[A short story by Mrs. Dinavahi Satyavathi titled ‘Green Pledge’.]
Ananya, Karunya, and Sharanya are degree students pursuing Environmental Science as their main subject at a college under the jurisdiction of Andhra University in Visakhapatnam. Though they came from different regions, they quickly became close friends.
All three are currently in their third year of their degree.
Ananya belongs to a middle-class family and is the youngest of four daughters. Karunya’s father works as a manager in a multinational company in Maharashtra. Sharanya is a girl who comes from a poor family in Kerala.
***
Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the state is stepping towards all-round development, leading to numerous physical changes in the city of Visakhapatnam. One such change is the expansion of roads. The fact that hundreds of green trees are being cut down for this reason is causing immense distress to the three friends.
“While coming to college from the hostel this morning, I saw an age-old green tree being chopped down. It felt completely heart-breaking, you know,” shared Sharanya, expressing the grief in her heart.
“Didn’t you go and ask them why they were doing that?” Karunya asked angrily.
“I did ask, but they gave a very careless reply, saying, ‘These are all government decisions. We just have to follow their orders. Anyway, you look like a student, why do you care about all this? Go mind your own business.’”
Karunya breathed a long sigh after hearing what Ananya said.
“Just the other day, our neighbour picked a huge fight, demanding that the tree in our compound be chopped down immediately because the branches were hanging into his yard and making a mess he couldn’t keep up with. Our house owner, not wanting any trouble with the neighbours, though reluctantly, she had that massive tree cut down. Afterward, she broke down in tears telling me that the tree was planted when she was born and was as precious to her as life itself, poor thing,” Ananya said.
“What is all this! What on earth is happening around us? Why are people forgetting that green trees are priceless gifts given to us by nature? Are we studying this Environmental Science just to stand by and watch silently like helpless bystanders while such injustice is being done to nature right before our eyes?” Karunya said, deeply disturbed by what Ananya shared.
“Look how strange it is! Even though so much is happening, everyone remains completely indifferent. If this continues, what kind of message are we leaving for our future generations?” Ananya expressed her anguish.
“Yes, what you said is absolutely true. Instead of waiting for someone else to come and do something, we should take the initiative and do something ourselves in this direction. What do you guys say?” Karunya asked her friends.
“We should definitely do it. Do you have any ideas on what to do?” Sharanya questioned.
“Yes,” Karunya said, sharing her idea with her friends. She added, “If both of you agree, we will implement this as soon as our final degree exams are over. In the meantime, let’s inform our families and ask for their permission and support as well.”
“Let’s do exactly as you said. I will discuss this with my family today itself,” Ananya said.
“I will also tell my parents,” Sharanya said.
“What we are about to do is a great, noble task. I will ask my father for the necessary financial and material support. I am confident he will definitely agree,” Karunya said.
***
The wheel of time turned swiftly, and four months flew by. Ananya, Sharanya, and Karunya successfully completed their degree exams. After that, as planned earlier, with the determination to raise awareness about environmental protection among the public, the trio began their journey on their two-wheeled chariots, their bicycles.
The gentle, fragrant southern breezes blew, as if blessing the successful fulfilment of the friends’ green pledge!
శ్రీమతి దినవహి సత్యవతి రచయిత్రి, అనువాదకురాలు, వ్యాసకర్త. తెలుగు, హిందీ, ఆంగ్లం భాషలలో విస్తృతంగా రచనలు చేశారు. గళ్ళ నుడికట్టు పజిల్స్ నిర్వాహకురాలు.