Influence

Last week, environmentalists gathered to cheer their favourite muse – Rajendra Kerkar – as his first book in English was released. The book – Natural Heritage of Goa – is a compilation of select articles published in a daily newspaper. It is a useful guide to the remarkable biodiversity of Goa with insights into facts as well as legends.

There are many other sincere researchers who have involved in the research of the heritage of Goa, but Bhaee (as Kerkar is fondly addressed) did more. He did not restrict to academics but also involved in grass root assertion for the cause of Nature, whether it was fighting to save the Mhadei river or the indiscriminate and illegal mining or the denial by the government that Goa was the land of the tiger.

Bhaee’s work is not just about resistance but also about positive discourse. His real effectiveness has been in inspiring and influencing many youth to follow his path of learning about our natural heritage. And many of his learners have built sustainable ventures in green activities that are taking more people to their roots. The success of Bhai is in transferring his vision and mission to others

There are many persons with the right values, the right thoughts and the right practices. But when these values, thoughts and practices are shared positively to inspire others, then our world is empowered with newer recruits to power the positive cause. That is the real legacy of people like Bhaee… to widen the circle of influence.

May every dedicated person influence many more
every cause requires increasing numbers to score

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Rights & Reason

On this day in 1827, was born a great reformer who worked relentlessly to reclaim human dignity by empowering reason and asserting the rights of all human beings. While studying in the Scottish Mission's High School, Pune, he was influenced by Thomas Paine's pamphlet 'Rights of Man'. He developed an impeccable sense of social justice and grew passionately critical of the oppressive caste system.

Jyotiba Phule reignited the struggle for justice and equal rights for farmers and Dalits. Along with his wife Savitribai and others, he initiated positive transformations in the spheres of education, agriculture, caste system and social empowerment of women. Leading by example, he opened his own house and let all make use of the well water without any prejudice.

He founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers) to prevent exploitation and abuse of the Bahujan Samaj by the upper castes. Phule felt reason alone would empower society to be better at reclaiming rights and responsibilities. His life remains inspirational in our situation where truth suffers treason in the maze of modern superstition and hatred mongering against humanity itself.

Phule’s legacy shows that the ability to reason leads to an attitude of responsibility towards human rights. However, so often, so many of us are unreasonable especially with regards to rights of others. We have to start with ourselves. Phule’s muse, Thomas Paine reasoned, ‘Whatever is my right as a man is also the right of another; and it becomes my duty to guarantee as well as to possess.’

Jyotiba inspires to involve in humane reason…
So that no one is denied rights in any season!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Alternative

While studying architecture, Lawrence went on a cycling expedition to Europe with friends. The experience deeply impacted him to resolve that earning money would never be his motto. He served patients in China during the World War II. On the way back to England from China, he came down to India.

In India, he met Mahatma Gandhi who asked him to stay back to take care of leprosy patients. He travelled all over India helping repair leprosy homes and build new ones. He was exposed to indigenous architecture and discovered simple materials that could put up buildings with refined aesthetics and lasting qualities.

In 1970, he finally moved to Kerala and became the fountainhead of alternative building technologies that would provide housing in a cost effective manner. Rejecting designs alien to the place he used local tiles and bricks in construction. A peaceful co-existence involving nature, man and home came across in his work.
‘Padmashri’ Laurie Baker passed away on 1 April 2007. Although he built no big monuments, he is regarded as a great architect because of his high values and simple style of alternative architecture. Baker looked beyond limited perspectives because he had travelled not as tourist but by involving in deep experiences. And he had the courage to commit to his chosen vision by involving in consistent mission.

So often, so many of us involve in experiences that expose us to alternative vision or trigger it in our mind. So often, so many of us do not make the commitment to the mission of realising that alternative. But if we do, like Laurie Baker, we shall lead fulfilling lives of aligning to the alternative.

Move beyond the appealing vision

Turn the alternative into a mission


- Pravin K. Sabnis