Sir David! This is no reference to any Knight in the medieval period or the Middle Ages, the term more commonly used to refer to that era in European History.
The one and only Sir David that springs to mind immediately is the deeply admired global icon Sir David Attenborough who recently celebrated his 100thbirthday! May he live long…. the right word should be ‘longer’! Just a few days earlier I read that he was turning 100 years old. So I was pleasantly and joyfully surprised when The Hindu featured him in its Sunday magazine.
It’s no surprise that Great Britain hails him as a ‘national treasure’. His unparalleled and unrivalled natural history documentaries on the animal kingdom featured on television over the past several decades, have educated and been a trusted guide, to more people than have come out of universities, on the beauties and wonders of our planet; a colourful kaleidoscope of nature’s images blended with thought provoking commentaries.
Television as the doorway to showcase nature
Ever since satellite TV was brought into homes, there was a regular and rapt audience eagerly waiting for the weekly shows that were aired that were almost like multimedia science lessons. I vividly remember putting aside everything to watch the Blue Planet, my first introduction to Sir David’s body of work and being stunned by its visual imagery, especially those underwater sequences that literally took my breath away. I, instantly became a huge fan of his! His commentary and actions were not dramatic and did not involve frenetic energy, unlike Steve Irwin the ‘Crocodile Hunter’ who flirted with danger. Steve Irwin showed the world how to conquer fear in the company of the most dangerous animals and helped to set at rest many misconceptions that humans had about nature. Sir David took the uninitiated into a natural world never seen before, stirring emotions so deep and strong that inspired and motivated many naturalists around the world to promote the cause of conservation of the wild.
From the tiniest of creatures to the mightiest ones that inhabit our planet, we travelled on a journey of multiple hues that opened our minds and hearts to the wonders of evolution as life advanced on our planet. It seemed as if the colourless pages of a science book were suddenly brought to life with brilliant illustrations and intricate details of life’s beginnings on land and water. The modern world’s advancements in photographic technologies especially in the use of underwater cameras were brilliantly matched with Sir David’s measured and modulated tone of voice to complete the sense of amazement and wonder. It certainly drove home the fact to us humans that our existence on this planet was, beyond all doubt, bound to all life around us. The images of Sir David cuddling a young chimp with not a hair out of place or looking deeply into a chameleon’s eyes made him a superhero beyond measure! I certainly believe I went through a complete cycle of re-educating myself. Names like capybara, elephant shrew, meerkat, proboscis monkey, vampire squid and wombat didn’t seem so strange any more.
Homo Sapiens Vs the Planet
Beyond the learning experience gained from Sir David’ s shows, there was another equally pertinent issue that was slowly embedding itself into one’s psyche; the undeniable vulnerability of many species brought about by humankind’s thoughtless and selfish actions. From overfishing that was draining the oceans of a myriad of fish species without allowing for regeneration to the destruction of rainforests that were wiping out orang-utan habitats. Oceans were depleted of sea kelp which were turned into medications for a host of human uses; so also rainforests destroyed for palm cultivation to feed the cosmetic industry. The direct connection between humans and the disappearance of many species was brought home to us gently but forcefully, single handed by Sir David. He is indeed our Knight in Shining Armour.
Through all the accolades he has received and the accomplishments he has achieved, he maintains his humility and is quick to share his success with the highly skilled teams of technicians, producers and photographers who have gone with him on his journeys to capture the wonders of nature and enabled his programs to reach the farthest corners of the globe. But, and I will bet my last penny on this, no other presenter has traversed the globe from the Poles to the Equator, across time zones, across land and sea, delving deep into earth’s core on land and sea to satiate curiosity as Sir David has. In doing so, he has been able to see first-hand the degeneration of life on the planet especially over the past few decades and put humans at the very epicentre of the disastrous impact that species Homo Sapiens is inflicting on every other species in existence. Without sounding preachy, he has been able to show us the tightrope that humankind is walking in the survival of our one and only Blue Planet. We cannot afford to overlook the connection between the man-made disasters inflicted upon our earth and the dreadful consequences that follow. We may still not have all the answers to protect our beautiful home, this wondrous planet of ours but we cannot turn a blind eye and hope to heavens that the solutions will be handed to us. Every human being, young and old, rich and poor, black and white holds the key to the continued survival of life on earth for although Mother Nature is resilient, her patience may just be running out.
Are we at the crossroads?
Education about nature’s wonders and the fragility of its existence must begin at a very early age. Taking advantage of technological advancements to educate and create awareness among 8 billion humans on their roles and responsibilities is crucial to ensure the survival of all life on earth. But just when we begin to think that we are making some headway, we realize that we have taken two steps back! Over the past decade, we have seen several United Nations Climate Change Conferences debate endlessly about carbon emissions and climate change without reaching the much-needed consensus. But as the saying goes, “Hope springs eternal”!
I have always harboured a fantasy! If I were asked to name a wish to be made true, I would choose to spend a day in the company of Dame Jane Goodall or Sir David! Now that the former is no longer amongst us, I hope my other fantasy will see the light of day!
