One With Nature: Learning from Indigenous Wisdom

The recent appointment of miss Valentina Elangbam as the Green Ambassador of Manipur is a welcome note support for nature. Congratulations to honourable Chief Minister (N. Biren Singh) for acknowledging a gem in the person of Valentina. Learning from indigenous wisdom is a path much needed to preserve mother earth. This would entail common aim and cooperation of all. Nature never lies to us. We will receive back what we have done to nature.

Being one with nature
The inconsolable sob sight of Valentina when the two Gulf Mohars she planted were fell is point for reflection and action. Without an iota of doubt, we can say that she has a deeper relation with nature (here trees) than many of us do. She is able to feel pain when the two trees she had planted when she was in class 1 were fell. Do you ever think of the one who has planted the trees of the forests? Are we busy in lecturing or mere projects? The scanty rainfall we receive is a sure sign of imbalance in nature created by deforestation. Can Governments or NGOs give us rain? Or should we maintain ecological equilibrium? The ball is in our court.

Learning from indigenous wisdom
Many of the indigenous wisdom are fast fading and far from being recorded for reference and research. I am sure each community has a sea of indigenous wisdom to share. Let me table you an indigenous wisdom of the Kukis before they became Christians. That was a time when the mountains were considered almost like the abodes of God (gods) because from the mountains they got wood to build their houses, firewood to cook food and warm their bodies, herbs to feed on, water to drink, animal and fish as protein. Whenever a man was to fell a tree, he would ask permission from the tree in these words, “Oh tree, I wish to cut you not out of any sadistic motive. I need you to support my house as pillars or trusses. Forgive me if I hurt you.” Only then he would fell trees. That was a supreme form of respect to trees although humans can’t communicate to them. All the same, trees were respected for what they were. Indigenous Kukis would seek permission from the unseen gods before they use a new stream. Everything on earth was considered sacred and owned by somebody. But today, there is hardly any respect to trees, streams or to owneship. On the contrary, we merely draw, write about and talk about trees, streams, rivers, etc. Respect for mother nature needs to be inculcated into our minds.

The indigenous people, though unlettered did know the importance of trees around them. They communicated this importance by declaring some forests as uyok, or as inhabited by a particular god so as to discourage humans from felling trees. These are not superstitions but indigenous wisdom of our forefathers which are written about and discussed in five-star hotels and seminar halls today. If you deeply study the so called ‘superstitions’ of the indigenous people, you will find a lesson connected to preservation of mother nature. You can start your reflection and research now.

Learning from trees
Although trees cannot speak to us directly, they do teach us life-building lessons. We cut them but they replete again. This is like, ‘You hurt me but I forgive you by once again giving you new buds, leaves, branches.’ Trees are our green lungs. They directly cooperate with God who has designed us to inhale oxygen and has appointed trees to produce the same. This should be ‘the’ closest relation humans can have on earth. This is a divine design. Anything to perturb this divine plan may be adversely fatal. Their unseen roots preserve water to quench us for the whole year and hold mud from falling on us. Why not we humbly consult the older generation people’s wisdom about nature and its ways?

Indigenous way of preserving nature
In the past, people fell trees for their daily sustenance. Now, rich people are buying forests and cutting trees for money. This is a crime against nature. The effect is not only to those who selfishly fell trees but to all of us. The Government needs more practical measures to curb mass felling of trees. One of the ways to preserve nature is to encourage each community’s indigenous way of preserving mother nature. This would go a long way rather than pay-and-plant-trees method or plant-a-sapling-for-photo method. The existing competent authority could support indigenous wisdom of preserving trees and mother earth. Build on what is already existing rather than import alien ideas inconvenient for folks. If we promote indigenous crafts, dress, culture, custom, sport, why not encourage indigenous way of preserving trees (nature)? This is my take for the day. I am happy you are thinking of planting a tree today.

Fr Paul Lelen Haokip