Tuesday, February 16, 2016

When they surrendered their net

When they surrendered their nets.

It becomes a headline news if the bandits of Chambal surrender and lay down their arms before the CM/Government, but have you heard about poor men surrendering their nets of livelihood for the public cause?

It happened in the evening on 15 February 2016 at Nalsarovar. 

Gujarat is a heavenly place, the parental home (mayaka) for the birds. Thousands of birds leave the cold areas of North in winter and come to Gujarat for food, shelter and reproduction. They lay eggs and return with their offsprings. The nonviolent vegetarian people are their saviors. 

Nalsarovar, the largest wetland bird sanctuary (64 kms from Ahmedabad) of Gujarat is famous for more than 250 species of migratory birds. 75,000+ tourists visit the sanctuary every year. The lake is surrounded by 15 villages of the Padhar community, the primitive tribal. Agriculture and fishing are their main occupations. But few of them don't resist their temptation to kill birds for food. The Foresters keep vigil over the 120 sqkm area of the lake, but sometimes the hunters succeed. Their bad act disturb the peaceful stay of the birds in nights.

The forest department, with the help of an NGO, pursue them to leave hunting of birds. But when the administration fails, the Saints and religious teachings come to their rescue. 

Three men of primitive Padhar community, surrendered their fishing net, laid them down before the Saint Morari Bapu. They gave up their occupation of fishing. And the government can't be the silent spectator. The three men have been given 3 boats (Rs. 40,000 each) from the JFMC, to sail them for the tourists in Nalsarovar. They took a pledge to not to kill birds forever.

One more unusual thing happened. Babaji in general are the receiver of the donations but Morari Bapu donated Rs. 11,000 to the organiser NGO, Manav Seva Trust. One of his American follower declared donation for construction of 100 toilets, Bapu added 8 more as his contribution and made it 108. He further donated Rs. 40,000 to buy a boat for one more Padhar who will stop hunting the birds. 

He admired the act of the Padhars for surrendering their livelihood and appeal to the society to help the needy, follow cleanliness, protect birds, save girl child. He believes that the time has come for the Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha to reach out to the doorsteps of the poor and depressed. 

There is a proverb, give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Gujarat go one step ahead, teaching a man to sailboat tourists, to protect nature and feed him for lifetime.

"Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." -Bible (elect the right way to get success) 

Punamchand
16 February 2016

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