Water, Forest, Land and the Girl Child

Abstract

The relationship between society and nature is an old one. It might be better to say that this relationship is ancient. It is for this reason that the proponents of a male dominated Indian society make the comparison between sons and trees. And that too where having one son is recognised as necessary for the perpetuation of lineage - there a tree is equated with ten sons.

From this we know the importance of trees in our life. Thus, it has been said in the Garuda Purana, that while the flower may be picked from a tree, the tree itself should not be destroyed. And perhaps, to make people conscious of this idea. it has been said in the Vishnu Purana that the tree is a form of god Anantadev. This is not being cited to give religious importance to trees, rather to develop an approach towards society and nature, of which a major part is constituted by trees.