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Enrich Your Relationships

In Love Affair With Nature: A Photo Essay

April 6, 2014 by Surabhi 14 Comments

I knew Pahal would have a special relationship with mother nature when my father planted a tree in our colony’s park the day Pahal was born! She has a special relationship with that tree which was born on the same day as her. Every year when she goes to her Nana’s house, she waters that tree as if she is nursing her own soul.
Trying to figure out the vastness with daddy
Her relationship with nature that began with the planting of a tree has continued thus far and has become much more loving, giving and fulfilling. It is now an integral part of her life, her upbringing and her personality.
Pahal trying to catch a butterfly in our garden
The life long love that sprouted in Meerut found its way to blossom further in Andaman and Nicobar Islands when her daddy was posted here.
Watching sunset; She was trying to play with the sunrays here

Pahal was barely six months old when we first moved to Andaman and Nicobar Islands in February, 2011. After landing in Port Blair, we straight away headed to Diglipur, which was about 300 kms away from Port Blair and required transfer by ferry twice on the way.

Enjoying the boat ride in Andaman sea
After eight gruelling hours of travel on bumpy, snaky roads, we reached Diglipur at about 8 pm, checked in the guest house, ate dinner and finally I stepped out to have a glimpse of my new place – a place that would be my home for the next one year. Covered in dim blue lights, the town was sleepy and serene. Cool, gentle wind coupled with the sound of sea waves was flowing around and even though I hated my journey here, I knew I would fall in love with the place sooner than later.
My first encounter with nascent life other than a human child; three bird hatchlings on a nest in our garden
Diglipur was, as expected, a contrast to the busy Delhi life in every possible way. No commotion, no chaos, pure air, kind and honest people, lush green forests, white sandy beaches, pristine hills and crystal clear sea water – the place was full of nature and I felt elated to have the opportunity to bring up my baby so close to nature.
Pahal walking on her own. She was about 13 months old when she went down that road all by herself without looking back!
By June end, Pahal learnt to walk on her own and now, along with her mother, she was ready to explore the place as well. We both spent hours under the shade of coconut trees, walked by the river side in the mornings and went for a stroll along a beach in the nights.
 
This was Pahal’s favorite goat or rather a baby goat; Pahal was about 14 months old then
Every morning we would bring our neighbour’s goat to our house and Pahal would feed her while we fed Pahal as she played with the goat. Spending about an hour each morning with goat made Pahal understand the kind of leaves goats prefer and and she now could recognize her pet goat in its herd.
Playing in the water on her own oblivion to the world around her

Frequent visits to the nearby beaches made Pahal extremely comfortable even in the strongest water wave currents and she revelled in the frothy sea waves when other kids frighten at the sight of water. She spends her time in the nature and with the nature. 

Frolicking on Avis Island with Mumma
Nature has become such an important aspect of her personality and her needs that in our last trip to Delhi in Jan 2014, Pahal desperately wanted us to come back to Andamans and as a result, I am back here again (I had packed all my luggage when I left Andaman in Jan, 14 but came back for here).
This bird would often come inside our home and one day while she tried to play with my dupatta, I decided to play with it!
It is not just Pahal who loves the clear, open sky. I and Sanjay feel blessed too when we inhale the clean, fresh air that feels like the most purified air on this planet. 
Father and daughter relaxing on Ross and Smith Island

We three have formed our relationships with nature in our own sweet and personal ways. Sanjay loves to relax in our garden on a weekend after a hard week’s work or prefers playing with Pahal on a beach than to spend time with her on video games.

Mother and daughter relaxing in a hammock in our backyard
I, on the other hand, find solace and sanity when I read my favorite books on the hand made hammock that hangs in our garden.
 
We are so in nature that my birthday gifts to Pahal are also these hand painted seashells that have her nickname written
It is this closeness with nature that has made me a better person – more tolerant and more accepting in nature.
Here is Pahal holding a baby bird that fell down from its nest

But the most important story of love is the story that my baby shares with her mother nature. Her day begins with the sunrays that come sieving in our room through the window, progresses with the various living beings she plays with – kittens, puppies, calves, fish, butterflies, baby turtles and baby birds and finally ends when she finds her chanda mama among the confusing galore of shining stars.

Pahal playing.. err..caressing her cutest kitty
Initially, when I had come here I was worried about her education (for the lack of schools and play schools), her health (there is just one CHC in the district) and her friends (she does not have company of children to play with; there is hardly anyone around here). There were times when I wanted to go back to mainland only for Pahal’s better upbringing. Little did I know then she is blessed to be so close to nature – a privilege not granted to many, not even when they need it the most!
Pahal’s another pet; We call her magic fish because we dont know its English name!
Pahal may not have friends here, but she has several pets. She empathises with animals. 
The mother of the Pahal’s favourite Kitty

At the tender age of 3, she knows that eating non-veg means killing animals and that is not a good thing to do. She understands that snakes also need a home and when it rains heavily, their homes are destroyed, which is why they come into our house to find refuge. 

A snake that was resting on a plant in our garden and I spotted him while I was strolling around! Many more snakes have appeared in our house – in bedroom, in kitchen, bathroom, gate and right in the mainhall

Unlike many kids of her age, she has learnt that Centipede is so called because it has numerous legs and that at the sight of a centipede, she should get onto the chair, for it can not climb.

A centipede that suddenly made an appearance in our wash basin and I saw it as the first thing in the morning!
I thought I was always a nature’s person for I have inherited that from my father. I have my roots attached with villages where they still finish dinner by sunset. But now I feel, more than me, Pahal is a nature’s girl and I am happy to bring up my daughter so close to the environment that I am sure she would be a better human being for she practices compassion each day. 
I couldn’t realize that my young daughter is now big enough to hold a coconut all by herself and drink from a bamboo straw; She loves coconut water and can now tell you which ones tastes better!

