Ahmedabad: City based Jgat Kinkhabwala works in a corporate sector as consultant. However thanks to his love for house sparrow, a bird which is despairing fast for number of reasons, Jagatbhai is known more as ‘sparrow man’, ‘sparrow wala’, ‘chakli guru’ and ‘chakli wala’. Jagatbhai has recently published a book titled as ‘Save the Sparrows’ for which he has got letter from none other than the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi.

‘I was stunningly surprised to get letter from the level of Prime Minister in response to my book I sent to him,’ Jagatbhai told DeshGujarat.

‘I had sent my book to number of people in Delhi and elsewhere but forget appreciation, I didn’t get even acknowledgement letter from anybody, but the Prime Minister who is obviously so much busy, who might be receiving thousands of books from all over the country, sent me not simply an acknowledgement letter but detailed letter which displays his sensitivities attached to the subject of environment,’ Jagatbhai said.

The Prime Minister in his letter dated 12 April addressing Jagatbhai (copy of which is attached to this article) congratulated Jagatbhai for his exceptional effort and work containing valuable information about the House Sparrows and added that the subject deserves greater awareness.

The PM in his letter addressing to Jgatbhai writes, ‘you have also raised some valid concerns regarding the declining sparrow population. In our culture, we are taught to live in harmony with the birds, animals and plants with which we share out planet. They add both colour and diversity to the Earth.’

The Prime Minister penned down his observations on bird life and said there are lessons to learn from them. He said, ‘birds teaches us a lot. We learn from them how to fly high, not get deterred or bogged down by obstacles, The spirit of togetherness and harmony among birds is always admirable. Seeing a flock of birds together, or flying, is a treat to the eyes.’

The PM further writes about need to check our lifestyles in this context, ‘it is our prime duty to conserve and protect the plants and species with which we share our planet. Our lifestyles should take into account this aspect. For instance, as you have written, our modern architecture should perhaps take into account nesting spaces for birds.’

The Prime Minister also shared his efforts in this regard, ‘ You would be happy to know that during my Mann Ki Baat programme, I have urged people to place jars of water outside their windows, particularly in summers, so that thirsty birds can have some water to drink. Several people across India have responded to it and done that.’

The PM mentioned how as Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had actively supported the ‘Save our Sparrows’ campaign initiated by the Burhani Foundation. ‘Through the initiative over 52,000 bird feeders were distributed worldwide. This noble endeavor found a place in the Guinness Book for World Records,’

The PM commended Jagat Kinkhabwala for making nature conservation the mission of his life and conveyed wishes for his future endeavors towards conserving nature in general, and birds in particular.

Reacting further to PM’s letter, Jagatbhai told DeshGujarat that the letter has given him more encouragement and motivation to continue his work. He said he would write 36-40 points to PM in a letter regarding what an individual can do. ‘I am not an activist. I am not going to file PIL on environmental issues. I believe in individual efforts. I have observed that birds need tree, water and feed. I distribute readymade nests for birds with my mobile number written over it, so that one can seek my guidance because proper height, direction (preferably north-south) etc are needed when you tie the readymade nest outside your house to invite the birds. I have received many feedback that once people put up the nest, catered water and bajra/kanki rice feed nearby, birds started reappearing. At my own house, sparrows had disappeared for two years, but when I started putting up nest with water and feed, sparrows came back. Not just sparrows I have 26 varieties of birds around my house now.’

Jagatbhai says he has over 4,500 photographs and videos of House Sparrow bird which is fast disappearing for number of reasons that he has narrated in his book containing over 60 photographs. Jagatbhai has in his book obsrved that unleaded petrol, reducing area of free growing weeds, disappearing kitchen gardens, use of pesticides, mobile tower radiation, non availability of places for mud-dust-sand bath, uncontrolled industrial waste, the flat exterior design of buildings in modern urban architecture etc could be some of reasons why House Sparrows are disappearing. Jagatbhai suggests that in construction by – laws it should be made compulsory to have bird feeders. His book also mentions how Ahmedabad had traditional system of erecting bird feeding towers that are known as ‘Chabutra’.

Jagatbhai says, the Prime Minister has rightly mentioned in his letter to check our lifestyles.

DeshGujarat