IE : Three children visit state forests, return with a message : Nov 13,2007
Three children visit state forests, return with a message
NITYA KAUSHIK
NITYA KAUSHIK
THREE days in the core areas of the Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park has changed the lives of three children forever. When the Debi Goenka-run Conservation Action Trust (CAT) invited Madhav Subramanium (9), Sahir Doshi (14) and Kreena Desai (15) to work on a documentary Inside India’s Forests, it was just the impending adventure that thrilled them.
Soon, however, they learnt about the tribes who reside in the forests, the guards and their families and resources that the forest stores-and suddenly they saw a grave truth. “What will we do without the forests?,” says Kreena, with a look of concern crossing her face.
“I always knew that two of the city water resources -the Tulsi and Vihar lakes -pass through our forest. But I didn’t know that the forest supplied water to lakhs of people. They say the forest is the mother of rivers. In that case, we should preserve these forests,” she adds.
Kreena spent three days in the core regions of SGNP and was hit by the sounds and the smells of the forest. “We had built a log hut about 24-30 km inside the forest. Though there were no usual luxuries, it was really an amazing experience. The air was clean, the water was crystal clear and our food provided by the forest officials was basic and tasty. It was here we learnt that we should waste less and preserve more.”
In the documentary, Kreena interviews forest officials, Dr Munde, the forest veterinarian and journeys through the Tulsi and Vihar lakes discovering how water is processed and sent to homes.
Sahir and Madhav, who visited the Tadoba were also overwhelmed by the water sources in the forest. “We went for a walk with forest guards and officials and explored several water holes. I was amazed how the forest guards take care of the region – how they, their families and the villagers have found ways to live in synchronization with the forest and its inhabitants,” says Madhav.
The children said that contrary to the popular notion that the villagers pollute the forest, “they love the forest and whatever harm they cause is out of ignorance”.
Sahir and Madhav, who visited the Tadoba were also overwhelmed by the water sources in the forest. “We went for a walk with forest guards and officials and explored several water holes. I was amazed how the forest guards take care of the region – how they, their families and the villagers have found ways to live in synchronization with the forest and its inhabitants,” says Madhav.
The children said that contrary to the popular notion that the villagers pollute the forest, “they love the forest and whatever harm they cause is out of ignorance”.
They stressed that the villagers need to be relocated outside the village so that they feel a part of society and also so the forests are not ruined. Inside India’s Forests charts these three youngsters’ mission to awaken the people to key facts that the forests provide India’s water and wood therefore, should be saved. The film was made in a record time of three days.
nitya.kaushik@expressin dia.com
nitya.kaushik@expressin dia.com
Publication : IE; Section : MN; Pg : 3; Date : 13/11/2007