The conservation community in India congratulated David Attenborough for being felicitated with Indira Gandhi Peace Award. Harsh Vardhan with whom the renowned Brit broadcaster had elaborate discussion at the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland, shared pictures of the meeting with the readers of the EBNW.
As India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accorded Indira Gandhi Peace Award to David Attenborough on September 8, 2020 in New Delhi to warmly appreciate services rendered by this broadcaster for his special tasks he undertook to enhance peace across the globe, the Indian conservation community congratulated the natural historian and author on the achievement. Also there is happiness around for another reason that India now has started according awards on British experts which seems to be a sign of intellectual maturity for the nation that had been ruled by the Brits for long.
Both Indira and David do not need an introduction. Indira shot herself in to global limelight on June 14, 1972 when she delivered her speech at the Plenary Session of the UN Conference on Human Environment at Stockholm:
“…. Modern man must re-establish an unbroken link with nature and with life….as the ancients did in India centuries ago, that one can take from the Earth and the atmosphere only so much as one puts back in to them. In the hymn to Earth, the sages of the Atharva Veda chanted (I quote): “What of thee I dig out, let that quickly grow over, let me not hit thy vitals, or thy heart.“
By Indira Gandhi
Know more about David
David was born in Middlesex, part of London, and studied geography and zoology. From student days, he collected items that meant natural treasures. He served Navy. However, fate took him to BBC where he was to become the only person to win BAFTAs for B&W, Colour, HD, 3D and 4K awards.
As a presenter of the best of TV telecast on endangered species and threatened habitats, he created a niche difficult to be re-created by any one. We had nice chat at Rutland when Tim Appleton, then organizer of the Bird Fair, was also present. He is younger brother of Richard Attenborough who did the film on Gandhiji.
David shot films at Ranthambhore and at Keoladeo National Park and featured India across the globe. Quite a few Indian wildlife film makers are doing it. Subbiah Nallamuthu from Tamilnadu happens to follow his foot steps, on Tigers at least.
So can we derive inspiration from David (born on 8 May 1926) to do your best for conservation.