It was the third day of 21-day-long ‘lock-down’ proclaimed and executed by the government throughout the country for containment of Covid-19. I kept myself completely quarantined within the four walls of my residence. After feeling myself blinded by the electrical light inside my room, I yearned to have exposure to the sunshine. I opened the door and had a glance at the open disposition of nature. I was elated at the soothing brightness of daylight. But the most stunning experience I had was the open-hearted symphony created by the birds I saw within my horizon. Today, birds are flapping their wings and enjoying fun and frolics more freely and fearlessly than ever. Today, they seem to be free from fear and restrains of any kind. Other days they could not do so in spite of being born-free in their home, the earth. Today, the voice of the birds and some animals could be clearly heard because other days their cries remained sabotaged by the hue and cry of the madding crowds. I started brooding on the simple fact that today the innocent animals and birds have understood that the most ferocious animals on this earth are in confinement within their dwelling shelters.
Interestingly, the most ferocious animals on earth are human beings as denoted by the notice in front of a cage in a zoo at Lusaka, Zambia and as referred to by the famous writer Nani Palkiwala in his write-up “The Ailing Planet-the Green Movement’s Role”. The cage in that zoo superscribed by a label bearing the expression “The world’s most dangerous animal” was empty and there was a mirror inside. Any eager visitor to see the world’s most dangerous animal could see his/her own image in the mirror.
The sudden shift in the entire scenario started stimulating my thoughts. Silence, silence and silence in the human world! Is the silence ominous? Or something good for mankind is getting hatched? Yes, of course, it’s for something good. It is an exotic silence making a clarion call for change of human perspectives. The silence demands an introspection by human beings, away from the regular hue and cry. This time demands silence of the human world, it presents before mankind a platform for thoughts and intuition.
Today, it’s the moment to look back at our own activities in the beautiful lap of serene Nature. Are we not responsible for the present ailing health of our planet? Are we not responsible for the gradual decline in bio-diversity? Are not responsible for the ozone layer depletion and consequent global warming? Are we not over-eating all the resources of the earth? Flora and fauna are getting reduced day by day. Are we not responsible for it? Thousands of living species are extinct. The few species of flora and fauna still existing are in sheer jeopardy.
Today, when we are in captivity within four walls, Nature heaves a sigh of respite. And that is why, the symphony of birds, cries of animals, gentle touch of breezy winds, soothing shadows of trees and plants could be enjoyed today. Nature looks lively and vibrant today because of our being confined, due to quarantine. After our anticipated victory over diabolic Covid-19, we shall look at the innocent nature with a sense of empathy and be determined to save the bio-diversity of the earth and protect the earth from all human molestations with due respect for the principle of sustainable development. Our kind, sympathetic and benevolent deals should inspire the earth always to be lively and create an atmosphere of fearlessness on this earth, so that the birds always sing for us, greeneries always blossom for us and the light, air and water remain unpolluted. Let no monster like Covid-19 take birth again to render us quarantined.
Gopal Talukdar