By P.T. Bopanna
Janya Kaaveramma (13), student of Manthan School in Hyderabad, has written to chief minister of Telangana against the proposed auctioning of 400 acres of forest land in Gachibowli, located near the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus.
Janya (in picture) is the daughter of Dr Sowmya Dechamma, professor at the Centre for comparative literature, at the UoH. Janya is a resident of the campus where her mother works.
In the letter, Janya pointed out: “From the moment I was born, I have had the privilege of living in this nature filled university, and the idea of the forest being destroyed is heart wrenching. Growing up in this rapidly developing city, the university is the one haven of greenery still present in this land of concrete.
“Everyday, I see so many rare birds, insects, and reptiles just while walking on the road. I don’t want them to be on the roads just because they have nowhere else to go. If New York city, the hub of the world’s finance and economy has managed to thrive with 840 acres of forest land (Central Park) at its center, then why can’t we?
“We already face challenges like extreme temperatures in the summer and in some areas, water shortages, and doing this will only worsen the conditions, especially as Hyderabad’s population is rapidly increasing. If logical reasoning cannot convince you, then think of the countless animals you will be displacing and most probably taking the life of? Every single organism, right down to the insects, play an important role in maintaining the balance of the ecology.
“It doesn’t matter whose land it is, it doesn’t matter how much money you will gain. What matters is the life of thousands of animals, and the after effects of an action like this on animals and humans, even if not immediate. For me, development is the growth of a country, both social and economical. This is not the only way that Telangana can develop.
“Obviously, some people are just going against the auctioning due to political reasons. But I assure you, as a 13 year old, I really couldn’t care less about politics. Right now, what I do care about is saving and preserving Hyderabad’s green space. I love Hyderabad and I wish to see Hyderabad continue being a green, biodiverse city.”
Interestingly, Dr Sowmya Dechamma, a Fulbright scholar, anchored my book ‘Are Kodavas (Coorgs) Hindus?’ by writing the main article.
Happy to note that she is again contributing an important research input for my forthcoming book ‘Kodava Religion at Crossroads’.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Thursday directed the state to stop the “alarming deforestation activities” near the University of Hyderabad until further orders.
