Panaji: From spreading a word on Facebook to paddling 3,080 kms across four states a Coimbatore-based journalist has taken up the cause to protect Western Ghats, bleeding due to human intervention.
"Human beings are just one of the species on the earth. But we are busy looting everything, exploiting nature to the worst. We have no right to do so. The minimum what we can do is not to play with the nature," R Kalai Selvan, a television journalist who returned to Coimbatore after more than a month-long trip on cycle across four states, told PTI.
"Do not disturb Western Ghats," was his Facebook initiative that he took to real time situations, trying to explore the tale of how humans have messed up with nature.
The 33-year-old journalist travelled across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Karnataka, visiting places like Jog Falls, where nature is at its best.
"On the way people were looking at me with weird eyes. But when I explained them the concept they accepted me. During the entire cycling trip, I went on passing the message about saving Western Ghats to the people," said Selvan, who left from Coimbatore on July 6 and returned last week. Cycling through the highways and many a times tiny roads, Selvan feels the "nature was with him."
"....nature supported me vigorously during the trip," he said.
Except for a few stray incidents where he was thrown out of the road in Karnataka by some unruly youth, the entire expedition was memorable, he said.
In Goa, Selvan had a night out at Madkai, a village 35 kms away from here, at a place owned by NGO Peaceful Society.
For this angry young journalist, the trip has changed the way he looks at things.
"My arrogance has completely vanished. I am no more an angry young man," he says narrating how experiences in dealing with people made him realise the value of respecting others.
Selvan has now decided to document all his experiences into a series of stories (articles).
"I have got good offers from environmental magazines.I am weighing all options. The aim is to ensure that the Western Ghats are protected," he added.
The Western Ghats are a mountain range that runs almost parallel to the western coast of Indian peninsula. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the eight hotspots of biological diversity in the world.
