Commotion of Emotions

Forested hills are often furnished with many tiny streams that originate from natural underground reservoirs. They hold enormous natural, aesthetic and cultural values but today, more so than ever, they are in extreme danger for several reasons, in different parts of the country. The small town of Kurseong, in the hills of Darjeeling - where I come from - also has many such streams that are of unparalleled beauty and value. I grew up visiting several of them in different seasons and what lovely times they were! Sadly, today most of the streams are gone. Some dried up due to inextricable reasons involving climate change, deforestation, and so on, while others have simply been clogged by filth and garbage. This has affected every part of a resident's life, and this transition perhaps reflects a deeper change in society. Yet the issue of drying hill streams is barely a topic of discussion. Though my poem draws from my own experiences, I hope it brings about a moment to reflect upon wh

 The Western Ghats form India's oldest natural systems predating even the Himalayas by a huge margin. Stretching all the way from Maharashtra to Kerala, parallel to the coast, they are home to thousands of plants, animals, and other organisms found nowhere else in the world! Having experienced them after a long time, I made an effort to capture my thoughts in the poem below. Though the poem describes the beauty and diversity of the Ghats, things are not all rainbows and butterflies. Entire ecosystems have been heavily stressed by human activities, with no coast left untouched, and no jungle left unseen. Hope you readers enjoy it :) As the fog cleared up on the sweaty canvas, Atop a hill that I had climbed to see; As the sneaky sun turned thick air to glass, Lo and behold! A frame frozen in beauty. A churning sea in rain and in sun, Enveloped by a thin, yet endless azure; Sea eagles hovered above, watching me stunned - Perhaps signalling other birds out on tour; Oh, what could I hav