Plant a tree

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second best time is today." Chinese Proverb . . .
                     

Celebrating Van Mahotsav (July 1,2014 ;Tuesday).The great Indian festival of plantation

Today(July1,2014;Tuesday) ,we celebrated Van Mahotsav in Lucknow.The Chief Minister of U.P.  was the  chief guest. Many senior ministers , officials ,media persons and other dignitaries attended the event.On behalf of Forest Department I welcomed the chief guest and other guests.

My speech: 

Today is the first day of week long(July 1 to 7)celebration of Van Mahotsava. Today is the day to remember the importance of trees in our life. Today is the day to take a step forward in mitigating global warming and climate change. Trees give us oxygen. Trees raise the level of ground water. Trees conserve and preserve biodiversity, ecology and environment. Therefore today is the day when every citizen should resolve that she or he will plant at least one sapling in this year. In U.P this year the program for plantation of trees actually started on June 5, 2014 on the occasion of World Environment Day when the Chief Minister of UP and Jal Purush Shri. Rajendra Singh planted saplings in village Rausa, block Haseran in Kaunnauj. Till today 1,12,500 saplings have been planted in 450 acres in that village and the project has been completed. 

                   Also, today 82232 saplings are being planted in 530 locations of the state to mark the celebrations. In addition Forest department of U.P. has decided to do a large scale celebration on every day of this week in selected districts where plantations will be done in at least a 100 acres in the presence of a well known dignitary. These districts are Etawah, Mainpuri, Badayun, Kanpur Dehat, Lalitpur, Baharaich, Rampur and Sidharthnagar.

The Chief Minister has been continuously emphasizing on e-governance and use of Information and Technology. Inspired by his emphasis, Forest Department of UP has taken certain innovative steps in the area of application of Information and Technology. The three projects which are being dedicated to the public by the chief guest today are as below;

1. An on line portal on Wild life of UP.(upforestwildlife.org)
2. Forest e-library created on the website of UP Forest Department.
3. A short film on the state bird Sarus.

Weather it was plantation in1000 acres in Babina or eco restoration project in 1000 acres in Fischer Forest, Etawah, or notification of Tiger Reserve in Pilibhit, or creation of Lion Safari in Etawah, the Chief Minister ,through his soft spoken and persevering leadership has brought about a fundamental change in the working of Forest Department. He has inspired us to touch new heights, for this I express  gratitude to the Chief Minister on behalf of Forest department and extend a warm welcome to him. I also welcome honoured guests, officials and media persons. I have a hope that the celebration will go a long way in participation of people in large numbers ,in making the state of UP greener and cleaner.

Multiple Perspective Approaches to Biodiversity

Today(June 23,2014;Monday), I was the chief guest at an event organized by UNESCO , New Delhi , City Montessori School , Lucknow  and SEED India Ltd.It was the inaugural session of three days national teacher training  workshop on multiple perspective approaches to biodiversity.Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi, Director ,UNESCO , New Delhi was the guest of honour .Below is a summary of what I spoke:

                                    (2005-2014) has been the UN decade for education  for sustainable development(ESD).Sustainable development means a model of development  which conserves and preserves ecology,environment and biodiversity.In this context ,education for biodiversity becomes extremely important.Biodiversity is an idea whose time has come,and we can neglect its education only at our own peril. It is important to focus on Biodiversity because of several threats to it, as described below.

1. Habitat loss and fragmentation.
2. Over exploitation of natural resources.
3. Poaching.
4. Climate change and Global warming.
5. Pollution
6. Growth of human population
7. Hunting and illegal trade
8. I.A.S.( invasive alien species)
9. Lack of efficient protection to threatened species
10. Oil spills
11. Coastal/ agricultural development
12. Land diversion
13. Encroachment
14. Fuel wood removal
15. Grazing
16. Forest fires
17. Illicit felling

Climate change and global warming result in destruction of biodiversity and also bring in the risk of disaster,therefore along with education on biodiversity we also need to impart education on climate change, global warming and education on disaster risk reduction(DRR)

Many types of diversity exist in nature which are inter-related.

