ISHFAQ MANZOOR
Water, the source of life, purity, and peace is no longer as clean and comforting as it once was. The gurgling streams and fresh springs that once defined the identity of our villages are today losing their soul. Once symbols of serenity and survival, they are now choked with plastic waste, chemical run-offs, and unchecked sewage.The silent cry of our water bodies is growing louder, and it is high time we listen.Water pollution is not just an urban issue anymore. Even in our rural areas, once considered pristine, water bodies are becoming increasingly polluted.The very streams from which generations drank and bathed now carry the burden of our neglect.Empty shampoo sachets, polythene bags, medicine wrappers, discarded clothes, and even dead animals are found floating in them.What used to be a source of pride is now turning into a threat to health and dignity.This is not someone else’s problem. It is ours. And the solution begins with us not with big plans or policies, but with small, sincere actions at the individual and community level.We need to awaken as a society and ask ourselves: What legacy are we leaving behind for our children? If a child today cannot trust the water flowing through his village stream, where does that leave our values of care, responsibility, and collective wellbeing?The irony is bitter, we pray with water, we purify with water, yet we pollute it without a second thought. We wash our clothes in the streams, throw garbage along their banks, and then blame others when diseases rise or when the water smells foul.
Isn’t it time we stop pointing fingers and start taking responsibility?
The need of the hour is community consciousness. In every village and mohalla, people must unite to protect their local water sources. Community-led cleanliness drives, awareness campaigns, and setting up local monitoring groups can go a long way. Elders can guide, youth can lead, and even children can contribute by simply learning not to litter or waste water.Our religious teachings, too, remind us that water is sacred. In Islam, for instance, wasting or polluting water is discouraged.The same reverence is found in other faiths. This is not just about ecology it is about ethics, culture, and identity.
Let us remember that pollution is not only caused by factories and big industries.It starts at home ,from that one polythene thrown, from that one detergent bucket drained into the stream, from that casual neglect we show every day.When these small actions are repeated across hundreds of homes, the result is large-scale damage.We must also promote the revival of traditional water wisdom. Our elders knew how to maintain clean water bodies.They had designated washing areas, community water management systems, and a natural respect for water.It’s time to bring back those values in new forms.
Schools can play a key role too. Children should be taught early about the importance of clean water, not just in textbooks but through practical exposure visits to clean and polluted streams, involvement in cleanliness drives, and the inclusion of environmental ethics in daily learning.We don’t need slogans. We need sincerity. We don’t need blame-games. We need unity.
The problem of water pollution will not vanish overnight, but if each one of us pledges to protect even a small stream or spring near our home, we will have already won half the battle.Let us respect our water sources, clean them, protect them, and preserve them. Not because someone tells us to. But because our future depends on it. Because our dignity is tied to it. And because water, quite simply, is life. Don’t wait for change to come from above. Let it flow from within like clean water through a thirsty land.
Across Kashmir and other rural belts of our country, the picture is increasingly grim. During my visits to remote areas, I’ve witnessed local women walk miles to fetch clean water, despite living near streams that once served as lifelines. Why? Because those nearby streams now carry the stench of decay. The chemical detergents used for washing clothes, remains of rituals, and unchecked dumping of domestic waste have rendered them unsafe.The health consequences are severe. Villagers are reporting more frequent cases of waterborne diseases like diarrhea, typhoid, and skin infections. Children fall ill repeatedly, and elders, with weakened immunity, suffer silently. This is not just an environmental crisis; it is a human crisis. A threat to life, livelihood, and human dignity.Moreover, let us not forget that polluted water eventually returns to us either through agricultural produce grown with it or by merging with other larger water sources. We cannot escape the consequences, no matter how distant we think we are from the problem.Now imagine an alternative. Imagine a stream so clean that children play along its banks without fear, where farmers can safely irrigate, and where the entire village feels pride in having preserved a natural gift. This is not an impossible dream. It is entirely within our reach if we act now.The change must begin with awareness. People must understand the science and impact of pollution. Seminars in schools, mosque announcements, social media campaigns, and village meetings can all be effective tools to educate the public.Next comes community participation. Let us organize regular “Stream Cleaning Days” where all families, schools, and local groups join hands. Let the village headmen and elders lead by example. Small infrastructure steps can help tooplacing dustbins near water bodies, creating fencing around springs, and ensuring that soaps and detergents are not used directly in the water.
We must also involve panchayats and local NGOs. These bodies can help channel schemes for sanitation, build waste collection units, and organize workshops. Let’s use existing government programs as enablers, not wait for miracles.Youth clubs, school eco-groups, and women’s self-help groups should be empowered to take the lead. Let us train them not just as protectors of water but as ambassadors of change. In rural Kashmir, we have seen inspiring examples villages that have banned plastic, youth-led drives to clean springs, and elders donating land to build community wash areas.At an individual level, each one of us must ask: Do I use water wisely? Do I dispose of my waste responsibly? Do I encourage others in my family to care for nature? Change will come not from speeches, but from action starting with ourselves.Finally, we must cultivate a sense of ownership. These streams, these springs, these rivers they are ours. Their protection is not someone else’s duty. They belong to the community and must be cared for by the community. Water is not just a utility; it is a heritage, a legacy we must pass on, clean and pure.This article is not a complaint. It is a call, a sincere call to every conscious heart that feels for their land and future generations. Our collective silence will cost us dearly. But our united voice and action can bring back the melody of flowing water, the freshness of clean springs, and the dignity of healthy living.As we walk forward, let’s remember: we are not powerless. Every drop saved, every stream cleaned, and every person educated is a victory. A victory for nature, for health, and for humanity.Let us be the generation that didn’t just talk about clean water but actually made it happen.
(Author is a writer from kulgam. Feedback: [email protected])
