Sometimes kids freak you out. It came as a rude shock when my 6-year-old rolled down the car window to throw the just devoured chocolate wrapper out. Spotting my horrified look, she quickly said, “Don’t worry Mamma, everyone does this, even the teachers in our school!”Did I have an answer? No I didn’t. Teachers are supposed to be always right.
Late at night when I was pondering about it, I remembered the 19th century French traveler, Victor Jacquemont, who wrote about Kashmir being an ugly picture in a magnificent frame. Was he right? The sense of paradise being bestowed upon the wrong people prevailed inside me. Is the erstwhile paradise burgeoning into a rubbish heap? As long as our lawns are pretty, ‘I give a damn’ attitude being commonplace with us - aren’t we using an out-of-sight out-of-mind policy? Are we, as individuals and community, making every effort to turn this place into an eye-sore? These questions tormented me. Once a picturesque place, known for its crystal-clear waters, lofty mountains and lush forests, Kashmir seems to be turning into a big garbage dump and unfortunately we have no one to blame but ourselves.
“But, of course it is the duty of the city Municipal Corporation to collect garbage and keeping the streets clean,” said one of my highly-educated doctor friends during a tete-a-tete. As a society known for shifting responsibility and playing blame-games, it was no wonder when she started hurling abuses at the present Government, especially the Chief Minister for all the garbage mess in our beautiful ‘Jannat’ (paradise; her words, not mine). It was same as saying that the pencil was responsible for my bad test scores!
Circumventing responsibility and blaming others for individual failings is tempting. But that temptation carries a serious price, especially when such comments dismantle us of our individual responsibilities. We leap at the opportunity to castigate Government for the failings of individuals or groups which offers a sense of release and exculpation. But those of us, who embrace the notions of character and accountability, would say that a person himself (or herself) is responsible for his (her) actions. If an individual or community tends to make our heaven an environmental wreck, then I would point to defects in our character and hold us for these actions. Having said that, I am not exonerating the Government for its lackadaisical attitude, but the onus, I believe, lies on the individual first.
So when will the tipping point come for greater personal responsibility in our society’s engagement with environmental abuse? Certainly, not by mere talking and writing on the subject. We have to find a remedy. Environmental civilization, not short of enlightenment, is becoming increasingly important in our lives. As our cities become more congested and busy, acquainting ourselves with the impact and influence each of us have on our surroundings, becomes more and more compelling. Equally important, however, is the perspicacity of how we can contribute to protecting the environment around us and bequeath something of value to future generations.We cannot be extenuated for our unkempt places and make light of the situation we are in today. Our standards of hygiene and cleanliness need to change. Even if the governmental authorities do not promulgate restrictions, there is no need to establish a poor environmental milieu. I do not believe that punishments should be delivered to everyone; instead individuals perpetrating the offense should be brought to book. It’s high time our society learns to take responsibility for the trash culture.Litter is everyone’s problem and there is never an excuse!(Author is Assistant Professor, Deptt of Microbiology, SKIMS Medical College, Bemina Srinagar. She can be reached at rubynask@gmail.com)
Late at night when I was pondering about it, I remembered the 19th century French traveler, Victor Jacquemont, who wrote about Kashmir being an ugly picture in a magnificent frame. Was he right? The sense of paradise being bestowed upon the wrong people prevailed inside me. Is the erstwhile paradise burgeoning into a rubbish heap? As long as our lawns are pretty, ‘I give a damn’ attitude being commonplace with us - aren’t we using an out-of-sight out-of-mind policy? Are we, as individuals and community, making every effort to turn this place into an eye-sore? These questions tormented me. Once a picturesque place, known for its crystal-clear waters, lofty mountains and lush forests, Kashmir seems to be turning into a big garbage dump and unfortunately we have no one to blame but ourselves.
“But, of course it is the duty of the city Municipal Corporation to collect garbage and keeping the streets clean,” said one of my highly-educated doctor friends during a tete-a-tete. As a society known for shifting responsibility and playing blame-games, it was no wonder when she started hurling abuses at the present Government, especially the Chief Minister for all the garbage mess in our beautiful ‘Jannat’ (paradise; her words, not mine). It was same as saying that the pencil was responsible for my bad test scores!
Circumventing responsibility and blaming others for individual failings is tempting. But that temptation carries a serious price, especially when such comments dismantle us of our individual responsibilities. We leap at the opportunity to castigate Government for the failings of individuals or groups which offers a sense of release and exculpation. But those of us, who embrace the notions of character and accountability, would say that a person himself (or herself) is responsible for his (her) actions. If an individual or community tends to make our heaven an environmental wreck, then I would point to defects in our character and hold us for these actions. Having said that, I am not exonerating the Government for its lackadaisical attitude, but the onus, I believe, lies on the individual first.
So when will the tipping point come for greater personal responsibility in our society’s engagement with environmental abuse? Certainly, not by mere talking and writing on the subject. We have to find a remedy. Environmental civilization, not short of enlightenment, is becoming increasingly important in our lives. As our cities become more congested and busy, acquainting ourselves with the impact and influence each of us have on our surroundings, becomes more and more compelling. Equally important, however, is the perspicacity of how we can contribute to protecting the environment around us and bequeath something of value to future generations.We cannot be extenuated for our unkempt places and make light of the situation we are in today. Our standards of hygiene and cleanliness need to change. Even if the governmental authorities do not promulgate restrictions, there is no need to establish a poor environmental milieu. I do not believe that punishments should be delivered to everyone; instead individuals perpetrating the offense should be brought to book. It’s high time our society learns to take responsibility for the trash culture.Litter is everyone’s problem and there is never an excuse!(Author is Assistant Professor, Deptt of Microbiology, SKIMS Medical College, Bemina Srinagar. She can be reached at rubynask@gmail.com)
yeah...
ReplyDeletejust because everyone out there does it we too tend to do it even if we dont wish to...
there are a lot of such things that we need to imbibe from forign culture