Before the World Ends

Colours in the making

When the monsoon landed in Kerala towards the end of May, the meteorological department predicted excess rains this season. The reality, as usual, cocked a snook at the forecast. It rained cats and dogs for a few days, probably because of certain disturbances in the oceans, and then the sun lashed the state mercilessly.

I put trust in the forecast and bought quite a few flower pots to add colours to my close surroundings. I’m not giving up anyway even if the rains ditch me. If I have bought the pots, I will also make sure that plants grow in them. May not be flowers. Even the nursery staff tell me that it is difficult to grow flower plants given the nature’s unpredictable behaviour. So I have collected leafy plants with all possible colours. When they all grow up, I will have all the colours I wanted around my house. 

We, in Kerala, are better off than our counterparts in North India where the temperature is well above 40 degrees Celsius in many places including the capital city. But let us not forget that the temperature crossed 40 degrees in Kerala too this summer. Kerala’s summer is in March-April unlike in North India where it is in May-June.

I remember my childhood when we walked to school in June-July braving heavy showers. Where did all those rains go now?

Recently the Chairman of ISRO, Dr S Somanath, said in a lecture that the temperature on earth can hit 70-75 degrees Celsius in 2050-2075. He said in no uncertain terms that human life on earth would definitely become difficult because of such climate changes.

Why are our leaders not taking necessary action in this regard? They are so absurdly and insanely obsessed with religion and the country’s ancient glory. They are still constructing temples and pilgrimage centres instead of taking urgent action to save the planet. We are not even putting aside funds for doing meaningful things on behalf of the planet. Our leaders seem to really believe that the gods will come and save us.

Look at the following two images from the latest issue of Down to Earth [1-15 June 2024]. One shows what we need to do and the other shows how we are not doing anything at all. Extremely poor governance. No vision.

A recent judgement in a case related to the conservation of the great Indian bustard and the lesser florican, the Supreme Court of India asserted the citizens’ right to “be free from the adverse effects of climate change.” Yes, protection from nature’s furies is the citizens’ right; temples for gods could wait.