Published in Dwarka Express on 17.12.2022

The question may appear hilarious for many!  Yes, tree man, lake man, garbage man, river man or green man… and so on. Some of the titles are being liberally used and sometimes prefixed to names also. Someone whispers loudly, ‘so what, when God Himself is tagged to someone’s name as GODMAN…’, After all, when national awards are not that easy, many may venture out to find some short cut.

How to become a lake man? It’s seemingly simple. All that he has to do is file a few RTIs, PILs and highlight the issues concerned to a lake, a river, jungle or trees. If these missions get highlighted in the local circles as a crusader of environment, he will become a lake man. Or, if you are a political wizard, you confide in someone and ask them to do so for you. Often, we come across whispers, ‘that guy is not sincerely interested in promoting the environment, this guy wants to be known as lake man’. Such cynical statements are not new. There may or may not be truths. But every time, an activist emerges strongly and firmly stands for environment causes, there used to be criticisms.

Committed few do not last long. Either they give up or become extinct. Is it that Darwin’s theory of the survival of the fittest? Dr G D Agarwal alias Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand, an 86-year-old environmental activist from India, died on 11 October 2018, after 111 days into his fast. He was protesting inaction on keeping the Ganga River free from pollution. True environmentalist, he had a vision for river Ganga. 4 years have gone, neither Ganga is clean nor he is remembered.

Green activism is indeed a red-hot subject and much debated about too. We are not discouraging volunteers or ridiculing genuine protagonist of a social cause. Fake ventures should be dissuaded. It is an era of materialism and identifying the fake is complex. Very few pursue environmental cause voluntarily and if someone ventures to do so, one should stir him.

Freedom fighters and those few who laid their life to free the nation from the clutches of the British rulers are seldom remembered for their sacrifices and dedication. Many faces were dumped in dusted photo frames and some have already reached the landfills. But human struggles persist. Hardly a modern youth comes forward to take the environmental cause, either voluntarily or professionally. Contemporary curriculum has opened up the environment stream and a plethora of opportunities are brewing up the form of enormous career options. Waste segregation, water resource management, plastic alternatives, eco-friendly products, carbon trading, organic farming, the list is endless. One may contribute to nature while simultaneously earn his livelihood. Environmental engineering and bio technology are emerging as preferred career option. Given the transformation, environment must turn better for future generations, but will it be so? A pertinent question, that only posterity could answer. So, lake man tag may not be that bad if one lives for the cause. Genuineness should be felt rather than seen!

V. Selvarajan