季節的迴響:致敬哈爾達爾·納格與被遺忘的西奧里薩邦智慧
個人博客
近日翻閱舊相冊時,幾張泛黃的照片突然觸動心弦。它們喚醒了溫暖的記憶,也帶來隱隱的不安——那些值得被更多人聽見的聲音、值得被更多人看見的土地與智慧,始終沉寂在時光角落。
早在哈爾達爾·納格成為家喻戶曉的蓮花士勳章得主之前,我有幸拜讀過他震撼心靈的《巴查爾卡比亞》——一部以季節變遷為主題的詩集。這份機緣來自已故的迪利普·達達的引薦。懷着好奇,我通過阿肖克·普賈哈里的協助,開始頻繁拜訪詩人本人。
那是1990年代初。當時我正在研究"民眾對氣候變化的感知"——這個課題在當時絕大多數學術與政策討論中仍屬空白。最令我震撼的是,哈爾達爾先生的詩歌舉重若輕地捕捉到了季節更迭的脈搏、環境變遷的軌跡與在地生態實相。他的詩性洞察所揭示的真理,彼時的科學才剛剛開始探索。
當英國Flycatcher Films的羅伯與安柏為BBC Earth來記錄我的工作時,我堅持要帶他們去見哈爾達爾先生。那時還沒有人將他的詩作與環境意識相聯結——或許至今依然如此。但我永遠難忘那個場景:他即興吟誦時手中無稿,思想如河流般從心底自然流淌,那種震撼堪稱魔法。
後來他欣然隨我參加國家級論壇,講述詩中蘊藏的氣候密碼、季節輪迴以及人與自然的神聖聯結。他的謙遜、深邃與澄明令所有人動容。
當蓮花士勳章的榮光終於降臨,我卻在欣慰中感到遺憾:《巴查爾卡比亞》蘊含的生態智慧至今未被充分認知——不僅在全國層面,甚至在他的故鄉。
如今他的故鄉根斯村以自由鬥爭史上的角色聞名,卻少有人知那些靜默的遺產:卡塔斯、班德斯、穆達斯、查哈拉斯……這些傳統集水系統凝結着西奧里薩邦人民的生態智慧。詩人曾向我憂心忡忡地訴說這些系統正被忽視乃至消失。不知如今他作何想。
但希望猶存。鄰近的帕德馬普爾居民近日挺身而出,向國家綠色法庭請願拯救一座即將被填平建車站的古池塘。這微小的抵抗意義深遠——它證明守護的火種未曾熄滅。
(評論區續)Echoes of Seasons: A Tribute to Haldhar Nag and the Neglected Wisdom of Western Odisha
A personal blog
While flipping through old printed photos recently, I came across a few that instantly stirred something deep within me. They brought back fond memories, but also a quiet unease—a reminder of voices, places, and wisdom that deserve to be heard far more than they are.
Long before Haldhar Nag agyan became a household name and received the Padma Shri, I had the rare privilege of reading his Bachar Kabya—a deeply evocative collection of poems on the changing seasons. I owe this discovery to Late Dillip Dada, who introduced me to his work. My curiosity led me to seek out Haldhar Babu himself, and with the kind facilitation of Ashok Pujahari agyan, I began visiting him more frequently.
It was the early 1990s. I was researching "people's perception on climate change"—a subject still alien to most academic and policy circles at the time. What struck me profoundly was how effortlessly Haldhar Babu’s poems captured the pulse of seasonal changes, environmental shifts, and local ecological realities. His poetic lens revealed truths that science had only begun to explore.
When Rob and Amber from Flycatcher Films in the United Kingdom decided to document my work for BBC Earth, I felt compelled to introduce them to Haldhar Babu. At that point, no one had really connected his poetry with environmental awareness. Perhaps that is still true today. But I’ll never forget how moved we were by his ability to orate, with no script in hand, just a river of thought flowing straight from the heart. It was nothing short of magic.
Later, he graciously agreed to accompany me to national forums, where he spoke about the subtle messages woven into his poems—messages about climate, seasons, and our sacred relationship with nature. His humility, depth, and clarity left a lasting impression.
Eventually, his work gained the national spotlight. The Padma Shri was conferred upon him, and rightly so. Yet, I can’t help but feel that the recognition of Bachar Kabya—especially its environmental insight—has lagged far behind. Not just nationally, but in his own village and region.
Today, Ghess—his home village—is known to many for its role in the freedom struggle. But few know of the silent legacy that surrounds it: the Katas, Bandhs, Mudas, and Chahalas. These traditional water harvesting systems speak of the ingenuity and ecological intelligence of the people of Western Odisha. Haldhar Babu once shared his concerns with me about how these systems were being ignored and slowly disappearing. I wonder what his thoughts are now.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope. Some residents of Padampur, a nearby town, have recently taken a stand. They approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to save an old pond that's at risk of being filled up for a new bus stand. This small act of resistance matters. It signals that the spirit of conservation is still alive.
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