Satyamev Jayate & Water

    Jul 23, 2012 | Jal Rakshaks | 1 comment

    amir khanDid you watch Aamir Khan in ‘Satyamev Jayate, on water, yesterday? Going by the smses I got telling me to watch it, I think many of you did ! Did you like it ?

    I did. Reminded me a bit of a Dire Straits track… Constant base guitar that gets deep into the heart, nimble lead that runs through every part of the brain and a voice that spells,’ I’m here – Why worry now’?

    The program was complete – the right mix of head and heart. It had film clips and activists who focussed attention on what was wrong with the existing systems. There were harassed users – from posh colonies, slums and villages – showing that no one was spared the suffering. The violent conflicts caused by Water – never before have they been shown so openly, so starkly! It showed ordinary people as the real heroes and then made a hero(ine) out of a bureaucrat and politician who, with a single order, transformed sporadic individual effort into a societal march. Best of all, it had light banter and a constant connect with religion and traditional practices.

    For me, there were 3 defining moments in the program. The first -in a clip, a woman from a village near a dam supplying water to Mumbai, said – “We gave our land, our homes for the dam , yet we walk 4 km for water everyday – does only Mumbai need water – don’t we need it too?. This statement sums up the rural-urban, micro-macro conflict in water.

    The second – my favourite – was a young architecture student from Mumbai being asked by Aamir – “Where do we get water from?” Her prompt reply – “From a tap”. Three words that tell the entire story of our disconnect with water – the reason for this crisis.

    The third was a statement by activist Anupam Mishra – “We need to re-learn to Respect water”

    Water Watching the program was like a collage of snapshots from my journey at FORCE. Each picture, each expression, each message, found an echo in some moment at FORCE….and our core philosophy….

    Its not about playing blame games nor resigning yourself to your ‘fate’. Its neither about living in the past nor rejecting it totally. Its not about one person doing it all, nor about leaving everything for the state to do.

    It starts with faith – knowing that a plant lover in Delhi will feel the agony of a farmer who sees his crop die of thirst. Its about individual effort – doing whatever little we can- and playing our right role in collective effort – by government or others. Its about marrying traditional wisdom with modern reality. About ‘Vasudevaya Kutumbukum’ – we are all part of God’s family and so must take care of each other. Its about honouring citizens and leaders who give shape to hope. Most of all – it is about remembering to ‘Respect’ water.

    FORCE follows a P-4 partnership model that brings together communities, experts, government and implementers for result oriented action at every level. Where we cannot act directly, we try and create an opportunty for others to do it. Traditional ceremonies, prayers and sharing Water’s wisdom, are built into even the brick and mortar work we do. Our heroes are our ‘Jal Rakshaks’ and we create platforms to publicly acknowledge their effort. Through our ‘Blue City’ program we work to make cities self sufficient in water, hoping that then perhaps, the village woman will be spared her daily trek for water. We do our bit and then share it with government, for scaling up or as an input for Water Policies.

    A lot like what this Satyamev Jayate suggested…..

    “Hey Aamir – hamaare thoughts kitne milte hain! Chalo mil kar sab ko paani paani kar dein (pun intended)!”

    ….Thank you Aamir Khan, for a great program…..

    Does the Environment really need your protection?

    Dec 2, 2010 | Environment Protection, Jal Rakshaks | 0 comments

    Jyoti Sharma, President FORCE posted this in Environment Protection, Jal Rakshak on December 2nd, 2010

    Dear Jal Rakshaks

    ‘Environmental Protection’ is the new buzz word – in policy, text books, corporate manuals, CSR agendas, political manifestos, NGO Objectives……. Anywhere and everywhere….the slogan is – ‘ PROTECT  THE ENVIRONMENT’.

    And yet…the ‘Environment’ continues to get a raw deal everywhere–  villages spring up in forests, animals disappear; mining holes appear in ancient mountain ranges, mountains become bare; streams dry up, rivers turn into nullahs; wells give water of all colours & smog envelops us all….

    Why this dichotomy ??

    Today, as I was interacting with a bright young set of media & communication management students, I found the answer to this apparent contradiction.

    It’s all a matter of semantics – our choice of words.

    The words ‘Protect the Environment’ – cue off in our brain, the thought “The Environment is under threat of destruction. We must do all we can to protect it – Because We are strong and the environment is weak. We are fair minded strongmen, with a heart of gold – that’s why – even though, WE HAVE CONQUERED IT, We must take good care of the environment.”

    …And therein lies our BIG BIG mistake. The environment (read: nature) is NOT weak. It does NOT need to be protected by us. On the contrary WE NEED TO BE PROTECTED from the dangerously quiet wrath of nature.

    As a Mother, Nature is infinitely caring, patient, giving….

    As an opponent, it is a master strategist, delusion creating, many headed medussa; a ‘meethi chhuri’ and a cold butcher. It will let you poison it, and then feed you back the same poison through its air & water- multiplied manifold. It will let you cage it – only to hit back from a tunnel you never knew existed….

    Beware ! We have made ourselves opponents of Nature !

    We think of ourselves, not as Nature’s children, but as its Conquerors…. with a  clear mandate –  whip it to extract most out of it and feed it just enough to keep it productive. Torture it, if you wish, just make sure you keep it alive – as a symbol of your ultimate victory.

    Wake up – snap out of this delusion ! Look around, see the patterns and recognise how we are, slowly but surely, losing our battle for survival.

    Nature does not need your condescending protection.

    Jal Rakshaks, let’s try & give mankind a chance to survive. As a start, let’s change the buzz word – from ‘Protect the Environment’ to

    ‘PROTECT MANKIND FROM MANKIND’.

    In our own interest, let’s learn, and teach all, to respect & care for Nature – our Mother. She loves us, perhaps more than we love ourselves. Let’s try not to snatch away, from the rivers, forests, animals, mountains, air and water; their right to live with freedom, health and dignity.

    Let’s Protect ourselves – re-learn to live in harmony with Nature – the Mother – She will protect us.

    Jyoti Sharma

    FORCE

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