The Ganges

When I first started my internship at Barakat, I found education and the environment to be an unusual combination but the more I think about it the more it makes sense. The way I see it; the environment needs to be preserved for future generations and a good education prepares future generations to handle the challenges of the real world. They complement each other. Currently, there is a growing demand to address issues concerning education and the environment in order to improve the well-being of the citizens of the world.

Our program director, Arti Pandey, recently visited India and Afghanistan to assess Barakat's programs. During her visit in India, she met with people from the Sankat Mochan Foundation (SMF), an organization that is involved with cleaning up the river Ganges. The damaging effects pollution is having on the river Ganges is a big environmental concern in India. The momentum to clean the Ganges has picked up and many organizations are coming together to address the issue collectively. There has been an increase in focus on the issue of cleaning up the Ganges primarily because of the harmful health effects it has had on the lives of the people who use the water. The pollution mainly stems from organic waste (sewage, trash, human and animal remains) and industrial pollutants. The sacred practice of depositing human remains in the Ganges has its roots in the Hindu belief system that that if the ashes of the dead are deposited in the river, then they will be ensured a smooth transition to the next life, or freed from the cycle of death and rebirth. However, I wonder if an increase in awareness of the poor health of the Ganges has brought about changes in the Hindu tradition. I recently read an article in the Boston Globe, about Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's (who was famously known as the Beatles' guru) cremation ceremony on the banks of the holy river. It was interesting to read that the Maharishi's ashes were not immersed in the Ganges. A memorial was built instead according to his wishes. I do not know the reasons behind the Maharishi's decision but I am intrigued if his wishes were motivated by the need to help preserve the Ganges. A dip in the river is said to wash away sins. However, because the river can cleanse people of their sins does that mean it can cleanse itself of pollutants?

It is time people gave the Ganges a helping hand in preserving its purity. Barakat hopes to support the Sankat Mochan Foundation with a small grant so that they can continue their advocacy efforts at the Central Government level to get final sanction for their proposal regarding Part II of the Ganga (clean-up) Action Plan (GAP). Many lives depend on the Ganges and it is vital that people be educated about the importance of preserving the river. Even though I am from India, I have yet to visit the Ganges. I hope that efforts to save the Ganges will preserve the beautiful river not only for me to see but also for the many generations to come.

Indu Ananthakumar