Gandhian principles have solutions to every problem the world is grappling with and teachings of the Father of the Nation would never be outdated, says noted environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt, who has been conferred the prestigious Gandhi Peace award.
A reticent personality, who is known for his contribution in conservation of environment, 80-year-old Bhatt expressed "happiness and surprise" on winning the award.
"I am happy as well as surprised. The award is the result of combined efforts of scientists, environment crusaders, women, children and the various other stakeholders," Bhatt told PTI.
The award was conferred on him last week by President Pranab Mukherjee.
A Gandhian from the core of his heart, Bhatt who came into the limelight with the 'Chipko' movement in 1970s, maintains that the Gandhian principle of non-violence has always inspired him in all his initiatives.
He says various problems facing the world can be resolved through Gandhian principles.
He vividly remembers the time when it all started; his first protest against commercial forestry.
"During the Chipko movement, we had the choice of snatching the saws of the tree cutters or to restrict their action in a violent manner. But we chose to protest in a non-violent way. We hugged the trees and let the cutters know that the first strike should be on our backs.
"Jab mann me hinsa ho, vo karam me aati hai (violence in the hearts is reflected in the action)," says Bhatt.
He instituted the Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal (Society for Village Self-rule) in 1964 at Gopeshwar, his home town in Uttarakhand, his first step towards the crusade for a safer and secure environment.
The organisation aimed at providing employment to the villagers near their homes in forest-based industries. It had initiated making wooden implements from ash trees, marketed herbs for ayurvedic medicines and could caught the imagination of the people and became a successful movement.
Bhatt describes his struggle as not just for the environment but for the uplift of all sections of the society.
"Our crusade is not just pro-environment. It is pro-women, pro-children and ultimately pro-society. Conservation and development should not be seen at loggerheads.
"There can be no meaningful development if our nature is not safe. They are not separate entities. Nature and development should be seen as the two sides of the same coin," says Bhatt.
An avid reader and one who loves to travel, Bhatt says that travelling is a source of great inspiration and learning.
"I have travelled extensively along the Himalayan belt of the country. I make it a point to talk to the people about the issues they face on a day to day basis wherever I go. All of them find a mention in the books I have written so far," he says.
A writer of a number of books, he admits that "My books may not be a great piece of literature, but the experiences I have put in them help me a great deal to understand the issue faced by my brethren."
Commenting on the environmental activism of the modern times, Bhatt lauds the increased awareness and sensitivity towards nature but cautions that the enthusiasm still needs to get translated into action.
"40 years back, people had a very negative attitude towards ecological conservation. Today, although people are aware of the perils of not looking after the environment; nothing concrete is being done to implement the enthusiastic policy measures at the grass-root level," feels Bhatt.
Calling governance as a crucial partner for environment protection, the Magsaysay awardee says that only strict laws and policy intervention can deter the people from harming the environment.
"As civil society forces, we can only bring the problems to the table. The key to change also lies in the hands of our policy makers. Setting up of committees with experienced people for finding solutions is not just cosmetic. If we know how to utilise them," says Bhatt.