Birds, beasts and Us

The goings on nature would surely continue to go on until eternity exactly as they have happened from the times as far back as one stretches one’s imagination, that time span being as near as 4,500 crore years, which is the chemically estimated age of Earth Planet, a mere spec in the Universe comprising countless stars and galaxies, only one of which we are aware of. Seasons happen exactly as they have been happening year on year. Birds travel long distances to the same destinations both in search of food and also for laying eggs to preserve their progeny. Beasts, the denizens of forests live in the habitats most suited to their needs, not pursuing the factor of greed, an exclusive human failing. Same is true of marine fauna in their abundant variety mostly to be found in specific parts of the vast oceans and seas. In total contrast, the human species and nature are getting disconnected to an annoying extent.

The other enduring feature of nature is the symbiosis between plant species and the soil on which they sustain. But for uncalled for intervention by human beings, every plant propagate itself in a way most suited to its respective climatic and soil conditions. Genetic modification of various plants is one such intervention which doesn’t amount to wise judgement of dealing with nature.

Evolution, the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations is admittedly a slow and prolonged process. In total contrast, change in the profile of society, which was at a slow pace in times gone by, before advancing technology began to impact that profile, is galloping at a fast pace. The old expression ‘East is East, West is West, the Twain shall never Meet’ no longer holds water. The twain are not only meeting but also impacting mutually. Even different regions of India, particularly the urban spaces, have begun to close the gaps in their differences on many counts. The cities are nowadays glorified as cosmopolitan, the feature not exactly to the liking of old timers of respective cities, such as Mysuru. The factor of migration is the order of the day, with consequences that one cannot miss in Bengaluru.

At a special lecture delivered in Mysuru last week, Anna Iwasaki from Japan rightly observed that owing to the rapid migration of people in search of greener pastures, local culture and traditions witness a decline. Residents of Mysuru are getting a taste of the truth in his message. This doesn’t happen in the world of beautiful people, some call them animals. Birds, beasts, marine fauna and plants don’t migrate unlike us.