As a young girl, I always walked up through the gentle whispers of cool breeze that caressed the mountain ranges in the western ghats. Birds sang and bees buzzed. The beautiful sound of everything happened around at dawn and dusk were a synchronized, rhythmic act of people lived in the nature in harmony. I would open my eyes to the mist clad green trees allowing rays of sunshine to sneak in which usually brightened my day. The chorus of the Birds created an unusual melodious symphony with so many different specifies. The sunset has its own rhythm with the walking home of the herds of cattle.
My travel to school was the journey of hours through the hilly terrain. The ridges of the hills were not visible because of plenty of trees that hid them. The verdant fields of pepper and coffee plantations made Kodagu known for its serenity and nature’s bounty. My nearby township was not close and my childhood was never complete with the stationeries packed up at home and the value of carefully utilising the sources was always taught. While I was growing up, my district had a good environmental balance. This balance was achieved by protecting her harmony with the nature, flora and fauna in the form of good relationship between human settlements forest and water resources. To me my district captivated with its stunning scenery rolling into green hills, coffee plantations, waterfalls which was like haven for nature. I would always walk through the lush green paddy fields playing with the crabs which would slowly sneak in. Devakaad along with the reserved forests by the government made the district green which kept the fresh air intact. I remember my parents grumbling every time a loaded timber or bamboo lorry passed by making a heavy engine sound while climbing uphill, there goes another load of trees which was mercilessly axed.
Unfortunately, the total scenario is different from the Kodagu which I saw and the Kodagu which is now. Sadly, the entire scenario has almost vanished or vanishing. What Kodagu once was seems like from a different dimension altogether. Kodagu, once a green paradise is painting a different scenario today. We are now swamped by the vices and the advantages of civilization, without being able to preserve what was bestowed upon us. The trees have disappeared and ugly structures made its way to which we are told is being done for prosperity and progress. The lush paddy fields through which I walked to my school slowly disappeared and new houses are constructed upon those fields. Kodagu is being urbanized rapidly as attempts are made to bring it on par with larger cities. With the trees, the wildlife too disappeared as a large number of layouts are mushrooming all over the district. Once known for serene hilly landscape, eye- catching coffee estates and its sacred groves, Kodagu is now in ruins reeling from the disaster of some kind.
So, where does the fault lie? Whom to blame for this environmental disaster? Should we blame the people of Kodagu who have changed everything around them in the name of modernization? Should we blame the increased tourism and the ever-increasing garbage and plastic? Should we blame the politicians for the greed of money? Or should we blame ourselves for tolerating all these?
Either the strategic importance of Kodagu is underestimated or it is utter ignorance and short sighted,the use,misuse, abuse on Kodagudoes not seems to be ending.
Kodandera Mamatha Subbaiah