1. Biodiversity
2. Geo diversity
3. Cultural diversity
4. Linguistic diversity
5. Gender inequality, etc.

Accordingly there are a number of perspectives on biodiversity. For example gender inequality perspective focuses on the number of women engaged in the study of biodiversity as compared to men and other such issues.

Under Article 51A of Indian Constitution , it is the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the environment including forests ,lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures.

I express the hope and the confidence that this first of its kind National Workshop will go a long way in preparing teachers and through them students and parents and citizens to contribute to preserve our ecology, biodiversity and environment. I thank UNESCO for having taken the initiative to organise this National Workshop of education of biodiversity. I also thank TERI,CEE,Wild Life Institute of India and other eminent speakers who agreed to become a part of this global learning experience. I congratulated City Montessori school for hosting this workshop along with SEED India .

Celebrating World Environment Day (WED),2014 in Kannauj (U.P.)

It was a truly memorable day .With mercury crossing 45 degrees C , we witnessed over ten thousand villagers assemble at a completely uninhabited .barren  place ,where the forest department of Uttar Pradesh  has taken up a project to plant 1,12,500 plants in an area of 450 acres.The place is village Rausa,Block Haseran .District Kannauj of Uttar Pradesh.It is an usar  land , owned by forest department ,but had been encroached by  villagers.With the active support of District administration ,the department got the encroachment removed , and has so far (June5,2014) planted 41000 plants .
                        The chief guest was the Chief Minister of U.P. and the guest of honour was the Magsaysay award winner Sri Rajendra Singh(Jal Purush).The chief guest planted a Peepal plant ,18 feet high and the guest honour  planted a Neem plant, about 14 feet high.We in the forest department have resolved to plant 1,12,500 plants by June 30,2014.
                                The theme of WED ,as decided by UNEP is :Raise your voice,not the sea level. Raise your voice to keep the environment clean .Raise your voice against the polluters.Plant more trees.Do not do any thing which contributes to global warming ,responsible for the melting of snow in polar regions and for raising the sea level.
                   Sharing the event with the common villagers and with celebrities and the chief minister of the state, it was a true celebration , uplifting,inspiring  and motivating .I will never be able to forget the expectant and enthusiastic faces of the common villagers (mostly poor),who came all the way in scorching ,searing heat of Indian Summer, to hear the celebrities and to witness plantation and the WED celebration .

