced greatest threats to its civilization and its natural resources in the hands of the invaders who plundered our forests, waters, mountains, and rich natural ecosystems for hundreds of years before leaving our country and its people struggling with poverty, hunger, and self-doubt. The English colonisers have given the greatest blow to the Indian forests and wildlife apart from Indian education system before leaving the Indian shores. They have done everything to hinder us from rising to the real glory of Indian civilization, one very subtle tactic applied by their thinkers and which has been harped on for all these years since the independence of India is the false notion of considering nature conservation as a European concept in India by all conservationists and environment workers. We completely discarded the Indian origin of the nature-conservation philosophy, and never reminded ourselves of the ancient teachings related to biodiversity conservation found in the scriptures, and other traditional literatures of India. We followed the modern scholars with unquestionable trust and blind believe, we failed to look deeper into the ancient literatures of our country which bear scientific and rich philosophical knowledge amidst its apparent religious and spiritual teachings. This has been an impediment in not only implementing an ideal conservation policy across India but also have been one of contributing factors in blindfolding our young generations with a defective and detrimental educational model which disconnects Indian youngsters from the rich heritage of Indian knowledge system. We are failing to empower the minds of our youth and students with the radiance of India’s rich traditional knowledge which formed the base of many scientific and philosophic movements of the world since the ancient times.
Sri. Soumyadeep Datta has started a new mind movement for wild birds’ conservation in Assam with the launching of ‘Maharishi Valmiki Birds Conservation Pakhya 2024’, which was celebrated with great enthusiasm across different districts of Assam amongst students, teachers, schools, colleges, other educational institutions, cultural and social organisations from 1st November -15th November 2024. This campaign was launched as an integral part of Nature’s Beckon’s All Assam Wild Birds Preservation Campaign, a long-standing wild birds conservation program which has been successfully run by Nature’s Beckon since 1992. The organisation has led Assam on the path of holistic wild birds’ conservation since its beginning in 1982, the sensitisation of the common people regarding conservation of wild birds across the Assamese society, the complete ban on selling and killing of wild birds, and permanent protection of many significant natural habitats of wild birds in Assam reflects the social change that happened over the period of 40 years because of the continuous efforts of Nature’s Beckon to protect the wild birds and their habitats in Assam. The celebration of India’s first Maharishi Valmiki Birds Conservation Pakhya by the people of Assam heralds a new direction for wild birds’ conservation and biodiversity conservation for the entire country. The maiden celebration of this unique ‘pakhya’ set a new awakening among the young minds regarding the contribution of Indian heritage to the advent of the modern concepts and practices of nature conservation and environment protection in the world. Maharishi Valmiki’s contribution to wild birds conservation had remained far from our awareness for all these years, despite our inseparable connection with his first shloka and the tale of dying Crane bird that triggered this shloka of the great Adi Kavi who enriched not only Indian civilization but had shown the light of nature conservation consciousness to the rest of the world, much before the world could realise the need to embrace the concepts of nature conservation and wild birds conservation in the modern times of destruction and mayhem.
The Maharishi Valmiki Birds Conservation Pakhya touched hundreds of people across different districts of Assam from Dhubri to Sadiya within the first 15 days of November in 2024 since the formal launch of this program on 1st November 2024. This included a grand celebration of this ‘pakhya’ at Guwahati, Assam on 14th November 2024 which was graced by Dr. Ranoj Pegu, the honourable Minister of Education of Assam along with many luminaries representing the civil society of Assam. The celebration honoured the contributions of Maharishi Valmiki, the world’s first bird’s conservationist apart from highlighting the importance of Sri. Soumyadeep Datta’s revolutionary study on the ancient literature of Maharishi Valmiki which led India’s first Maharishi Valmiki Birds Conservation Pakhya 2024 celebrations in Assam. This celebration was marked by an overwhelming presence of students, teachers, nature conservation activists, writers, artists, educationists, social workers, journalists, and people from various walks of the society. A seminar on ‘Conservation of wild birds and their habitats’ engaged the participants in an intellectual discourse on various aspects of wild birds’ conservation in Assam and the entire world.
