Everytime I pass the small patch of forest next to Sector 93B in Noida (opposite the brand new Omaxe Forest), I cannot help but feel intensely agitated as I see the greenery thinning out that bit more each day. When I pass by in the morning, I see a set of daily laborers use this as a large open air restroom... in the evening, before it gets dark, I see children walking into the trees picking up dry wood, leaves and disturbing the general peace of the place. Once in a while, usually in the late evening in the summer, and early morning in the winter, there is a brief moment of elusive happiness when I spot some animals which also inhabit this little piece of abused and molested paradise that has survived despite our best efforts. A few times I have espied herds of Nilgai (once all 14 of them) just outside the forest trying to take advantage of the little strip of grass which surrounds this forest; at other times, particularly in the winter, I have come across quite a few peacocks - confused by the swirling fog into coming up near the new unused road that is being constructed right next to the forest. I wistfully remember the morning last winter when I saw 8 of them lined up next to the road, as if for a photo op. Somehow, I never feel like carrying a camera when I go for my morning or evening walks - as if to capture the animals in a file would somehow violate the wildness that they have so far fought hard to retain. My rottweiler, Princess Aurora, who always accompanies me in these walks and who loves this area is somehow curiously undisturbed at the sight of wildlife in this area - only once did she give chase to a Nilgai ten times her size and came back panting in defeat... I don't know whether it is possible to do anything for this remaining patch of heaven next to my current home, but my heart goes out to the trees and animals who have lived there for centuries till folks like us started encroaching on their home and steadily but surely started driving them towards extinction. I sincerly believe that my country, India, is the most insensitive and uncaring as far as forests and wildlife is concerned - we will continue arguing that we are too poor or too populous to care for things that we should treasure - WILL WE EVER LEARN?
