Today is World Earth Day, and over the years, as an educationist and leader of Symbiosis International University, I have realized that universities play an immense role in contributing to sustainability on the planet.
The motto of Symbiosis is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, as we believe the world is one family. The word ‘Vasudha’ means earth, so we think every being on this planet is mine; therefore, we must respect Mother Earth. This philosophy is not new to us Indians as, since ancient times, we have treated the earth as our mother and not only say ‘mother earth,’ but practice it too. Many of our rituals are directed towards showing reverence to all the earth offers us, such as harvest festivals and offerings to the Sun God or other deities.
We at Symbiosis believe that if children are introduced to sustainability early, we can sow the seeds of environmental responsibility, awareness and respect for Mother Earth. At Symbiosis Schools, we have nurtured this by engaging children in Nature Walks, Gardening, and projects on Recycling and Waste Management. We have taught them about Water Conservation and encouraged sustainable practices at home. Symbiosis International University, for instance, has established the Symbiosis Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability. This centre is dedicated to studying the effects of climate change and finding research-based solutions to mitigate its impact.
The University campus is a Sustainable campus. We preach and teach sustainability and practice it on our campus. Students are encouraged to plant trees and maintain them. We ensure that the uneaten food left after students’ consumption is recycled to create biogas used in the kitchens of these dining halls. We harvest rainwater and have made two large check dams to conserve water. The sanitation water is used for gardening after it is filtered through reed beds created in the campus gardens. We also ensure optimum utilization of natural light and solar energy. The campus has an active biodiversity club, so we bring students closer to nature, plants, and animals – the flora and fauna! By doing all this, we endeavour that these young students carry with them respect for Mother Earth and pass it on to the next generations!
On this World Earth Day, remember that universities are not just academic institutions. They are the training grounds where we can find new solutions to our planet’s challenges. Together, we can transform our earth into a better place for future generations.