The august gathering for
Maharishi Valmiki Birds Conservation Pakhya celebration on 14th
November 2024 at Guwahati was honoured with the privilege to confer a felicitation
to Dr. Jaideep Barua, Director – Assam Science Technology & environment
council from Nature’s Beckon. Sri. Soumyadeep Datta on behalf of Nature’s
Beckon presented a humble token of appreciation and respect to Dr. Jaideep
Barua for his untiring, and continuous contribution to the growth and progress
of environment education, environment and biodiversity studies, science
education, and biodiversity conservation in Assam for decades since the
beginning of his journey with ASTEC in 1994. Dr. Jaideep Baruah has richly
contributed to the Nature’s Beckon led biodiversity conservation movement of
Assam with his wholehearted support and participation, he has significantly
enriched the growth of nature writing literature and conservation education in
Assam through his generous support and scientific acumen. He is a beacon of
hope for the environment protection and biodiversity conservation movements of
Assam. Sri. Soumyadeep Datta presented a citation, accompanied by a seleng
sador, and a xorai on behalf of Nature’s Beckon to Dr. Jaideep Barua as a mark
of deep respect and appreciation for his remarkable journey.
Dr. Jaideep Barua spoke on the importance of arousing love for our feathered friends amongst the common people and young generations of Assam through Birds conservation programs like the ‘Maharishi Valmiki Birds Conservation Pakhya’. He expressed hope of seeing more people to connect with the beautiful world of wild birds and thus get motivated to work for the conservation of wild birds and their habitats. Dr. Barua said ‘Assam is a wonderland of birds, the state is thronged with numerous wetlands, and other suitable natural habitats for wild birds. These diversities of wild birds add to the beauty of Assam. We must conserve these wild birds through scientific conservation measures”. Dr. Jaideep Barua expressed his gratitude to Nature’s Beckon for recognising his efforts on behalf of ASTEC to support the nature conservation movement of Assam. He shared his fond memories of long association with Sri. Soumyadeep Datta and Nature’s Beckon during his tenure at ASTEC since 1994.
Dr. Ranoj Pegu, the honorable minister expressed the insights and concerns of a conservationist through his thought provoking and inspiring speech. He connected beautifully with the diverse age groups of the audience comprising of students, youth, parents, teachers, and others amongst all. He put forth the universal philosophy of nature conservation amongst all, that urges everyone to introspect and act on our responsibility towards our family, community, country, and Earth. He drew everyone’s attention to the inherent reality of interconnectedness between us and the natural world, and inspired the listeners to connect with the beautiful natural world surrounding us. He encouraged the young students and young generations to embrace the path of social responsibility, by getting involved in the surrounding environment of their school, locality, and beyond. He also spoke on the speciality and mystery of the avian world, he said “birds are the world’s greatest mystery, while we can imitate other animals; we can swim like fish, we can run like other animals we cannot fly like birds…”. Dr. Ranoj Pegu shared his love for birds through his eloquent speech, he stressed on the need to connect and learn about the wild birds, about the other wild animals, about our forests and the environment as the first step towards the conservation and protection of the immensely diverse natural world of our planet. He reiterated on the urgent need to connect and work for the conservation of wild birds and biodiversity of Earth; we the human beings do not own this planet; hence we must make room for all other living beings and the diverse natural world to co-exist with us. We have the moral responsibility to pass on this beautiful planet without damaging its fragile ecological balance and storehouse of biodiversity to the future generations. He appreciated the efforts and continuous work of Nature’s Beckon in reaching out to the people of Assam, and especially for connecting the young generations with the ethos and awareness of wild birds’ conservation and biodiversity conservation in Assam.
The Maharishi Valmiki Birds Conservation Pakhya 2024 found a conclusive direction with the declaration of 14th November as the ‘National Maharishi Valmiki Birds Conservation Day’ amidst applauding uproar for this new initiative to revive India’s rich traditional knowledge for meaningful contribution to biodiversity conservation, and youth empowerment in India. This is a new mind movement for social change through India’s age-old philosophy of nature conservation and environment protection. This wave of mental empowerment, especially among our young generations must spread all over India, this awakening in Assam must be carried forward across the entire nation connecting all citizens of India with the ‘National Maharishi Valmiki Birds Conservation Day’ to be celebrated on 14th November every year. This is a new direction in the nature conservation movement of India to resolutely assert the contributions of Indian sanatana philosophy and traditional scientific knowledge towards the growth of modern concepts of nature conservation around the world. Here is the time of redemption to reclaim India’s leadership in guiding the world with answers for making this planet a peaceful, and more compassionate home for all living beings, big and small.
