SHAHID MAJEED MIR
The development track followed by Humanity after industrial revolution changed the narrative of its interrelationship with environment. This Interlinking is so essential for the existence human beings on earth. The historical records trace the relationship of goodwill and cooperative spirit in Man Environment complex. Primitive man was guided by instinct of Nature as the dictator directing activities of human beings. Immanuel Kant held the belief that “people of extreme climate are lazy and timid”. This notion in reality served the cause of Nature in maintaining its shape and rhythm. The natural ecological balance presents ever since in universe was preserved by our ancestors. However the mismatch of level between Nature and Technological capacity of man in later 18th century changed the earliest belief once far all. It innovated a new world order resting on belief of Possibility provider mechanism. This narrative impacted the relationship between man and environment by tilting it in favour of growth oriented strategy. Thenceforth the deterioration of environment on pretext of development is on its way. And the traditional forest herbs and medicinal produce was left in lurch due to advancement in science and technology. It as per critics led to serious health issues because of increasing resistance and cost affordability. This paves way to reorientation of focus on afforestation and significance of medicinal plants. Herein lies space for seminars and programmes to reestablish the glory of win win situation of man environment relationship.
The organization of various programmes at government and non government level is the manifestation of increasing awareness about advantages of plants in environment and human health. Social Forest department, a reputed department in north Kashmir kupwara organised many plantation drives to rehabilitate the degraded forest areas and raise the awareness of multidimensional benefits of plants by involving VPPCs ( Village Plantation Panchayat Committees. ) This programme was organised under the noble guidance of Director Social Forestry J&K Dr. Neelu Gera, IFS, Mehraj Ahmed Malik RD Kmr. and able leadership of Dr. Fayaz Ah. Bhat ( DFO social Forestry Kupwara) This drive was continue for the whole tenure of this egghead person. A large no of people gathered for the moment who led the race from the front to make the programme successful.The DFO Dr Fayaz Ahmad tried to inseminate the multi varied benefits of plants and also to curb the illegal summagling. All the locals eagerly participated to know about the medical application of plants. The drive was targeted at insemination of conservation spirit in the future leaders of society. It took a visit to the significance of auspicious varieties of trees and plants for the knowledge of common people living in their locality and the society.
This drive was oriented towards the herbs and medicinal plants and to make the forest evergreen with big plants. Some plants that the erudite person Dr Fayaz sb had planted their Conifer, Ulmus, Robinia, Plum and apricot. The significance of the above species has already been proved by the scientific community all over world. The added advantage of the traditional herbs is their minimum side effects on health of society and their role for conservation of environment. It was Rousseau , a French revolutionary miracle who targetted the mad race of science and pleaded the significance of Nature . The scientific scope isn’t antagonistic to wilderness but the unscientific and irrational decision making ability lead to loss of infamous wilderness from us. The applicability of the varieties is known to have measurable effect without any harm. This effort will improvise the medicinal usage and indirectly lead to revival of plantation, thus conservation of environment. The professors uncovered the advantages and the need of plantation for our society. The grace added by scientific instinct of Dr Fayaz DFO Kupwara was worthy of site seeing. In the wake of Plantation drive, the programme amplified scope of plantation to sustain environment. And the uncovering of attention towards traditional herbs by induction of imported varieties is worth mentioned. This drive was organized in tune with Shiekhul Alam Sheikh Nurududin (A R) belief of “ Ann Poshei Teli Yali Wan Poshei”. It inculcated the applicability of plants In the younger generation. The Kashmir valley is famous for some traditional herbs which need to be utilized to their use in medicines. It may open a new vista of opportunity for research among our scholars. Educational institutions stand on the sentinel of insemination of these habits in students. It will drove our carriage towards more applicability of the traditional produce of wild plants in cure of various diseases. The ancient physiologist went to extent of saying that “forests contain cure of more than 70 % of present diseases”. The special programme organised by Institution is a set precedent for whole society to adopt the novel method of ancient heritage in disease prevention and cure. This methodology has got nod of scientific community as well.
The drive remained successful with ample participation of the local people in Kupwara. The drive was held in presence of eminent guests and other dignitaries. This programme aimed at mood of the Dr Fayaz DFO social forestry Kupwara continued for his whole tenure. It is a point of mention that environmental pollution being all around us and the harmful impact of new medicines on health, there’s a need for organization of nip and tuck events. This may prove double edged sword with economic development and environmental sustainability. DFO Fayaz sb Kupwara took to reigns is on this behalf to prove its credentials of reputed department. These programmes brings awareness and uncovers hitherto hidden benefits to commoners. As is said “Father’s hindsight is son’s farsight “. The DFO Fayaz Kupwara tried his best to shape the mental faculty of people of Kupwara towards plantation. The onus lies on other institutions and Government Especially Environment Ministry to involve the more people in plantation drives for the preservation of medicinal plants and the conservation of environment.
Shahid Majeed Mir is an Author of the book “Untold Stories of Kashmir” and can be reached at mirshahid363@gmail.com
