Date:29/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/29/stories/2006042907440300.htm

Kerala - Kollam

Need for spiritual awareness about life stressed

Staff Reporter

Indian Environment Congress inaugurated

Kollam: Vice-Chairman of the University Grants Commission V.N. Rajashekaran Pillai has called for a profound change in the role of human beings in the planetary eco-system for conserving the environment. He was inaugurating the fourth Indian Environment Congress at the Amritapuri campus of the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham near here on Friday. Dr. Pillai said that in order to achieve this, a philosophical and spiritual awareness about the importance of all forms of life is required.

"We have to be aware that multiple manifestations of nature are all interdependent," he said. Dr. Pillai cautioned that in the long run mankind will be forced to accept that life cannot be supported by artificial processes and that science and technology are incapable of providing for the continuity of human life. In the blind pursuit of fast economic growth, we should not forget the demands of sustainable economic growth. Our life styles, priorities and population growth are fast depleting natural resources forever, he pointed out.

Poet Sugathakumari delivered the keynote address. Expressing deep concern over the ecological damages such as river pollution, sand-mining and deforestation, she stressed on the need to preserve rice fields, rivers, forests and sacred groves. She said that even though Kerala is blessed with 44 rivers, all of them are highly polluted. She told students not to forget the planet while dreaming about good careers. She warned that the biggest crisis mankind was going to face in next 10 years is water shortage. Ms. Sugathakuamri said that for the sake of the future generation "we start preserving our natural resources with the help of local bodies and village groups." She said that the world can learn a lot from the various initiatives taken by Mata Amritanandamayi for the preservation of the environment.

Abhayamrita Chaithanya, chief operating officer, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, delivered the benedictory address. He mentioned about the importance of living in harmony with nature. Over exploitation of the nature can cause natural calamities such as tsunami and earthquakes, he said Dr. K.B.M. Nambudiripad, Dean Amritapuri campus, welcomed the gathering. Dr. P.R. Sreemahadevan Pillai, principal, Sree Chitra Tirunal Engineering college addressed the gathering and Dr. K. M Sreedhar expressed the vote of thanks .The two-day Congress proceedings include theme presentations followed by oral and poster presentations of technical and scientific papers.