The Himalayas and the Mighty Five “S”

Rajan Kotru
rajan@rest4all.com
Evoking mystique, the multi-faceted significance of the Himalayas can hardly be overstated as it defines the geological and geographical timelines, climate characteristics, biodiversity assets, human habitats and inspirational vis-a-vis spiritual contours of the globe and especially the Indian Sub-continent. Whether seen as the water tower or cultural cradle, it has been the geo-political flashpoint even in the distant past when marauders and invaders were lured by the “Golden Sparrow” Image of India or for our deep universal knowledge and wisdom bringing Greek warriors to the continent. The universal appeal of its physical presence has numerous references whether its Kalidasa (5th BCE) or in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Skanda Purana compiled between 6th and 8th Century (CE) constructs a sacred cartography of the Indian subcontinent, extolling the outstanding spiritual value of physical landscapes of the Himalayas and Kailash Parvat. Despite the folklore and human nurturing qualities, in today’s context it is in the news due to wrong reasons of transnational conflicts, climate disasters and human greed and misdeeds, and uncontrolled development focus. As a result, we have been lightening up the social media, political discourse, think-tank platforms, research domains and practice stakeholders with the common message that the sacred Himalayan landscape cannot be managed by a development paradigm that is not customized to its unique nature. It is still not evident if we have re-infiltrated the socio-politico mindsets across 8 countries of Hindu Kush Himalaya which include India on this mountain chain that not only radiates peace and divine energy but also inevitable fury, if exploited. Specifically, India with its Vision of “Viksit Bharat” must strategize conservation and development of Himalayas deftly as our country’s future cannot be delinked from the health of the Himalayas since half of our population and land production could be easily relying on its waters and the conducive climate it creates in northern and eastern India. Alone Himalayas significance as water tower brings life and livelihoods to the entire range of mountain states and union territories we have. To galvanize the momentum of rejigging our sustainable development idea of this sacred landscape, the following could be the corrective pathway marked by Five “S” paradigm to be considered by policymakers, practitioners, scientists and indeed by the common man as fresh impetus to measured development here:
Shristhi (Nature): Creation and the creator have been extremely benevolent in providing us the nature of a mammoth mountain landscape that nourishes the ecosystem services such as the elixir of life “water” for upstream and downstream civilizations amounting to over one-fourth of the mankind on this planet. Provisioning and regulatory ecosystem services emerging from eternal glaciers, repository of biodiversity, network of major river basins etc. has led to a highly evolved and transformed socio-ecological-cultural-religious system that marks the next “S” as Sanskriti (Culture). It is the tradition of customary stewardship and collaborative governance which gave the utmost respect for mountains that local people devote forests, springs, wetlands and river banks to gods and led a frugal life of subsistence rather than the current exploitative human behaviour. Our socio-ecological system was instrumental in shaping our traditionally green development paradigm. Samridhi (Prosperity): Alone the chain of mountain ranges shaping our conducive climate harnesses network of river basins originating from the headwaters of the water-tower. If applied to plains of India considered grain bowls this would give the significance of these holy mountains not withstanding energy security, and domestic and industrial water requirements of fast-growing India. Prosperity of our country cannot be delinked from the healthy and biodiversity rich Himalayas represented by 12 states, Union territories and a few hill districts. If prosperity is to be stable and sustainable then Suraksha (Protection) of our Borders in ancient and even recent times to great extent was manifested in the great and long range of the Himalayas. This situation may have changed in the current technology driven warfare but fighting wars on the Himalayan borders is still not a cakewalk proposition. However, Suraksha apart from defence has to be seen as defining food-water-nutrition-energy security of millions of people in upstream and downstream and increasingly becoming inevitable for building climate resilience. Better management of our ecosystems in the Himalayas are still the best bet for preventing or minimising the damage of disasters haunting us day in and day out. If all of the above four “S” were in control, we would be a very stable country as fifth “S”: Sithartha (stability) would bring a balanced sustainable development Pathways (Green economy, Incentivization, Nature based Solutions, Constant Awareness/Mass Communication, etc.). If economy thrives then no country would jeopardize it by going to conflicts and wars. This especially also keeping in view that by and large mountain states of India have been remarkably peaceful, religiously harmonious and marked with a brotherhood mode.
Hence, Indian policymakers and practitioners must keep these prominent features in view while planning for its development. If the paradigm of “Five S” is mishandled then we are predestined to lose our image of “Vasudaiva Kutumbakum” (The world is one family). Any contribution to the idea of “Viksit Bharat” must therefore need to be complemented with Surakshit/Protected Himalayas which not necessarily should narrow down to conservation at all costs but a development that is green, nature-based, inclusive and equitable and linked to deft planning, implementation, management and monitoring that is pro-actively Mixing traditional wisdom with modernity, is not exploitative and alien to the needs of the Himalayan landscape and its people relying on its natural environment inspired by the powerful belief that if we respect the needs of this landscape then our development is safe. As Carl Sandburg stated: Sometime they will give war and nobody will come. Hence it is time that sustainability of Viksit Bharat idea is prioritized with greater emphasis on “Viksit Himalaya” that brings its lost glory back by responding to its Five “S” manifestation.
The author is Governing Council member Integrated Mountain Initiative

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