New Delhi: President of India Draupadi Murmu spent some time on the beach of the holy city of Puri on Monday morning (July 8, 2024). A day after participating in the annual Rath Yatra of Shri Jagannath, she wrote about her experience spent with nature.
In the post, the President wrote, “There are places that explain to us the essence of life and remind us that we are part of nature. Mountains, forests, rivers and beaches stir something within us and attract us. Today, when I was walking on the beach, I felt a connection with the environment. The moderate breeze, the noise of the waves and the vast expanse of water was an experience of being lost in thoughts.” She further said, “This gave me a deep inner peace, which I also felt yesterday during the darshan of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannathji. And I am not alone in feeling this way; we can all feel this when we are faced with something that is much bigger than us, that supports us and makes our lives meaningful.”
The President then spoke about the importance of nature for mankind. He said, “In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we lose our connection with Mother Nature. Mankind believes that it has captured nature and is exploiting it for its short-term benefits. The result of this is there for all to see. This summer, many parts of India witnessed severe heat waves. In recent years, we have seen the world facing abnormal weather. The situation is indicating that the situation may get even worse in the coming decades.”
The President then mentioned the damage caused by global warming. “Oceans cover more than seventy per cent of the Earth’s surface, and global warming has caused global sea levels to rise, increasing the risk of coastal areas being submerged. The ocean and its rich diversity of flora and fauna have also suffered greatly from various types of pollution,” it wrote.
“Fortunately, people living in the lap of nature have preserved traditions that can show us the way. For example, residents of coastal areas know the language of the ocean winds and waves. Following our ancestors, they worship the ocean as God.”
Closing her sentiments, President Murmu wrote, “I believe there are two ways to meet the challenge of protecting and preserving the environment; broad steps that can be taken by governments and international organizations, and small, local steps that we can take as citizens. Of course, both complement each other. Let us pledge to do whatever we can individually, locally, for a better tomorrow.”
