Mahadeep Singh Jamwal
On June 5, 2025, the world observes World Environment Day under the theme “Our Land, Our Future.” For India, this is far more than an annual observance-it is a sacred battle cry. With nearly 30% of our land facing degradation and desertification, and millions already displaced or distressed, the crisis is not a forecast-it is our living reality. From parched fields in Bundelkhand to receding riverbanks in the northeast, from poisoned lakes in urban centers to shrinking forest belts in central India, the wounds of environmental neglect are bleeding across Bharat Mata.
In Indian tradition, land is not just an economic asset-it is an embodiment of divinity. The Atharva Veda reverently proclaims, “M?t? bh?mi? putro aham p?thivy??”-the Earth is our mother, and we are her sons and daughters. This is not poetic sentiment; it forms the cornerstone of India’s environmental philosophy. Nature is not meant to be conquered but to be coexisted with. The rivers we bathe in are sacred. The forests we walk through are sanctuaries of the divine. Even the air we breathe is invoked in our morning prayers.
From Hinduism to Sikhism, from Jainism to Buddhism, Indian religions have spoken in one voice when it comes to respecting nature. Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita says, “I am the taste in water, the radiance in the moon and the sun, the life in all living beings.” Guru Nanak Dev Ji in his Japji Sahib praises the elements as manifestations of the Creator-“Pavan guru, paani pita, mata dharat mahat.” (Air is the guru, water the father, and Earth the great mother.) Lord Mahavira’s principle of Ahimsa extends not only to humans but to all forms of life, including plants and soil. Even Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized environmental stewardship, saying, “The Earth is green and beautiful, and God has appointed you his stewards over it.”
The Isha Upanishad gives a timeless reminder: “Ten tyaktena bhunj?th?”-enjoy the bounties of Earth with restraint and detachment. This philosophy of limited consumption and harmonious coexistence was the way of life in ancient India-and must once again become our modern compass.
India’s history is replete with grassroots environmental guardians. The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan has, for centuries, given their lives to protect trees and animals. The Chipko Movement in the Himalayan region was led by rural women who hugged trees to prevent their felling. Today, our country continues that spirit through large-scale efforts like the Namami Gange Mission and revival of traditional water harvesting techniques in several states.
World-renowned environmentalists echo what Indian wisdom has always upheld. Mahatma Gandhi warned us, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.” Jane Goodall reminded, “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.” Chief Seattle’s words-“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children”-mirror our own philosophies on generational duty and dharma.
But these truths must move from sacred texts and speeches into the soil of everyday life. What we need now is not awareness but action-rooted in our culture and led by the people. Planting a tree should be an act of prayer. Saying no to plastic should be a form of non-violence. Water conservation must become a collective spiritual discipline. Religious institutions can lead the way-temples organizing plantation drives, mosques promoting water responsibility, gurdwaras reducing waste, churches encouraging ecological sermons. From community kitchens to classroom teachings, every space in India must become green-aware and green-active.
Governments must wield policy as a shield and a sword-protecting forests, regulating industry, and empowering communities. Businesses must innovate sustainably. And the youth-bold, informed, and spiritually connected-must lead this renaissance of responsibility.
World Environment Day 2025 must not be treated as a calendar date but as a national moment of reflection and renewal. This is our yajna, our sacred offering to the Earth. The land is not just our future-it is our duty, our dharma, our legacy.
India has always shown the world how to live with nature, not above it. Now, as the planet cries out for revival, it is time for Bharat to lead once again-not just with words, but with wisdom and will.
