Children in the old
days grew around tales set deep in tradition and cultural practices of the
land. Elders were the earliest storytellers, sowing fertile ideas in the young
minds about nature and their relationship with their surroundings. Paresh
Porob, assistant Conservator of Forests, Goa Forest Department, who grew up on
these local stories, noted the drastic change in the storytelling of the
current generation. Speaking at a panel discussion on ‘Tales from the Wild:
Exploring Goa-A Western Ghat Wonderland’, he said, “As a child, I was told
stories by my eldest sister about elephants and different animals. That is
missing now, and it is required. We talk about brands, phones, and gadgets, but
those stories that connect to nature are missing. I think once you form a
connection with something, you value it.” These days, parents gift mobile
phones or I-pad with Chinese cartoons or animations, thus resulting in no
sensitivity towards nature.
Paresh elaborated on the change in the
tales one tells to children. “Our grandparents taught us to respect our natural
resources, be it water, soil, fire, and food, by weaving stories around them
which highlighted the significance of this resource. The stories also showcased
efforts taken by different components in providing or maintaining such
resources, like bullocks ploughing our fields for producing food,” he said.
“The stories of the elderly helped make decisions most
sensitively. The various rituals, irrespective of which religion you belonged
were connected to nature and that created a sense of belongingness with
nature,” he said.
The wealth of local knowledge found its way into beautiful
expressions, stories, poems, one-liners, etc. “They would use animals or birds
like the crow, sparrow, ant, dragonfly, butterfly, or honey bee. Fortunately,
kids like me were introduced to cattle and elephants.”
He cites an example, “Whenever we pluck any product from nature,
we need to leave some for the local spirits or the God from that area. The
villagers and the locals followed these concepts closely. Scientifically, it is
a beautiful concept of sustainable use of natural resources and gene pool
conservation.”
Recalling her early days in Mandrem, Keri, artist Harshada
Kerkar says, “Locals in our village sought the help of an elder for her
knowledge about medical plants readily available in the garden or kitchen. We
grew up around these local stories of local fruits, their uses, etc. When we
walked home from school, we were well aware of the flora around us. The Adulsa
was commonly used for fencing in every garden.”
Photographer Asavari Kulkarni’s grandmother was a fountain of
stories growing up. “Most stories revolved around food. Stories revolved around
reusing leftovers to create new snacks and understanding climate change and its
impact. She used to read a lot of newspapers, so she was well-informed.
Anything on her plate would be a story. She had completed her higher secondary
in Quepem, so she would tell me about the Kunbis and what they ate as tribals,”
she shares.
With
the rampant destruction of nature across Goa, perhaps these stories will be the
only link to our past.
