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‘Himalaya Day’ is an effort to protect the environment and area of the Himalayas. The Himalayas are essential for conserving and sustaining the environment and defending the nation from bad weather. The Himalayan range not only has a diverse assortment of plants and animals but also brings rain to the region.
Key Takeaways
- Himalaya Diwas was held on September 9, 2021, as part of the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” and was organised by the National Mission of Clean Ganga in partnership with the Naula Foundation.
- In Uttarakhand, Himalaya Day is observed on September 9 each year.
- The Himalayas’ Contribution and Our Responsibilities” was the theme of the final Himalaya Day, which was observed in 2021.
- Himalaya Day 2022 was observed under the theme ‘Himalayas will be safe only when the interests of its residents are protected
The origins of Himalaya Day
Harish Rawat, the former Uttarakhand chief minister, proclaimed September 9th as Himalayan Day in 2014. The Himalayan Environmental Studies & Conservation Organization’s Anil Joshi and other Indian environmentalists devised the idea. The project sought to have India’s Himalayan states—from Arunachal Pradesh to Jammu and Kashmir—celebrate September 9 as Himalayan Diwas. The explanation for this is that these states share a Himalayan social ecology. The day chosen for this event has little bearing on any Himalayan region in India’s sociocultural or natural history. The severe monsoon that struck the area in August 2010 may have contributed to the decision to declare Himalaya Diwas. Another source of inspiration could be the 2013 Kedarnath disaster, the first significant incident highlighting the Himalayan ecology’s vulnerability.
Indian national Wildlife Institute in Dehradun observed Himalaya Day
The Wildlife Institute of India commemorated “Himalaya Day” with the participation of over 250 individuals, including renowned scientists, wildlife managers, researchers, and students of wildlife sciences. The residents of Uttarakhand are conscious that on this day in 2010, a team of environmentalists and civil society representatives led by Dr. Anil Joshi requested the government to develop a targeted strategy for conserving the Himalayas and its inhabitants. After that, a manifesto was created and presented to the government as the result of a year-long national discussion and debate. Since then, “Himalaya Day” continues to raise awareness of the need for solutions to the Himalayas’ ecological instability and sustainable development that are as distinctive as the ecosystem. The state administration has proclaimed September 9 as “Himalaya Diwas”; this day will be observed throughout the State to raise awareness of the need to protect the Himalayan ecosystems. The year 2015’s main topic is “Sab ka Himalaya.”
Dr. Shekhar Pathak, a renowned historian, writer, orator, and naturalist, was invited to speak at the institute on “Kailash- Manas Prakruti and Sanskriti,” which was attended by all of the employees, according to Dr. V. B. Mathur, director of the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun. The institute has been commemorating Himalaya Day annually since 2011, and this year, we invited Prof. Shekhar Pathak. The government gave him the Padma Shri. in 2007 of India. He spoke in detail about the “Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra” and this region’s cultural and natural significance. As the home of Lord Shiva, it is of sacred importance for the Hindus, as well as for the Buddhists and the Jains. The Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra are three of the largest global rivers, and they all originate in the Himalayas. The Ganges originates in Uttarakhand, whereas the Indus and the Brahmaputra are close to Mount Kailash in Tibet. Almost 600 million people are living in their combined drainage basin. The diverse and rich flora and fauna, as well as the indigenous people who reside in the east of Uttarakhand, west of Nepal, and southern Tibet, are all essential components of this ecosystem that must be preserved and maintained through transboundary collaboration.
Given this, the governments of India, China, and Nepal have teamed up to work toward the Kailash Sacred Landscape, supervised by ICIMOD joint preservation and sustainable development goals. Dean, World War II, Dr. P.K. Mathur.
Climate change is causing compositional and structural changes in the Himalayas’ rare floral and faunal riches. Different species are moving to higher elevations due to the warming climate. According to Dr. G.S. Rawat at WII, several plant species have been reported to blossom and bear fruit early. These data show that the Himalayas have historically been the heart and soul of the nation due to its cultural, ethnic, ecological, and economic values. The country’s border has not only been protected, but it has also continuously benefited its citizens by improving the soil, the air, the water, etc.
Himalaya Day in Uttarakhand in 2021
In Uttarakhand, a webinar was held in honour of Himalaya Day (September 9, 2021). During this webinar, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister, disclosed a financial incentive to be provided for the buying of personal electric two- and four-wheel vehicles. This incentive programme, which the Board of Pollution Control will oversee, intends to lessen automotive air pollution in Uttarakhand. The subject for Himalayan Day 2021 was “Contribution of the Himalayas and Our Responsibilities.”
The Board of Pollution Control will pay a 10% incentive of the vehicle’s value or INR. 7500 (whichever is less) under the incentive programme for the first 5000 personal two-wheelers, and a 5% incentive of the vehicle’s worth or INR. 50,000 (whichever is just less) for the first 1,000 personal four-wheelers. In addition, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of the ‘Sunderlal Bahuguna Award for Nature Conservation in honour of the late environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna. The book on Himalaya United Mission (WE), named “Himalaya Divas,” was also released during the webinar.
The significance of Himalaya Day
Himalaya Day is more than a yearly celebration; it’s a significant time to consider the state of this geographically vulnerable part of the nation. Himalayan hill communities struggle with poor infrastructure, insufficient water supply, and poor building layout and architecture. Ecological severe problems are the outcome, a few of which are irreparable.
