Western Ghats Calling: An open letter to Kasturirangan & Co

Friday, September 14, 2012

An open letter to Kasturirangan & Co

Dear Dr Kasturirangan,

Aspersions have already been cast that the Kasturirangan panel will dispose what the Gadgil panel has painstakingly proposed! Given controversial birth of your panel, it will take a leap of faith for the concerned, within and outside of the Western Ghats, to convince themselves that your panel will prove it otherwise. Such contention may be rhetorical at this stage, but has every chance of becoming a reality should the recent soundbites in the media were to come true.

There are reasons for citizens to be skeptical. The Gadgil panel had termed Western Ghats extremely ecologically sensitive region and hence suggested restricted mining and other development activities. You have been quoted in the media: 'The Kasturirangan panel will hold meetings and consider all issues, since the Western Ghats is important to the country.' How different it is from what the Gadgil panel had said? It had held wide consultations and considered each of the issues in the Western Ghats on ecological and scientific merit. It will be a challenge for your panelists to read the findings differently!

Your panel will have a lot to prove itself. First, through your report you would need to provide 'reason' to persuade skeptical and skittish citizens that the government had enrolled the best available expertise into the task of ecological (re)assessment. Second, your panel ought to 'reason' not only theoretically, but also empirically, that it was not engaged in a political practice but in a scientific inquiry aimed at connecting a defensive state (read the Ministry) with its attentive citizens. Third, your panel must provide a modicum of certainty that the panel, conducted with taxpayer support, has fulfilled its obligation to the people and the ecosystem under reference.

But your panel can do a world of good by avoiding to nitpick the WGEEP report and instead focus on how indeed the Western Ghats must, given its regional and global ecological significance, be governed. Should such a sense (?) prevail, the panel would have gone a step ahead in proving its worth. After all, the very idea of creating the WGEEP in the first place was to recommend the setting up a Western Ghats Ecological Authority. If the then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had his way, he would have announced such an authority in 2010 itself. But he was advised to take-a-step-at-a-time and creation of the Gadgil panel was a step in that direction.

Would the Kasturirangan panel be courageous enough to take the second strep?

Dr Sudhirendar Sharma

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Save Western Ghats Movement (SWGM)

SWGM has an unpleasant history. Hailed by India Today as one of the finest post-independence environmental movement, the mid-1980s march along the pristine 'ghats' had to wither away on account of internal squabbling between the organizers. Between 2006 till 2008, Sudhirendar Sharma got an opportunity to travel across the region to capture the latent energy among diverse actors to reignite the past. Together with Pandurang Hegde, who carried the painful memories of the past, the Save Western Ghats Movement of the 80's was revived at Peaceful Society in Goa in 2009. Peaceful Society (led by Kalanand Mani) had played stellar role in anchoring the SWGM in 1988.

SWGM Conferences

Three important congregations of activists, researchers, scientists, artists, politicians and thinkers have been organised since 2009 under the aegis of Save Western Ghats Movement - an informal platform of civil society actors. While the first, in 2009 in Ponda (Goa) revived the erstwhile movement of the mid-80's, the second in Kotagiri (Tamilnadu) in 2010 was major milestone as it led to the setting-up of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel by the Ministry of Environment & Forests. The third congregation at Moodbidri (Karnataka) in 2011 reiterated civil society commitment to conserve the ghats whatever be the outcome of the panel.

Sussegad

Sussegad, meaning `easygoing’, is often associated with the Goans but it does extend to other areas along the Western Ghats, notably hilly parts of Karnataka. Mellowed down by the warmth of the Sun, the coolness of the rains and the wisdom of the green hills, people in these parts of the Western Ghats are known for their simplicity and hospitality. Accommodating as they are, sussegad lends a distinct cultural identity to these people.

When the world elsewhere is racing against materialistic greed, sussegad provides the much desired calming effect. Gandhi used to say: `there is more to life than speed.’ People in the ghats seem to have imbibed that spirit from time immemorial. Being laid back and stealing siesta time during each afternoon may seem out of place for an average outsider but for people here it is an accepted practice that renders them inherent strength – of being in harmony with self, society and nature. It seems sussegad could be for the good of the entire society. Any takers!

Open House

By definition, activists are an interesting bunch of people with high octane levels. At the heart of activism lies the unflinching desire to bring the world on its feet. Unilaterally focussed, immensely committed and socially driven, activists have struggled to carve out a niche for themselves in the shrinking social space. Yet, they enjoy the patronage of the state and its cronies. Had there not been the state with its dubious designs, the breed called activists would not have existed? Wonder, who then is the real activist?

Do you agree with this notion?

All About Frogs

Pictorial Guide to Frogs and Toads of the Western Ghats has been published to help students, researchers, forest managers, photographers and general public in identifying a species in the field along with its status, ecology and distribution. Simultaneously it also aims at bringing awareness about amphibians among general public. This book covers 73 species of 156 frogs and toads recorded from the Western Ghats as of date. Written by Dr. KV Gururaja, the book is available through: http://shop.gubbilabs.in.