Rajesh Sharma led the webinar participants in taking a pledge of bhakti towards nature in the RJS PBH's Independence Day International Fortnight webinar.
Rajesh Sharma led the webinar participants in taking a pledge of bhakti towards nature in the RJS PBH's Independence Day International Fortnight webinar,
ECOLOGICAL PATRIOTISM TAKES CENTER STAGE AS EXPERTS DEMAND LIMITS ON UNPLANNED DEVELOPMENT AND PUSH FOR CULTURAL SHIFTS IN CONSERVATION.
NEW DELHI -- A growing national movement is redefining patriotism through the lens of environmental conservation, equating the worship of nature with the ultimate service to the nation. During a high-level national discourse organized by Ram Janaki Sansthan Positive Broadcasting House, also known as RJS PBH, leading environmentalists, social advocates, and policymakers convened to address the escalating climate crisis, proposing radical shifts in cultural practices, strict economic regulations on tourism development, and a nationwide pledge to become nature devotees.
The symposium, marking the thirteenth day of the eighty-day Independence fortnight organized by Uday Kumar Manna, exposed a critical intersection between India's economic ambitions and its ecological survival. The discourse navigated through bold proposals, including reforming traditional cremation and idol immersion practices, mandating corporate ecological restitution, and halting unchecked infrastructure in sensitive tourist zones.
CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
Rajesh Sharma, Founder of the Prakriti Bhakt Foundation, introduced the concept of the Prakriti Bhakt or Nature Devotee, urging citizens to elevate nature conservation to the status of a religion. He demanded strict corporate accountability, proposing a mandatory policy where any entity, be it the Metro network, Railways, or private real estate developers, must plant and nurture double the number of trees they cut for infrastructure projects.
Rajesh Sharma let the webinar participants and taking a place of bhakti towards nature.
Sharma stressed the critical need to channel the immense positive energy of India's youth toward environmental restoration. He shared anecdotes of school children enthusiastically participating in Yamuna River cleaning drives, proving that the younger generation is eager to protect their natural heritage if given the right platform. He proposed integrating ecological responsibilities into the educational framework, suggesting that students and unemployed youth be incentivized with academic credits or stipends for planting and maintaining trees.
THE ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC CLASH
Dr. Bisheshwar Mishra, President of the Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development, delivered a stark warning regarding India's current developmental trajectory. He emphasized that states with the highest population densities, specifically Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana, are experiencing severe depletion of green cover due to the relentless demand for agricultural land and urban expansion.
Dr. Mishra did not shy away from addressing the economic forces driving environmental degradation. He pointed directly at the unchecked commercialization of religious and tourist centers. According to Dr. Mishra, the blind race for development has led to a dangerous proliferation of hotels, restaurants, and mining activities in these ecologically fragile zones without adequate waste management or sustainability protocols. He called for an immediate regulatory cap, insisting that boundaries must be drawn to prevent further construction and mining, warning that nature's limits have already been breached.
THE GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES
Providing practical solutions to urban environmental challenges, Uday Shankar Singh Kushwaha, Honorary In-charge of the RJS Positive Branch in Noida, showcased micro-level ecological interventions. Combating the loss of trees to road widening and urbanization, he has transformed his concrete rooftop into a thriving green ecosystem, cultivating fruits and vegetables like chikoo, cardamom, and gourds. His efforts demonstrate how urban dwellers can reclaim green spaces and reduce their carbon footprint despite living in concrete jungles.
The economic discussion also touched upon the commercialization of agriculture, specifically Makhana (fox nut) farming in Bihar. Responding to queries from environmentalist Rajendra Singh Kushwaha, Dr. Mishra detailed how this highly labor-intensive, water-based farming has attracted private limited companies that now dominate the processing and marketing sectors. While farmers cultivate the crop in challenging water-logged conditions, the entry of corporate entities raises questions about the equitable distribution of economic benefits and the ecological sustainability of scaled aquatic farming.
CONTROVERSIES AND CULTURAL REFORMS
The most provocative segment of the event came from social worker Dinesh Kumar Kushwaha, who challenged deeply ingrained cultural and religious norms in the name of ecological preservation. Addressing the severe pollution in Indian rivers, he tackled the sensitive issue of idol immersion during major festivals like Durga Puja and Ganesh Chaturthi. He argued that true faith does not require massive idols that ultimately choke water bodies with toxic materials. Instead, he urged citizens to adopt smaller, eco-friendly idols to align religious fervor with environmental responsibility.
Pushing the boundaries further, Dinesh Kushwaha advocated for a transition from traditional cremation to full body and organ donation. He highlighted the dual tragedy of burning bodies: it consumes massive amounts of wood or electricity, directly harming the environment, while simultaneously destroying viable organs like kidneys, livers, and eyes that could save the lives of patients languishing on waiting lists for years. He argued that body donation is the highest form of environmental protection and human service, challenging orthodox practices by prioritizing the living over the dead.
Rajendra Singh Kushwaha echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the medicinal value of plants. He noted that integrating medicinal flora into urban homes, such as Tulsi, not only purifies the toxic urban air but also provides accessible natural remedies, creating a decentralized healthcare and ecological network in residential areas. He also shared plans for massive roadside plantation drives in the National Capital Region, backed by local agencies offering saplings to proactive citizens.
STRATEGIC ANNOUNCEMENTS AND FUTURE ROADMAP
Uday Kumar Manna utilized the platform to announce a series of strategic initiatives aimed at transforming this ideological discourse into a global movement. RJS PBH is actively expanding its social impact through a formal partnership with the Indian Red Cross Society, New Delhi. A nationwide voluntary blood donation awareness campaign is currently underway, culminating in a media conference expected in September or October, with the campaign running until December 31 to honor participating families.
Manna also outlined the upcoming schedule for the Independence fortnight, including a special tribute on Partition Horrors Remembrance Day via video messaging and a grand Independence Day event titled Azadi Ke 80 Rang Sankalpon Ke Sang. This upcoming event will feature prominent figures such as Sandeep Marwah, Nitin Mehta from the UK, and Dr. A.K. Merchant, further bridging international and national perspectives on positive societal building.
The symposium concluded with a unanimous pledge taken by the participants, led by Dr. Munni Kumari from Patna, to adopt nature worship in their daily lives. The collective consensus established that preserving the environment is no longer just a governmental responsibility but a fundamental civic duty, essential for the survival of humanity and the true measure of service to the nation. The insights gathered from these intense deliberations will be compiled into the eighth historical document by Ram Janaki Sansthan Positive Broadcasting House, slated for release on Republic Day 2026, ensuring that the blueprint for an ecologically resilient India is preserved for future generations.
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