Experts call for reviving man-nature relation
Srinagar, Jun 08: In connection with World Environment Day, the College Eco Club “College Green Corps” of Government Degree College Qazigund organised a national colloquium on “Contemporary Ecological Issues: Challenges and Strategies” in collaboration with the Ecosophical Foundation of Literature and Environment (EFSLE), marking the first-ever national event of the college.
Academicians from across the country participated, including Dr. Rishikesh Kumar Singh (President, EFSLE, New Delhi), Dr. Amit Ranjan (NCERT, Delhi), Prof. Shruti Das (Ex-HoD, English, Behrampur University, Odisha), Dr. Asha Tiwari (Bharati College, University of Delhi), Dr. Satya Prakash (Mahatma Gandhi Govt. College, Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Dr. Kiran Bhairannavar (University of Delhi), and Dr. Aishwarya Maindola (Clinical Psychologist, New Delhi).
Prof. Veda Sharan, former Professor of English and Foreign Languages University Hyderabad, delivered the keynote address, stating that “applying an ecosophical lens means evaluating language against an explicit ethical framework that prioritizes the health of the whole ecosystem, rather than solely catering to human utility. Man-Nature relation needs to be revived in its original form to tackle the challenges to environment which have arisen due to the greed of materialism.”
In his presidential remarks, Prof. Sudhir Singh, Principal of the college, thanked the expert academicians and noted that culture poses a big challenge to nature, with nature responding in its ugliest forms like storms and droughts. “Our major three challenges are climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. All these are inextricably linked. Healthy forests alone would enable carbon sinks; embracing circularity, reusing, recycling and waste reduction shall restore our ecosystems,” he added.
Dr. Rishikesh Singh touched upon the psychological aspects, discussing the concept of Empirical Tabula Rasa through which an individual tries to disconnect and reconnect with nature, and pointed out issues related to ecophobia where an individual gets affected by past sufferings from natural calamities and disasters.
The post-lunch brainstorming session was chaired by Prof. Shruti Das, who deliberated on “The Power of the Sublime: An ecopsychological exploration of Lauren Groff’s novel The Vaster Wilds.” She spoke on the importance of conceiving nature as part of one’s own existence and gave examples of changemakers like Wangari Mathai and Jadab Payen (the Forest Man of India), showing that sustainability is possible and reversing climate change is achievable through determined positive eco-strategies.
The event began with a welcome address by Convener Dr. Aufaq A. Zargar, with proceedings conducted by Prof. Nehad K. Fatima, HoD English. Presentations by experts were followed by healthy discussions in which students from the host college and neighboring schools participated. A vote of thanks was proposed by Prof. Rameez Ahmad Shah, Nodal Club Coordinator of College Green Corps. Rose bushes were planted on campus by the guests on the occasion.
