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Rohit Pansare

As a child I have always loved the woods. Up until high school I have enjoyed our weekly treks through the forest, lazing around on our favorite lake with close friends. There seemed nothing better, but to listen to soft murmur of leaves and occasional creaking of a dried branch of a tree. We used to skip stones on the lake, always choosing the flattest of the stones to get some 20 skips on the placid water. I remember climbing on to one of the mounts along the lake to find a bronze idol of the tiger god hidden away in thick undergrowth. Discovery of adventure beckoned us

The walk back to civilization was always depressing. As we moved closer to it, the greens disappeared, being replaced by the grey and the white of concrete and cement. I grew up wanting to be a forest guard, much to the displeasure of my parents. By the time I was out of Jr. College, the world seemed different, more confusing than ever. Much to their relief, I didn’t become one, but still I managed to find my way into the forest department! The memories of my precious time with nature, kept getting me back to it, making me more aware of the bond I share with it.

Now as I stand in a mall, I see children coming in for a stroll, with their parents, friends. I wonder how this contrasting experience would shape their lives. Their only connection to nature seems to be through the Discovery Channel or National Geographic Channel or the fluffy bear that sells over sweetened chocolate covered cereal. Technology a product of nature, like everything else, has replaced nature itself. A stroll through the mall, keeps them abreast of the latest brands, and newest things to buy. These malls now seem to be a elaborate stage to promote packaging products that are of no particular significance to become difficult to live without.

Children ave become ideal points of entry for companies to market their products. Now children no more dream of walking in the rain forest. They would instead enjoy, wearing the best watch, driving the costliest car and buying the newest phone.

Nature, it seems to me, is no more a part of their lives the way technology is. Natures children have now been adopted by technology.

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Cover of "Last Child in the Woods: Saving...

Cover via Amazon


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Rohit Pansare

As a child I have always loved the woods. Up until high school I have enjoyed our weekly treks through the forest, lazing around on our favorite lake with close friends. There seemed nothing better, but to listen to soft murmur of leaves and occasional creaking of a dried branch of a tree. We used to skip stones on the lake, always choosing the flattest of the stones to get some 20 skips on the placid water. I remember climbing on to one of the mounts along the lake to find a bronze idol of the tiger god hidden away in thick undergrowth. Discovery of adventure beckoned us

The walk back to civilization was always depressing. As we moved closer to it, the greens disappeared, being replaced by the grey and the white of concrete and cement. I grew up wanting to be a forest guard, much to the displeasure of my parents. By the time I was out of Jr. College, the world seemed different, more confusing than ever. Much to their relief, I didn’t become one, but still I managed to find my way into the forest department! The memories of my precious time with nature, kept getting me back to it, making me more aware of the bond I share with it.

Now as I stand in a mall, I see children coming in for a stroll, with their parents, friends. I wonder how this contrasting experience would shape their lives. Their only connection to nature seems to be through the Discovery Channel or National Geographic Channel or the fluffy bear that sells over sweetened chocolate covered cereal. Technology a product of nature, like everything else, has replaced nature itself. A stroll through the mall, keeps them abreast of the latest brands, and newest things to buy. These malls now seem to be a elaborate stage to promote packaging products that are of no particular significance to become difficult to live without.

Children ave become ideal points of entry for companies to market their products. Now children no more dream of walking in the rain forest. They would instead enjoy, wearing the best watch, driving the costliest car and buying the newest phone.

Nature, it seems to me, is no more a part of their lives the way technology is. Natures children have now been adopted by technology.

————————————————————-


Cover of "Last Child in the Woods: Saving...

Cover via Amazon


0 views0 comments
Rohit Pansare

I have a dream. A dream fueled by my will to learn, influence, inspire and possibly educate. I am thankful to my parents who have let me pursue my dreams. They have supported me through everything. I have been fortunate. I have been fortunate to dream. Few have this luxury. Very few are born with silver spoons.A young boy, hardly 20, works as a security guard at my office. You will know he is a kid, just by looking at him. His father is a security guard too. He had just finished his Technical training exams and was back in our office lobby after a month. So I offered to give him a book to read to pass his time. I was sure, he was not overburdened with work there. I got him Malgudi School Days by R K Narayan an easy & light read to start with. He was overjoyed, and for the next few days he zealously read the book. Every time I passed him, I got a beaming smile in return. It felt good.

Today though was different, the book, which had been lying on his desk every time of the day was no longer there. He called me towards his desk and told me with tears brimming in his eyes, that people don’t even like it that he is reading. He told me he wanted to get out of this place. He wanted to study, become an engineer. He would be quitting soon. I promised him that he could take any help he wanted from me for his studies.

I felt more fortunate at that instance, I saw myself in his tear filled eyes, I imagined what I would have done, if I was in his position. Life had been good to me. There wasn’t anything to complain. My ambitions and aspirations might have grown, but I felt I had more to thank for. Things were not as bad as my mind made them to be. I had enough hope with me, enough for me to share it with those without it.

I hope this kid can quit, I hope he can get admission to his diploma. I hope he can live the life, of which I have a dream…..


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