International Biodiversity day , 2014

Today(May 22,2014),UP Biodiversity Board celebrated  International Biodiversity Day at Lucknow,Uttar Pradesh ,India.The venue was Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University ,Lucknow.The chief guest was  Dr. S. W. A. Naqvi,Director, National Institute of Oceanography,Goa,India.The other invitees included Dr. Gurdeep Singh,Vice Chancellor  of the law University,Sri B.C. Chaudhury, Sri Deepak Apte, Smt Meetali  Kakkar, Dr. Rauf Ali, Dr. A. R. Tirunavukarsu,Dr. Dhruv Sen Singh.Here below is the gist of what I said:
                    The issues related to ecology , environment  and climate change  are becoming really urgent , as each day passes.There are a large number of tuberculosis cases reported in Sonbhadra  district of Uttar Pradesh, due to the contamination and pollution of drinking water supply , caused by the effluents discharged by Thermal Power Plants , Coal mines , Cement plants and a few large industries in that district  .National Green Tribunal has passed orders for supply of pure drinking water  through tankers , and also installation of Reverse Osmosis Plants  at the sources of drinking water .This situation shows the need for taking urgent action on the model of development that we must choose .Any development model must take ecology and environment into account.Otherwise it could be at the cost of health of the citizens.This urgency was also emphasized by Al Gore in The Inconvenient Truth.
                                 While the theme of International Biodiversity Day , 2014  has been declared as Island Biodiversity, and I have no doubt that it is important to conserve biodiversity of islands.But I decided to focus on biodiversity issues in general , with special reference to Uttar Pradesh.I was sure that chief guest and other speakers will cover the theme of Island Biodiversity.There is a need to preserve and coserve the endangered species like Vultures,Dolphins,Turtles , Ghariyals and Lions in U.P.But equally important is the conservation, preservation and governance of biodiversity , in general in every nook and corner of the state.
                      While the Biodiversity Act of 2002 is over 11 years old , the awareness of its importance is yet to reach in all over one lac villages of Uttar Pradesh.Local  Biodiversity Management Committees  have to be set up in all the 53000 Gram Sabhas.Also People's biodiversity  registers have to be made in each gram Sabha, by biodiversity resource mapping.Thirdly , commercial exploitation of natural resources requires regulation , and also there is  a need for equitable  distribution of profits.
                For good biodiversity governance, we must involve:
1.Government departments and agencies.
2.local communities.
3.local self governance institutions  and local bodies like municipal corporations and district Panchayats, etc.
4.Government supported institutions such as Joint forest management committees and Eco development councils.
5.Companies and businesses.
We also need to manage our Protected areas better.After intellectual , legal and technical discussions , we need to take biodiversiy issues to the masses.
        With the  partnership of Centre of Environment Education(CEE) and state agencies like UP Pollution Control Board ,UPO Biodiversity Board and Lucknow Zoo , we have decided to take three initiatives:
1.Running of a Biodiversity Bus to schools.
2.Environment youth leadership awards.
3.Setting up of a state of the art Interpretation Centre at Lucknow Zoo.
                           

The Accidental Prime Minister by Sanjaya Baru

At the outset,let me say that Sanjaya Baru  deserves to be complimented  for writing a book which is thrilling , fast -paced and unputdownable.The hardbound edition(Penguin/Viking) has 300 pages.The subtitle of the book  is:The Making and Unmaking of Man Mohan Singh.
                          The book gives glimpses of the working of the Prime Minister of India , Man Mohan Singh mainly during UPA-1 rule(2004-2009) as seen by the author from the ring side.Sanjaya Baru was handpicked by Man Mohan Singh as his Media Advisor ,in the rank of Additional Secretary but reporting direct to the latter.The book is essentially journalistic and subjective , and therefore cannot be said to be based  purely on evidence.In that sense, it is not a piece of research on Indian governance system , the working of PMO , or the PM .But it does provide us confirmation about what persons interested in Indian governance system have guessed  all along .
            The main one achievement of Man Mohan Singh , in his ten years tenure as the PM of India was signing of Indo-US nuclear Pact  on July18,2005.Sanjay Baru gives ,in a convincing way ,the credit for this to Man Mohan Singh.
                       
                         The book focusses on the making and unmaking of Man Mohan Singh , especially during the four years (2004-2008).The role of Dr. Singh as Finance Minister of India has been mentioned in  a short para.It also touches only summarily the remaining six years (2009-2014) of  the ten years when Man Mohan Singh was the PM .Thus it is only the part of the story of the making and unmaking of  Man mohan singh as accidental Prime Minister.
                    The book gives an interesting insight into the subjective  and political manner in which  the important posts like Deputy Chairman and Members of bodies like  Planning Commission are handpicked and appointed.It mentions how the PM was forced not to appoint Sanjaya Baru himself as his Advisor , despite the PM himself wanting  it and having invited him .The PM said ;"I am sorry about what happened.You see,you must understand  one thing .I have come to terms with this.There cannot be two centres of power.That creates confusion.I have to accept that the party  president is the centre of power.The government is answerable to the party".(page 270).Dr. Singh's general attitude  towards corruption in public life  seemed to be that he would himself maintain the highest standards of probity in public life  but he turned  a blind eye on the misdeeds of his ministers(page84).This complete surrender to the party president and not taking the responsibility of controlling the corruption of his ministers ,  point to fatal  flaws of Man Mohan Singh , not withstanding his competence as an economist .
                 I recommend you to read this book .It forces you to ask this question:What to do now, to  give India a good governance (political and administrative) system ,which  our country desperately  needs?

