Bureaucrats and Intellectuals Must Lead Environmental Awareness: Saryu Roy

Ranchi: Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy addressed a high-profile gathering at the Old Assembly Hall on Earth Day, stating that the work culture of those at the pinnacle of power is now under scrutiny. Speaking at an event organized by Yugantar Bharti and the Nature Foundation, Roy emphasized that the responsibility for environmental conservation lies more with top-ranking officials, intellectuals, and bureaucrats than with the common citizen.

The Shift from Sustainable to Eternal Development

Roy argued that the world needs to transition from “Sustainable Development” to “Eternal (Shashwat) Development.” He warned that as we enter the fourth phase of the Industrial Revolution—defined by Artificial Intelligence—the current path of development risks leading to inevitable destruction.

“Earth has enough resources to meet its needs,” Roy stated, echoing Gandhian philosophy. “We must master technology only as much as necessary. Technology is a good servant but a dangerous master. We must keep this in mind while utilizing Artificial Intelligence.”

He further criticized current industrial practices, noting that deep-earth mining and high-current underground testing cause irreversible damage to the planet’s core.

Greed Over Welfare: The Rise of “Lobh-Laabh”

Roy highlighted a disturbing shift in corporate and social trends, where the traditional concept of “Auspicious Profit” (Shubh-Laabh) has been replaced by “Greedy Profit” (Lobh-Laabh).

“In the race for excessive profit, the ‘auspicious’ element has vanished, and greed has taken over,” he remarked. Roy warned that the true crisis is the rising global temperature. “Increasing temperatures won’t just burn us; the consequences are far-reaching. We are inadvertently pushing ourselves back toward a new Ice Age, and ironically, our brightest minds are creating this crisis.”

Global Threats: Solar Waste and Rising Temperatures

Anshul Sharan, President of Yugantar Bharti, introduced the seminar’s theme, “Our Earth, Our Future.” He pointed out that by 2047, the world will face a massive challenge in managing an estimated 11 million tons of solar waste. He also shared a startling statistic: global temperatures are projected to rise by 0.3 degrees this year alone, a clear signal of impending danger.

Vedic Wisdom and Modern Challenges

Former Registrar of Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University, Dr. M.K. Jamuar, noted that the solutions to modern environmental crises were recorded 5,000 years ago in the Atharvaveda. He lamented that cultural shifts toward Westernization have led people to ignore traditional wisdom regarding the purity of water, vegetation, and air.

Senior environmentalist Om Singh added that while 190 countries observe Earth Day, the lack of coordination between government initiatives and public efforts hinders success. He argued that governments often fail to take public participation seriously.

The seminar concluded with a panel discussion involving representatives from various districts, including Radheshyam Agarwal, Surendra Sinha, and Govind Mewar. The event was moderated by Bhartendu Jha, with a vote of thanks delivered by Dharmendra Tiwari.