SPSTI to celebrate Earth Day

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by Haryananews (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, APRIL 21
The Society for Promotion of Science and Technology in India (SPSTI) will celebrate the Earth Day on April 22 by invoking the so called “Prithvi Sukta”or the Earth Hymn of Atharva Veda, which may be said to be the first universal anthem in the history of mankind.
This ‘sukta’ contains 63 mantras (12.1.1. to 12.1.63), which glorifies Mother Earth. Vedic sages regarded Earth as sacred and inviolable. One of the mantras proclaims earth as mother of all creatures and solicits its blessings.
According to SPSTI president former Haryana Chief Secretary Dharam Vir, IAS (Retd), the main objective of Earth Day is to create awareness and appreciation about the earth’s environment amongst the people.
The SPSTI notes that mismanagement of earth resources is leading to several environment related problems which, if not controlled in a time bound manner, may cause irreparable damage leading to disastrous consequences. It may even become a serious threat to the existence of mankind in certain parts of earth. The ongoing volcanic eruption in Iceland and the tsunamis which caused so much disaster several years ago are sad reminders of the holocaust that earth can face.
The SPSTI is of the view that there has to be people’s movement to earth from environment disaster. Several simple actions could lead to substantial improvement in environment and usage of earth resources. It proposes to bring out a simple guide book for common man, especially school and college students, for this purpose.
Earth is the most beautiful and only place known, where life exists in various forms. It is unique in diversity as well as extent.
Child invariably expects his mother to remain generous to him. This would be so if we in return do our utmost to keep her in good health and spirits. Our scriptures describe her thus:
Samudra vasne ! devi ! parvat-stan-mandley;
Vishnu-patni ! namas tubhyam: paad-sparsh kshmasv main.
“Oh, mother earth, who is adorned by the oceans, whose bosom is the mountain ranges, who is the wife of Vishnu, I bow to thee. Please pardon me if I touch you with my feet”.