Nature never speaks with words, but its message is clear. It teaches patience through trees, perseverance through rivers, humility through mountains, and hope through every new spring. Planting trees, protecting rivers, reducing pollution, and using natural resources wisely are small steps that can make a big difference. If we respect its laws and live in harmony with them, we shall leave behind a greener, healthier, and more peaceful world for future generations.
Er Peerzada Abdul Rashid
The village of my childhood days was very serene and picturesque. A crystal-clear water stream flowed through its centre, and the houses stood gracefully along its banks, adding to its rustic charm. It sustained a rich ecosystem and provided pure drinking water that irrigated the paddy fields as well. Melodious songs and the chirping of birds filled the air all day long. The villagers, the stream, the trees, and the birds lived in perfect harmony, in a delicate and eco-friendly manner.
It all changed when the villagers diverted the stream from its original course to the other side and built a road in its place, cutting the trees and bushes thereby. With the disappearance of the stream, the trees, the bushes, and the birds that had once given the village its unique beauty and identity also vanished and disappeared.
For some time, everything looked normal, but nature looked otherwise and did not yield to its maltreatment by the villagers by diverting the course of the stream in the name of development. After days of torrential rain, the swollen stream refused to follow its new course. It broke free, reclaimed its original course, and in its fury swept away parts of the newly built road, damaged fields, and even threatened nearby houses. It reclaimed what was snatched from it with full might and vengeance.
As it is said that law takes its own course, the same is true about nature. Nature also takes its own course. It follows its own laws and acts on its own. It does not wait for our permission, nor does it need it. From the rising of the sun to the setting of the moon, from the changing of seasons to the flow of rivers, everything in nature happens according to a grand scheme of things and a set plan.
Human beings have undoubtedly made great progress in science and technology. We have built big cities, crossed oceans, and even set our foot on the moon and ventured into space. Yet, in spite of all our achievements, the whole of nature is beyond our control. A powerful earthquake, a devastating flood, a cyclone, or a severe drought can remind us within a few moments that nature’s power is far stronger than ours.
Nature also has a unique way of restoring its glory and maintaining ecological balance. After a forest fire, new green shoots appear. After heavy rain, the sky becomes clear again. A dry tree may bloom again with the arrival of spring. Life returns and greenery is seen everywhere. Nature tells us that every ending has a new beginning and every beginning a new ending, and this cycle of events goes on.
Trees and other vegetation bear the brunt of summer heat and winter cold. Rivers keep flowing, facing rocks and other obstacles. Mountains stand firm in the face of winds and storms. Birds build their nests patiently, one twig at a time. These silent teachers inspire us also to be patient, hardworking, and hopeful and to bear the vagaries of events without any murmur.
Unfortunately, human beings often disturb the balancing power of nature due to sheer ignorance and greed. We cut forests, pollute our water resources and air, and waste natural resources. We forget that we are not the sole owners of natural assets but that other living beings also have a right over them. When nature’s balance is disturbed, its adverse consequences are seen in the form of floods, ozone depletion, rising temperatures, water shortages, and the loss of many plant and animal species.
Nature is also a great healer and soothes our nerves when we are in distress. A walk through a green forest, the sound of flowing water, the fragrance of flowers, or the cool breeze after rain brings peace to the mind. Many worries are over when we spend a little time close to nature. It refreshes both the body and the soul.
Climate change and environmental pollution are a challenge as well as a warning to all of us. Natural resources cannot be exploited to the hilt. If we continue to misuse its gifts, future generations will have to pay a heavy price. Protecting nature is not only an environmental duty; it is a moral responsibility.
Nature never speaks in words, yet its message is loud and clear. It teaches humility, patience, balance, and respect. The wise person is not the one who tries to conquer nature, but the one who learns to live in harmony with it.
Nature has its own ways, and those ways are often wiser than ours. The more we understand them, the happier, healthier, and more peaceful our lives will become. Nature follows its own laws and moves at its own pace. It does not ask for our permission, nor does it wait for our approval. From the rising of the sun to the setting of the moon, from the changing of seasons to the flow of rivers, everything in nature happens according to a wonderful order.
Nature also has a unique way of restoring balance. After a forest fire, new green shoots appear. After heavy rain, the sky becomes clear. A dry tree may bloom again with the arrival of spring. Life returns again and again. Nature teaches us that every ending can become a new beginning.
Nature has its own ways. It follows its own laws and works in silence. It neither hurries nor delays. Day follows night, spring follows winter, and life continues its endless journey. Human beings may make plans, but nature always has the final word.
Kashmir is one of the finest examples of nature’s beauty and wisdom. Every season brings a new picture. Spring covers the valleys with colourful flowers. Summer fills the orchards with fruits. Autumn paints the Chinar leaves in shades of gold and crimson. Winter spreads a white blanket of snow over the mountains and fields. Each season has its own charm and its own purpose. Nature never repeats itself, yet it never fails to amaze us.
The rivers of Kashmir, especially the Jhelum, have silently witnessed the joys and sorrows of generations. They have carried boats, watered fields, and nourished villages and towns. The mighty mountains stand like silent guardians, teaching us strength, courage, and patience. The forests shelter countless birds and animals, reminding us that every living creature has a place in the great family of nature.
Nature also teaches us that nothing lasts forever. The harsh winter of Chillai Kalan finally gives way to spring. Snow melts into streams, dry branches become green again, and gardens bloom with fresh life. This is nature’s way of telling us never to lose hope. Difficult times also pass, just as winter gives way to spring.
Sadly, we have not always respected nature. Forests are disappearing, rivers are becoming polluted, and the weather is becoming less predictable. The glaciers in the Himalayas are slowly shrinking, and many traditional water sources are drying up. Floods, heat waves, and changing rainfall remind us that when we disturb nature, nature responds in its own way.
Nature is also the best medicine for a tired mind. Sitting beside a flowing stream, walking through a pine forest, listening to birds at dawn, or watching the first snowfall fills the heart with peace. Many worries disappear when we spend time close to nature. It asks for nothing, yet it gives us so much.
Nature never speaks with words, but its message is clear. It teaches patience through trees, perseverance through rivers, humility through mountains, and hope through every new spring. These are lessons that no classroom can teach better.
We should therefore learn to live with nature rather than try to dominate it. Planting trees, protecting rivers, reducing pollution, and using natural resources wisely are small steps that can make a big difference. Nature has cared for humanity for thousands of years. It is now our duty to care for nature.
Nature has its own ways, and those ways are full of wisdom. The more closely we observe it, the more we realise that it is not only our greatest provider but also our greatest teacher. If we respect its laws and live in harmony with them, we shall leave behind a greener, healthier, and more peaceful world for future generations.
The writer is a retired Central Government Telecom Engineer, a columnist and author of books: “Footprints in the Sand”, “Footprints on the Snow of Life”, and “In Search of Lost Fingerprints”.
ab*****************@***il.com