The campaign may have been started by an organisation with a
vision, but it comes down to individuals, common people like you and me who can
really influence positive change in our minds and actions. This then spirals
down to change in society as a whole and then our country. And to think of it,
it all starts with one responsible person.
In May 2011, this 33-year old from Bombay journeyed through
the Sundardunga Valley in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, besides visiting Devi Kund,
Maiktoli BC and the Sundardunga caves. Amar loves the fact that during his
journeys, he is cut off from everything else in the world and can enjoy a
peaceful union with nature. He realizes that up there, money and power mean nothing. Nature rules and it is a humbling feeling. When the urge to meet
his mountains arises, Amar leaves behind his hectic job and family and does what
he likes best – trek.
Months before this journey, he wrote in asking how he could
help save the mountains that he loved. Off we sent him some Green Hiker
awareness material to share and distribute along the way. Trekkers travel
light, but to take the initiative to happily carry this material high up is
commendable. Amar put up posters at villages Khati and Jaitoli - the last
stop-over points for trekkers, where they could be seen by other travellers. He
also spoke to the owner of his hotel and a few
other local people. Amar sensed that they understood the environmental issues
and what Green Hiker was all about but did not follow. He hopes that time will
change this.
When asked whether he felt he had made a difference, he
said, “One cannot always be present 100%
of the time to ensure the environs remain clean. Hopefully, what I leave behind
in the form of posters will at least remind my fellow trekkers to keep the
environment clean. The owner of the hotel will also do the same. A little
gesture, to give something back to the Himalaya.”
Here are stories of a few common people (actually not so
common!) who took the initiative to inspire change in themselves and others,
and became true ‘green hikers’. Kudos to them!
AMAR SHAH
In May 2011, this 33-year old from Bombay journeyed through
the Sundardunga Valley in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, besides visiting Devi Kund,
Maiktoli BC and the Sundardunga caves. Amar loves the fact that during his
journeys, he is cut off from everything else in the world and can enjoy a
peaceful union with nature. He realizes that up there, money and power mean nothing. Nature rules and it is a humbling feeling. When the urge to meet
his mountains arises, Amar leaves behind his hectic job and family and does what
he likes best – trek. |
| A house midway to Khati - Jaitoli |
Amar is worried about the kind of amateur trekkers who
travel with tour companies and treat the mountains like a picnic spot, leaving
behind garbage and loud echoes. He believes that the way to deal with this
problem is to tutor them via posters and also encouraging tour companies to
emphasise the importance of maintaining cleanness as part of their work.
 |
| At Jaitoli with the hotel's owner |
You can read more about Amar’s journeys at amards14.googlepages.com
