Amit K Singh
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Science
What is Harit Ghar?
Popular belief will answer it by handing over a checklist of certain criteria to be met to build a green home. It includes utilizing solar energy efficiently, harvesting rainwater, proper waste disposal system, etc. using sustainable eco-friendly material and ways. However, as the physical structure of the house cannot qualify it to become a home, similarly, green home based only on physical attributes without any real connection to the nature and its surrounding life cannot be called a Green Home (Harit Ghar).
Our forefathers laid the foundation of this country by developing rich cultural and traditional values which were so intricately woven with the nature and all the life surrounding human beings that an innate respect for all the living beings was inculcated in the generations that followed and peaceful co-existence and harmony became the main objective of day to day activities. The following famous Shanti Mantra sheds light on the same ideology:
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
It can be translated to May everyone be happy, May everyone be free from all diseases; May everyone sees goodness and auspiciousness in everything, May no one be miserable or suffer in any way. Om peace, peace, peace! Here sarve (सर्वे) does not denote only humans but it represents all the living beings and thus emphasises on the well-being of all which makes our culture so unique and incredible.
Keeping the above ideology in mind, now if we go back to the question asked in the first line of this article, we surely can find a different answer than the conventional definition of a green home. Based on our rich cultural heritage, a Green Home is a home which not only provides shelter and a sense of belonging to just one family or group of people by efficiently utilizing the resources and minimizing the waste but also focuses on the well-being of all the living creatures in its vicinity. Thus, if you want to make your home a green home then you need to widen your perspective and start including small-big creatures like cows, dogs, birds, ants, etc. around you as part of your extended family and also take care of the vegetation around, thus making an everlasting bond with nature.
Why is the bond with natural essential?
Humans are sensitive beings who are deeply connected with their environment; as a result, their environment shapes and influences them. Imagine living in an isolated place devoid of greenery, sans colours of flowers, butterflies, birds, and with no sign of any other life. Just imagining it will leave you in a depressing state as it is not natural to us. We are social beings and our society comprises of not just humans but all the beautiful life around us. In these grave times when the world is locked down, people are trying to find out new ways to engage themselves in a constructive manner to keep themselves happy and mentally healthy. Building a strong bond with nature allows us to look around at the beauty of nature with awe and wonder. It fills our lives with joy and saves us from depression. As it is said nature is the best friend, philosopher and guide, but it is possible only if we could observe and connect with nature.
How to develop this bond?
Bond is always there, it is innate to us. What we need to do is to revive it by doing little things that used to be a part of our routine but in the present fast-paced world we tend to overlook them. Remember our mothers taking out the first chapatti for cow, scattering flour for the ants or feeding birds, cats, dogs, etc., it is all part of that bond which we share with nature with deep respect and love and which leads to harmonious co-existence. The scope of this article is limited so we will focus only on our neighbourhood birds here.
Neighbourhood Birds:
First and foremost thing to do is to try to observe and identify your neighbourhood birds. Tell your kids about them; ask people about them if you don’t know and try to collect information about them like what they eat, where they build nests, etc. Various birds have their particular feeding and nesting behaviour. But common things that can be done to attract birds are as follows:
- Plant trees around your house in the open space available. If space is a limitation then use modern technology and materials available to develop a terrace garden or a green space in your balcony. This is very important not just because it provides shelter to birds but also because this will provide a safe space to the birds where they can hide in case they feel threatened. Maintain this space as disturbance free zone as birds are shy and cautious creatures so have patience with them if you want to invite them to your place. Unlike dogs, cats and cattle, they feel threatened even by the person feeding or trying to care of them. Thus, they need such spaces where they can hide even from your sight. It’s a tricky situation but with patience, their trust can be won.
- Next important step is to place a bird feeder or simply a bowl filled with bird seeds. Place it in such a way that it is away from the reach of rodents and other predators like cats, etc.
- Water is one common factor which binds us all as it is essential for our survival. Place a bowl of water at your terrace, garden or balcony so that birds can drink from it and if you do it properly then you will be lucky enough to see them enjoying a bath in the same bowl!
- You must have observed birds searching for dry grass, broom strands, etc., if you observe such behaviour then try helping them by providing nesting material like wool, old broom strands, dry grass, so that it could be easily available to them in the nesting period.
The above points are part of common practice to attract birds of your neighbourhood to visit your place when they require shelter, food and water. But if you want to attract a particular bird then you will need to put more efforts. First, collect information about it like what are its preferences with regards to food and nesting behaviour. There are many books and literature about the birds and information available online can also be very useful in order to gather information about them. For example, if you want house sparrows to visit your home and you want them to build a nest then you need to know the characteristic features of their feeding and nesting behaviour. If you place a birdhouse commonly available in the market then there are chances you would end up in disappointment. Though they can use it in times of desperation but it is not what they prefer. Sparrows build their nests in cavities and constricted spaces like holes available in buildings, structures like street lights, overhanging pipes, space between ceiling and walls or in between entangled wires, etc., basically away from plain sight and away from predators like raptors, cats. So, if you want sparrows to build a nest, provide them nesting material and develop a constricted space by hanging bird box/birdhouse in such a way that it is not easily visible and is away from the reach of predators. Hang a pipe or bamboo attached to the ceiling leaving only a cavity for them to enter, this can also provide them with a suitable nesting space. Sparrows prefer eating bird seeds like millets (jowar, bajra, flax, sunflower seeds, broken crushed wheat and maize), puffed/flattened rice (laiyya/mudi/chura) and even the leftover rice and chapatti pieces. Place the food and water regularly, keep the space clean and just wait for the little friends to arrive.
Native birds have their unique niche in the ecological processes and howsoever little and insignificant they may seem, they are doing their job quite efficiently in nature. It is our encroachment into their spaces and habitats that is affecting them and resulting in a decline in their population. That is why it is very crucial for us to recognize our roles in maintaining harmony in this big family of ours and saving the little beautiful creatures whose lives are as important as ours by doing such little things and making a positive impact all around. Let’s make our homes truly GREEN – in INDIAN WAY.