Like every curious mother, I sometimes compare her with other kids. When I talk to my friends who tell me how their kid participated in a fancy dress competition or finished X no. of levels on a computer game, I do not know whether I should pity them or pity myself.

Clicking pics of the flowers that bloomed after a long time

Though rarely but sometimes it hurts to know that Pahal does not know about the latest gadgets and toys but at the same time, it is delighting to know that she understands the seasons. She can tell whether it would rain the evening and she knows it because she stays outside a lot and because she watches rains, clouds and sky. She may not know about cars and bikes but she knows high tides and low tides of the ocean.

Caught on the camera while she was secretly making a house in the water!

Last weekend, I went to Havelock Island and there I showed her a Sea cucumber. Few minutes later, she showed me a family of Sea cucumbers resting near a coral.

Pahal was showing me sea cucumbers; we counted some 120 sea cucumber on that beach and we know there were many more than them
It is heart warming for me to see Pahal growing up like a matured girl who understands the meaning of love, not just literally but also spiritually. She believes in nurturing – herself and the other lives around her.
Pahal caught hold of this bird on its first maiden flight; poor thing couldn’t fly so Pahal held and later we gave the food to this bird; it now perches on our roof every morning

It has been more than three years now that we have lived in different parts of Andaman and we have loved it. In a place, where people call it a punishment post, we feel we have been bestowed with nature’s love which is a rare gift these days. 

There can not have been a better place to bring up Pahal, than a place that is abound in natural beauty, nature’s resources and nature’s creations. Pahal has grown with nature. 

I am showing a baby turtle to Pahal; She was watching it excitedly while we clicked the hatchling

We are now moving to Delhi, maybe in a month or so. I understand that she may find it extremely hard to find her Andaman companions in Delhi but nevertheless, I am prepared to create a garden for her inside the house, if I can’t make one outside.

Nature is where love is. Love is where friendship is and friendship is when it is 100% real.

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Filed Under: Motherhood

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    April 7, 2014 at 8:17 am

    Hi surabhi…
    I ll say ur daughter is learning all those qualities in her childhood only which takes years….. finally wat matters is wat we carry in our hearts,not in our minds n nature makes us feel n realize emotions buried in our heart. Btw nice pic n keep writing i miss ur articles vn u suddenly get vanish from womanatics

    Reply
  2. Anuradha Dawar says

    April 7, 2014 at 11:18 am

    loved reading this post….

    Reply
  3. Surabhi says

    April 7, 2014 at 12:02 pm

    Hi, Thankyou so much for the kind words. You have made my day! 🙂 You are so right. I think she has learnt some important lessons of life early that we adults take years to learn.

    Reply
  4. Surabhi says

    April 7, 2014 at 12:21 pm

    Anu, glad to know you liked the post. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    April 7, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    Hi Surabhi, liked ur post very much.The time ur daughter is spending and enjoying with nature is teaching her lessons for life.Mother is always the first and best teacher….MOTHER NATURE too. I desperately wait for ur posts .Keep on writing.Pics are awesome. RITIKA

    Reply
  6. Surabhi Surendra says

    April 9, 2014 at 6:04 am

    Hi Ritika, dunno how I missed your comment. How are you? Thank you for liking the post. Means a lot and yeah, we learn the most with mother nature.

    Reply
  7. Shilpa Shri says

    April 10, 2014 at 11:38 am

    I just love the way you explain in details 🙂 And yes I also love nature who teaches us about love & sacrifice. And Pahal has grown up and yes I will also miss Andamans which I see through your lens 🙁 Take care and give a kissi to Pahal cutie!

    Reply
  8. Surabhi says

    April 10, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    Hey Shlipa.. how are you? Yeah Pahal is grown up now and she is growing up real fast! 🙂 I am glad you liked the post. :-*

    Reply
  9. shruthi nayak says

    April 13, 2014 at 6:23 am

    Hi Surabhi.. An awesome post.. just loved it.. but more than the post what intrigued me is the Cat. I have a cat which looks exactly like it… Nice 🙂

    Reply
  10. Surabhi says

    April 17, 2014 at 5:41 am

    Hey Shruthi.. thanks for writing in.. And this cat was adorable.. Pahal loved her. Do you have a cat as well? Whats her name?

    Reply
  11. mathi says

    May 10, 2014 at 11:32 am

    Surabhi,

    Nature teaches lots of precious lessons and we feel small before it. Payal is extremely lucky to have been part of nature at such an young age, a blessing not many children enjoy. Modern children are trapped in a concrete jungle where they can never stretch their legs. The pictures were beautiful and young Payal seemed to enjoy her time with the intense beauty of nature.

    Reply
  12. Surabhi says

    May 11, 2014 at 10:24 am

    Hi Mathi, glad you liked the post. Yeah, I am happy that Pahal gets to be so close to the nature from a young age. I hope I can maintain that lifestyle for her always – a life close to nature in every possible way.

    Reply
  13. Ramaa says

    May 24, 2014 at 7:16 am

    Very nice. You are very brave and a good inspiration as you dont fear snakes

    Reply
  14. Surabhi Surendra says

    May 26, 2014 at 4:55 am

    Thankyou Ramaa. You have been to Andamans and you know how much the place is abound in nature. Isn't it?

    Reply

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Surabhi Surendra

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My name is Surabhi Surendra and I love my name as much as I love myself. I believe it’s good to live. You can read more on About Page. Read More…

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