A lesson from a lost civilization

I am walking through the streets of an old city. The surrounding area seems to be in ruins. The
houses around gives a ghastly look! The walls circumphering them are in a dilapidated
condition!! Some have even collapsed ! The roads, full of potholes, are in a deplorable
condition! The ruins all around attests the existence of a developed and prosperous city which
has now lost its beauty, prosperity and majesty !
I don’t know why, the city planning seems familiar to me! But how? For the first time I am
coming here. But then?
Treading through this unkown city, I find largely women, old men and children to be
inhabiting this place. The children are mostly half naked. Some of them are wearing
dresses……..tattered and dirty!! Their looks are pale .It seems they are suffering from mal-
nutrition! In an uncivilized manner, they are loitering around the streets. The place where I am
standing now is an arid one, with the least greenery around . Looking at me surrounding people
are making gestures……may be because I am a stranger to them. One amongst them murmured
something colloquially. I tried to guess but their language is unknown to me .
While wandering I chanced to meet a half-naked old man busy in worshipping a tree. I feel like
laughing at his activity. But he seems to guess my intention for he is giving a bothered look at
me. I want to query about his activities. A man is passing me. “Wait Wait, bhaiya! Who is this
old man and what is he up to?” Very coldly he is staring at me ! I can understand he could not
get me. Language problem…….!! All these things are annoying me badly!!
“Hey; who are you? Where are you from?” Amazing! This old man knows English!! How come?
How is it possible for such an old man to speak in English!! And that also in such an uncivilized
place!!
Me:“I am Rani . I hail from India. By the way, what is your name?”.
Old Man: “ They call me buzurg aadmi. You can also call me by this name.
And you come from India !!What is that?”
Me : “ India is the name if a Country . And I am a 21st century enlightened Indian. Thereby how
do you know English ? It seems you are a learned person.”
He is preferring silence.
Me:“ What is the name of this place? Looks as if I am acquainted with this place!!
Buzurg aadmi: “ Well! You are right! You have read about this place in your History books . It is
Harappa.”
Me: “H-A-R-A-P-P-A !! Ohh my God ! one of the twin capitals of Indus valley
civilization!!That’s the reason why this place looked familiar to me since my arrival !”
Buzurg aadmi: “You are now in the citadel area of the ancient city where in the glorious times
rich people dwelt!! But alas!! Those are tales of the past !!”
Me:” What is the reason behind such plight ?”
Buzurg aadmi: “ Floods, dear ! Floods !! Recurrence of the same every year have ruined this
place! “
Me: “But we have read in our books that it was a vast and well planned city. And a city of this
stature is implied to have some protective measures against natural calamities!! Isn’t it?”
Buzurg aadmi : “Ohh dear! Those are all past stories ! And of course this city had modern
amenities. My grandpa used to tell us stories of its past grandeur! It was again his grandpa who
narrated the beauty of this city to him. You know the city was really a majestic one…….grand
buildings and palaces abandoned the place. Lush of greenery added to its beauty .But alas!!
Mans’ greed destroyed everything. They cut down old trees mercilessly and occupied land. The
city administration did not utter a word on this misdeed !! And gradually the land became arid.
And see……..we are now suffering the impact of such cruel deed! The situation has become so
tough……our livelihood is in question now! The plight of the people is beyond
description………..maximum citizens have left this dying city to find occupation elsewhere!”
Tears begin to roll down from his eyes!!
His situation is really very tough! I can realize it ! I am from a world where there is plenty and
here they are ruined !
Wiping his tears, he continues-‘ no doubt it is always better to be civilized but that should not be
achieved by destroying the nature. We should not interfere with the creation of God. Our
objective must be co-operation with nature.’
I nodded.
Buzurg aadmi: “ I can make out how proud you are of your civilization . You all are boasting of
wide range of electrical gadgets, superior technology etc!! But be alert ! you are also heading
towards destruction like ours! For the sake of development, you are adhering to non-cooperation
with nature! Take lessons from us before it is too late. See how our ancestors enticed with greed
destroyed forests and built huge palaces . And how that has caused erosion of the banks of
river Ravi!! And year after year the river is inundating its banks. Ravi, which was once our pride is now our sorrow!"Me: “But a river will break its banks. It is a natural phenomenon. We have read it in our
geography books!”
Buzurj aadmi : “True! But climatic changes aggravates the process. And frequent climatic
changes are brought by mans’ misdeeds. So my dear , wake up and do the needful before it is too
late!”
I have read in our text books of the glory of ancient India. Our forefathers worshipped nature.
Many of the slokas of Vedas sing the glory of nature. Our ancestors were well acquainted with
conservation of nature. Peaceful co-existence was the theme of the day.
Me: “You are not wrong. For the sake of development, we too are felling trees mercilessly,
building sky-rise houses by filling ponds and canals. Greenery is fast disappearing from this
planet. As a result of deforestation, temperature is increasing day by day. Adding salt to injury---
- pollution, drought and several diseases are joining hands to make things worse!
Buzurg aadmi: You seem to………
Suddenly I heard Maa calling me ‘ Rani, get up! I’ve been calling you for a long time. Already
it is late. It is 8.30 now .Have you forgotten that you have to go to school?’ I got up in a hurry
and came into my sense and asked myself “ was it a dream in which I had a conversation with
the old man?” I informed her everything about my dream. She exclaimed “ Thank God! At least
you have dreamt a fruitful dream. You are the young generation. Only you can protect this
beautiful earth from dying.” I swore in my mind that I will not let our mother earth move
towards destruction at any cost. Man can do everything if they want. If they stand united to save
this earth, then nature will once again be vibrant and restitute to its previous majestic look. Air
will be free from pollution and the sky will be bathed with the untainted rays of the sun. Such a
day is knocking at the door of the Earth very soon.