Back to Nature: “Cauvery Calling”

In the far South of India, through the lush green rainforests of Western Ghats, flows a river with all its majesticity, giving life to everything it comes in contact with and rests in the most serene way possible when it touches the Bay of Bengal. Yes, I am describing the beauty of one the most culturally and economically important river of South India “Cauvery”.

The name “Cauvery” in itself carries a significant meaning – “the one who brings abundance where she flows”. The fact that Cauvery Basin is one of the rice bowls of South India supporting 4.4 million people and it also contributes 40% of the food grain in Tamil Nadu and 26% in Karnataka serves justice to the name “Cauvery”. River Cauvery is considered to be a Goddess throughout Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and, especially in Kodagu, she is given the highest position of family deity by the Kodavas. Even though River Cauvery is so significant for the people in and around the Cauvery Basin, she is being destroyed by the same man who worships her and the root for this lies in the ecological insensitiveness of the masses and its materialistic approaches towards life.

In recent times, it is hard to deny the fact that a mis-match of balance can be seen in our environment. A river like Cauvery, which was once flourishing, dried up in 2016 as the rainfall had reduced by 40-60%. To stop this from repeating, a campaign named “Cauvery Calling” was initiated so as to bring River Cauvery back its former glory. This campaign will support farmers to plant 242 crore trees which by estimation will increase water retention in Cauvery Basin by about 40% and will increase ground water and reduce the chances of floods.

In July 2019, Isha Foundation started the campaign “Cauvery Calling” which is led by Sadhguru. In September 2019, Sadhguru with his entourage embarked on a two week bike rally from Talakaveri to Thiruvarsur with the intention of spreading awareness among the mass population. Till date, when this article was being written, 3,94,47,560 trees have been contributed. Celebrities like Rakshit Shetty, K L Rahul, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, etc. have supported the cause and helping spread this message.

On a broader spectrum, we consider Earth as our home and it is each of our duty to keep our home safe and sound. So let us all come together, pushing aside all our insecurities, as one collective humane family and work for its well being. Keeping this thought as a backdrop, we from Damodar IT Solutions have taken a pledge-“For every client I add into Damodar IT Solutions, I’ll Donate 5 Trees”

We also request and encourage our readers and clients to donate at least one tree for the cause which only costs Rs.42.

To donate, please visit: https://www.ishaoutreach.org/en/cauvery-calling/campaigns/cauvery-calling-action-now-damodar-it-solutions

My recommendation for this write-up is a movie named “The River on the Bridge Kwai” (1957) directed by David Lean. The reason for this recommendation is, the movie as a whole is aesthetically beautiful and will give a question for you to linger on which is – “whom should I sympathise towards? THE OPPRESSOR OR THE OPPRESSED”

Have an amazing watch.