This picture and post by Dr. Bishan is a gem and is so relevant for what we Kodavas believed in. We are reminded of these famous words by GRAND CHIEF EDWARD JOHN (AKILE CH’OH). (https://fns.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/1970/01/edjohns_speech092000.pdf) :
Our elders told us stories about our ancestors, about the land, about the animals and what we needed to do to survive. They taught us what was important. They said to us “When you leave this earth to pass on to the other world, what is important is not worldly possessions you have accumulated, but what words you leave behind. This is what people will remember about you.”
When we slept we dreamt about the land, about our relatives, and about the animals. When we woke the elders talked about their dreams and their travels. They told us how well or poorly we would do in our day’s fishing, hunting or trapping. The connection to the land was strong and it pulsed through our very veins. It is from these times when I was a child and later when as an adult I learned the meaning of some of our people’s teachings.
In your deliberations on the environment and our future I want to share with you some of these ideals. I summarize them as follows:
1. Take care of the land and it will take care of you.
2. All that is alive is sacred.
3. All life is connected and interdependent.
4. We are connected to and responsible to our ancestors and our future generations.
At CLN we have regularly featured articles on the Environment, Climate Change, Responsible Tourism, Human Animal. Inflict and more with the hope that there would be a coordinated action plan by the District Administration, Forestry Department and the various stakeholders of the land.
Aloha ʻĀina
Literally means “love of the land”. It is a core Native Hawaiian concept and practice. It emphasizes a deep, interconnected relationship between people and the natural world, promoting sustainable stewardship and a spiritual commitment to caring for the land and its resources so that it can continue to sustain future generations.
Simply put… it is a practice of stewardship : Take care of the land and the land will take care of you.
Shot at Coorg, Karnataka, Aug 2025
© Dr.Bishan Monnappa.
Brilliant article and the very need of the hour. To the point, that the trails we leave behind in conserving nature – Shola, & the complete Bio diversity wherein apart from thorough digital documentation for our next generations, it is the knowledge sharing of all our ancestral beliefs and ideals we have learnt.
These true conversations of our rich folklore with our younger lot will by itself and unarguably resonate strong faith and foster togetherness, particularly when our clan’s population is gradually and dangerously thinning.
While working for the Plantations – Kanan Devan & Tea Estates India Ltd., in a full scale scientific approach towards Crop Productivity, I will never be able to forget our traditional ( & also sustainable ) cropping methods and its inherent imprint, that were passed onto me by my seniors decades ago.
These words just make my eyes moist with emotion. I look at it from a spiritual angle. No matter what perspective we look into these words, they are so, so true.
Quote: “When you leave this earth to pass on to the other world, what is important is not worldly possessions you have accumulated, but what words you leave behind. This is what people will remember about you.”
Thank you CLN for sharing such a meaningful piece. The wisdom of our elders resonates deeply – that what we leave behind is not material wealth but words, values and actions that nurture the land and life around us.
The four ideals beautifully capture our responsibility to nature and future generations. In times when environmental degradation and Human- Animal conflicts are on the rise, these feelings are a reminder of how deeply interconnected all life and all living beings are.
May we honour these values not just in words but through sustainable practices and conscious living that promotes sustainability, responsibility to maintain the environment and inclusivity.
The summary of the environment and our future is brilliant. We have to keep the traditions of our strong links to our land and respect Nature:
1. Take care of the land and it will take care of you.
2. All that is alive is sacred.
3. All life is connected and interdependent.
4. We are connected to and responsible to our ancestors and our future generations.
These words of wisdom encompasses the need to protect our forests, manage human animal conflict, respect for all and keep a check on GREED.
The connection between land, people, and ancestors is something many societies have lost. Articles like this are a necessary reminder. The spiritual and practical relationship with nature described here is something the modern world urgently needs to reconnect with.