                   
             

The Skills of Decision Making

We keep making decisions , big or small , every day .These decisions  , in a way , define and decide our lives .Books have been written ,and complicated  and rigorous models have been invented for good decision making .I have tried to summarise my own ideas about decision making as below .

1.Decide without fear or favour.

2.Decide on the basis of  four things:a)Evidence  b)Values c)Due process and law d)Risks you are prepared to take in choosing a decision option .

 3.Decide whether you want a quick decision or a slower decision .It depends on whether the decision is strategic or operational .

4.Decide if you need any expert advice.

5.Be clear that you and you alone are responsible for the consequences of decision , even if there  are committees , advisers or assistants to help you .

6.Reflection and dialogue precede decision making .

7.Decide  how you will implement the decision .Implementability is a part of decision making .

8.Timing is of essence.

9.Believe firmly in the rightness of your decision .

10.Once you have made a decision , do not vacillate .Stick to it.

Reverence for Self

1.Have reverence for Self.

2.Have great expectations from Self.Decide your expectations from Self with lot of reflection .

3.Know and keep  trying  to know your Self, your interests, and tastes.

4.Be what you are .Don't  have a fake behaviour or  project false image.

5.Give free and full expression to your Self .That is leadership.

6.Nurture and look after your Self.

7.Permit no one to insult your Self .If some one humiliates you , protest and walk out.

8.Balance concern for Self with concern for non-Self.

9.Decide for your Self Standards, Principles and values  , as also the minimum  acceptable standards which you will demand from others.

10.Have faith  and trust in Self , and not in stars or others.

11.Do the scrutiny of Self regularly.

12.Keep your Self motivated .Do not depend on others for your motivation .

13.Recognize individuality in others.

14.Maintain integrity of Self .This will follow mainly because of your reverence for your Self.
15. Practice Self regulation and Self discipline , overcome temptations.
16.Practice Self help .Don't lean on others.You have to prepare your Self to fight your battles alone.

17.Do not sell your Self for money.

Paryavaran Mitra Awards Ceremony in Lucknow, U.P., India held on March 21, 2014:

After Dark by Haruki Murakami

This slim novel of 201 pages by Japan's most well known  novelist abroad makes a fast and engrossing reading .But I will not call it  great.It is good but falls short of being great.What happens when  the darkness (night) arrives?It tells us what happens in the life of  a nineteen year old girl on one particular night  in Tokyo, when she is out on her own  in a coffee house.The first chapter begins at 11.56 pm and the last chapter ends at 6.52 am.

             There is an interesting observation on memory. "The people's memories are maybe the fuel they burn to stay alive.Whether those memories  have any actual importance or not, it doesn't matter as far as the maintenance of life is concerned.They're all just fuel"
                     Mari has a strange relationship with her sister  Eri Asai.They are very distant , though they want to be close to each other.When they got trapped in the lift of their building ,Eri made up her mind to be the strong big sister for Mari's sake.But over the years , Eri drifted apart from Mari due to their different life styles .She got sleeplessness , but still , Mari longs to be close to her sister."Try to remember all kinds of stuff  about your sister.It'll be  important fuel."
                              The company of strangers can lead to salvation, Murakami seems to believe.And in this book , Mari meets a stranger boy Takahashi , and  they share with each other many things they might not have shared with people whom they know.
 Murakami has an easygoing , captivating and  fluent style of expression , which holds our attention. Jay Rubin of Harvard University has translated it very well from Japanese.The story , though  disconnected in parts , lingers.The darkness leads to morning full of hope  and promise.
                                It is an interesting novel  and  I recommend you to read it , though  Murakami's  some  other books are better written.