Question

Who is the world's most dangerous animal? What has he learnt?

Answer 1

Hint: The context of the above question is given in the chapter ‘ The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role’ written by Nani Palkhiwala. This article was published in The Indian Express on 24 November 1994.

Complete answer:
As per the article, there is a zoo in Lusaka, Zambia where there is a cage on which a notice is written. The notice reads ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’. However, there is no animal on the inside of the cage, instead, a mirror is kept inside, in which people can see their own reflection. This implies that humans are the world’s most dangerous animals.

We have unsustainably exploited the major resources of fisheries, forests, croplands and grasslands, to such an extent that their supply falls significantly short of the demand. In this nutrient conscious world, the fierce and fast extraction of resources will ultimately leave us nothing but wastelands and deserts for the future. The destruction that humans have caused for their selfish means has also resulted in-
-The extinction of several species that coexisted.
-Fuelwood becoming costlier than food.
-Loss of an acre of forest every second etc.

Thus, the cage as a literary device implies, that, by harming our environment we are imprisoning our own selves, as quoted in the words of Mr L. K Jha “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and ailing environment?”

Human, over the years, has learnt that the survival of people is correlated with the welfare of the planet. The new idea for the future is through the ecological perspective. Consequently, humans are making efforts to shift from a system based on domination to one based on partnership.

Note: Full name of the author of this article was Nani Ardeshir Palkhivala. He was an Indian jurist and a liberal economist. He was an excellent orator and writer. His book ‘We, the People - India, The Largest Democracy’ became one of the most appreciated works.