"Human beings are just one of the species on the earth. But we are busy looting everything, exploiting nature to the worst. We have no right to do so. The minimum what we can do is not to play with the nature," R Kalai Selvan, a television journalist who returned to Coimbatore after more than a month-long trip on cycle across four states, told PTI.
"Do not disturb Western Ghats," was his Facebook initiative that he took to real time situations, trying to explore the tale of how humans have messed up with nature.
"On the way people were looking at me with weird eyes. But when I explained them the concept they accepted me. During the entire cycling trip, I went on passing the message about saving Western Ghats to the people," said Selvan, who left from Coimbatore on July 6 and returned last week.
Cycling through the highways and many a times tiny roads, Selvan feels the "nature was with him."
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"....Nature supported me vigorously during the trip," he said.
In Goa, Selvan had a night out at Madkai, a village 35 kms away from here, at a place owned by NGO Peaceful Society.
For this angry young journalist, the trip has changed the way he looks at things.
"My arrogance has completely vanished. I am no more an angry young man," he says narrating how experiences in dealing with people made him realise the value of respecting others.
Selvan has now decided to document all his experiences into a series of stories (articles).
The Western Ghats are a mountain range that runs almost parallel to the western coast of Indian peninsula. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the eight hotspots of biological diversity in the world.