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How is it that a banker has dedicated his life to saving
wildlife?
Wildlife and the Indian environment have been abiding interests
throughout my life. The flame was nurtured over 45 years of
travelling, reading, watching and working. I was able to contribute
only in a small and quiet way to the cause of conservation
because the professional demands of my banking career did
not permit a broader involvement. The difference now is that
I am working for an organisation whose dedication I have admired
and I can do what I have always wanted to.
Was this an accidental move, or something you always knew
would happen one day?
My transition to WWF-India was evolutionary, not revolutionary.
In any event, I had decided some years ago – and my close
friends always knew this – that at some point, while I was
still active and able, I would devote my life to India’s wildlife
and natural world. As I see it, if you are clear about the
colour of your flame, life delivers you your opportunities.
Wanderers never run straight!
Where did it all start? Where were you born and what injected
this love for nature in you?
I was born “North of the oceans, south of the snows – in the
land of Bharata,” as the ancient text says! My love for nature
was a gift to me by my parents for whom the great outdoors,
travelling and broadening one’s horizons were second nature.
They taught me to see life differently both in essence and
form.
And your schooling? How much did your teachers influence you?
I schooled in many places; completed my I.S.C. from Delhi
Public School and my MA from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.
Teachers influence everyone they teach and I was no exception.
I am sure some of my teachers still claim I harried them in
extra-curricular arenas, but I enjoyed school and loved and
respected my teachers. They helped me in terms of life itself…
not mere academics.
Sounds like you were one of those ‘good’ students!
‘Good’ is a very subjective word. But I have to answer in
the affirmative because I did well in both school and college.
I actually topped the University with a major in History and
was presented the coveted ‘Best All-Rounder Award’ at St.
Stephen’s in 1975 for sports and academics. But more than
marks and awards, years down the line, what I am most grateful
to my alma mater for are the values I imbibed, the development
of character that helped me face life’s challenges, the desire
for excellence, the premium placed on friendships and, yes,
an innate respect for the pedagogue.
You have been a trekker. Do you intend to create special
bridges between institutions like the Himalayan Club and WWF-India?
Such bridges are inevitable. In the case of the Himalayan
Club, we have the advantage of a membership that is constantly
out in the field and apart from detailed surveys, even anecdotal
information on snow leopard and wolf kills in villages or
bear and markhor sightings can provide data on the status
of fragile habitats. We intend to be proactive in communicating
WWF-India’s desire to build partnerships with all credible
organisations.
What really drew you to wildlife?
There is no single instance that I can isolate. I revel in
the earth and all its treasures. It could have been the wandering
Monal that I awoke one morning to discover outside my camp;
or the leopard I came upon by happenstance in a rainforest;
or maybe the antlions crafting sandy traps that I drew inspiration
from. I remember being fascinated, not scared, by the dhaman
(rat snake) I saw when I was a child. I have lost track of
the number of days and nights spent camping out in the wild.
I was drawn to wildlife at all times in my life.
And where does the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
fit into your plans? You are still on its Executive Committee.
Are your loyalties divided?
There is no issue here. My loyalty is to conservation and
to the protection of India’s natural heritage. And towards
this end, WWF-India and the BNHS have a common destiny to
fulfill. They are India’s largest and oldest NGOs in the field.
I see myself as a contributor, not someone who extracts or
detracts. Since taking over my new assignment, I have spoken
in detail to a number of BNHS members and it is clear that
we have an opportunity to combine the strengths of both these
organisations to tackle key priorities.
Can you list three such priorities for me?
1. The lack of understanding and awareness of the real worth
of wild habitats and thus a lack of support from those in
the government.
2. The lack of qualitative cohesion in the conservation movement
itself.
3. The lack of sustainable resources, which makes defending
wildlife a grim and thankless task.
How much do you think the corporate sector is helping?
Far too little. There is limited awareness. But fortunately
there is also an underlying desire to know more and to contribute.
But the effect of environmental education over the years has
been upwardly absorbed and this is now slowly taking effect.
Of course, a few dedicated corporates have been supporting
conservation in India for decades. Their example needs emulation.
The same holds good for a few trusts and private firms. But
I do see a gradual change. Corporate community developments
and support for social and environmental causes is emerging.
Some corporates are coming up with environmental projects
of their own and executives are being encouraged to be personally
involved.
What more would you advise them to do?
Well, to begin with, they need to expose their personnel to
more wildlife experiences in our national parks and sanctuaries.
One of the ways to inject sensitivity might be to hold conferences
and off-sites near wilderness areas. WWF-India intends to
work with corporates, even as we pressurise them to fall in
line with new environmental realities. And we believe that
shareholders of large corporates would support such company
efforts, provided they knew the money was being well-spent
and was having a real effect on the ground. Globally, the
understanding that environmentally-healthy companies enjoy
long-term benefits is forming; corporate strategies are moving
in this direction.
Tell me about tigers. How will you be kick-starting the
WWF-India Tiger Conservation Programme?
I am not sure it needs kick-starting as you suggest. Perhaps
we can refocus, keeping changing needs and developments in
mind. We have several years of experience in this area and
a dedicated team under our Species Programme that is a combination
of leadership, committment and action. We also have an open
line of communication with Park Directors and experts on tiger
conservation who will be able to provide congruence in implementation.
WWF-India will rely on its wide network of nature club members,
supporters and partners to be at the vanguard of tiger protection.
Will WWF-India also be working with kids? Do you believe
that they are a potent force for wildlife conservation?
Yes. Children form the vast bulk of WWF-India’s support. Long
before it was fashionable to be involved with wildlife, we
ran educational initiatives such as nature camps and invested
both energy and resources in thousands of young children.
Some argue, of course, that by the time today’s kids grow
up, the tiger, elephant, lion and rhino might vanish altogether.
You forget to mention the Great Indian Bustard and the Gangetic
dolphin! The world did not start with us and it will not end
with us. If we think positively and work towards direct action,
we will disprove the pessimists. Besides, each child we work
with, comes bundled with parents, teachers, relatives and
friends! It is my belief that ‘investing’ in children yields
immediate returns plus long-term ones. Our country’s demographics
suggests we are getting younger by the moment and they will
want a different, better world from the one we now have. They
will also demand new and safer ideas, perspectives and products.
But you, my dear Mr. Sahgal, hardly need convincing on that
front, given as how half your own life is spent with kids!
Did you know S.P. Godrej, the patron of WWF-India and would
you say he would approve of your stewardship?
I knew him, liked him and respected the purity of his purpose.
Would he have approved of me? I have no way of knowing, but
I imagine he would have approved of anyone who worked sincerely
toward fulfilling his dream of building a strong, self-reliant
India. This is WWF-India’s mission, striving to protect ecosystems
on which our water, food and economic security are dependent.
What are your short-term goals going to be in WWF-India?
To take stock. To add qualitatively to the work we are already
engaged in. To help each member of our team to rise to his
or her own full potential. Also to consult with other NGOs
and experts working in the field to protect our national parks,
sanctuaries and connecting corridors. We hope to open fresh
pathways for dialogue with others and if all else fails, we
will examine the legal options available to us to achieve
our mission. Clearly, for this we need to create stronger
networks and linkages between government agencies, the corporate
sector and NGOs.
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