On December 10, Bollywood fitness icon Vidyut Jammwal celebrated his 43rd birthday in the serene embrace of the Himalayas. His annual retreat, a communion with nature, became the talk of social media, unfortunately for the wrong reasons.
A seemingly innocent activity in the midst of a scenic location triggered an unexpected storm – Vidyut was captured cooking Maggi near a tree. Abhinav Shukla of Bigg Boss fame was quick to slam Vidyut on Twitter, saying “Good connecting with nature, what to eat and wear is purely a personal choice! But setting up fire next to a live tree, burning it along is not nature-friendly.” He added, “I feel #bushcraft should be taught in schools!”
Dia Mirza, an advocate for sustainable living, said basically the same thing. “I don’t want to make a personal comment on this, but in general, holding communion with nature would entail refusing single use plastics, avoiding burning a fire in close proximity of a live tree (this is a huge fire hazard and can cause a forest fire),” she posted.
Soon, other nature enthusiasts joined the conversation, expressing their concerns. Kobita Dass Kolli, a naturalist and independent researcher, highlighted the importance of responsibility while seeking attention. “Being a role model, one must care to share the right information or message,” she stressed.
Harshita Soni, a yoga therapist and nature lover, added a nuanced perspective. “It’s Vidyut’s personal page, and I can’t judge him. When we go camping in nature, we have a bonfire, but make sure we don’t leave any trash behind.”
Nishant Anand, a luxury marketing professional who calls himself a child of nature first, delved into the deeper significance of respecting nature. “In my opinion, respecting nature to be present in the lap of nature is the first step toward knowing ‘who one is,’ truly,” he commented. He urged responsible behaviour, saying, “One has to follow, create, and maintain certain rules of conduct while near living trees, creatures, streams, and wilderness in general.”
Kobita seemed to be calling in question Vidyut’s awareness about safe practices in the wilderness when she said, “I quite agree that a lot of what people do while professing to love and care about something is ultimately more about themselves. Nothing wrong with that, but it would be best to be clever about it rather than display one’s ignorance. For instance, these days, most people know how to boil a pot of water when camping, keeping the surroundings safe and causing minimal impact. This includes lighting fires only in a clearing, certainly not under a tree.”
Harshita added, “Nature is a source of wonderment and solace, but it requires responsible interaction. Enjoying a bonfire is one thing, but leaving no trace behind is equally crucial. It’s about finding a balance between personal enjoyment and environmental preservation.”
Nishant expanded on the need for a holistic approach to nature appreciation, saying, “Experiencing nature is as important as giving back to it. We must recognize that as active beings, our actions impact the environment. Respecting nature involves aligning ourselves with the divine energy and taking tangible steps to protect it.”
In the end, Vidyut’s birthday celebration became more than a personal retreat — it became a catalyst for a discourse on the importance of responsible engagement with nature. The incident turned into a broader conversation about the delicate balance between human activities and nature. In a world where online presence often overshadows real-life impact, it served as a reminder that even celebrities must tread carefully when sharing their experiences, ensuring that their actions align with environmental responsibility.
