Conservationists and Sanctuary Asia awardees Arun Gour and Taukeer Alam were felicitated by noted author Ganesh Saili at a programme organised by the citizens walking group Been There Doon That (BTDT) here on Sunday. The duo was felicitated for their outstanding work in the field of conservation of nature and wildlife in the state.
Alam, who belongs to the Van Gujjar community is a self taught bird expert who grew up near Rajaji National Park and always loved the forest and its wildlife.
While talking about his journey, Alam said that he dropped out from school when he was in class IX and afterwards he started as a cook for Nature Science Initiative’s Soumya Prasad who was conducting research near Rajaji. From there, his journey of becoming a birder started when his observational skills were recognised by his mentors. He also added that after leaving the studies for three years, he started his education again, and currently he is an undergraduate student. “While I was still in the learning phase, I realised that researchers from foreign countries research and write thesis about birds and go away.
What they found in research never actually reached out to the people of the forest or anybody else. So I thought about organising school programmes to inform and educate children about birding and I also become a guide for the people who came to see any particular bird in the area,” added Alam.
Talking about Alam, one of his mentors from Nature Science Initiative, Raman Kumar said, “Whatever Taukeer has achieved till now is all due to his hard work. He is an exceptionally self-motivated person and without any help he has learnt various skills on his own whether it be operating a computer, data entry, or promoting awareness about the environment and its conservation among the people.” Arun Gour is a beekeeper who founded the Devalsari Samiti to nurture a culture of conservation among the people of his community.
He has also supported the forest department by reporting poaching incidents and by helping in tackling forest fires. He also trained many people of the mountainous areas in beekeeping, butterfly walks and homestays which will make them self sufficient as well as avert their migration towards cities.
According to Gour, “It is very important to save the environment and culture of mountainous villages, though it is not easy. In the name of development, hundreds of trees are cut down in the forests of the villages and even if some of us raise voice against it, people don’t like it because according to them we are the obstacles in the way of urbanisation and development of the village. I have also received many threats on this account.” He further said that he is not against the government policies but it should be done without disturbing the balance in the nature. One of the mentors of Gour, Anchal Sodhi from Titli Trust said, “Arun never wanted to migrate but always desired to do something for his village.
He was not in favour of migrating to the city and do a menial job like his fellows in the village. He is an inspiration for all the youth who migrate to cities to get jobs and better life.”
