The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Birds don’t have a voice in Indian politics’

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Monday, Jul 30, 2007
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New Delhi

‘Birds don’t have a voice in Indian politics’

Staff Reporter

Environmental activist Ashish Kothari stresses the need to evolve a partnership to save the declining bird population

NEW DELHI: Stating that socially insensitive policies were having a bearing on our country’s bio-diversity, environmental activist Ashish Kothari has stressed the need to evolve a partnership between the Government and civil society to save the declining bird population.

Delivering the 15th Rosalind Wilson Memorial Lecture on “Birds in our Lives: Culture, Conservation and Politics” at India International Centre here over the weekend, Mr. Kothari, who is a founder-member of environmental research and action group Kalpavriksh, said: “From 1970 to 1976, a staggering 130 million birds have been exported from our country. Four hundred and fifty species of birds have been in trade before the 1991 ban imposed by the Government. Even now 370 species of birds are still being illegally traded. Moreover, contracts for mining, expressways, oil and gas pipelines are being given to big companies in areas which are a natural habitat for a vast variety of our bird population. This is a matter of serious concern.”

‘Struggle of the weak’

Describing politics as a struggle of the weak trying to gain a voice, Mr. Kothari said: “Unfortunately birds don’t have a voice in Indian politics. But conservation organisations can voice the problems being faced by these species. Somewhere the politics of conservation has to challenge some of the policies that affect our birds.”

Mr. Kothari, whose passion for nature was ignited during his bird watching trips as a school boy, was a key member of the Narmada Bachao Andolan in the 1980s.

While delivering the lecture, Mr. Kothari also screened a documentary film that gave a glimpse into the incredible diversity of birds in the country. Through illustrations, he showed how some rare colourful birds have touched our lives since the time of the Mughal rulers. And how now birds including vultures, whom he described as “garbage managers”, were facing increasing threat from insensitive policies.

Speaking on the occasion, senior advocate in Supreme Court Soli Sorabjee said the need of the hour was to strike the right balance between development and conservation of nature. “Without the commitment of members of society we cannot protect our nature,” he added.

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