KOKRAJHAR: Ramon Magsaysay awardee Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday asserted that climate change poses a greater threat to the human race than world wars.
He underlined the role of tribal communities in protecting the environment and urged the residents of modern cities to learn the sustainable way of living from the people who live in harmony with the nature.
He was speaking after receiving the 20th Upendra Nath Brahma ‘Soldier of Humanity’ Award 2023 here for his contributions towards educational reforms, sustainable change and preservation of the environment.
The award is given by the UN Brahma Trust.
Known for his innovations, Wangchuk said there should be “environmental justice” to meet the threats of climate change as the latter will be more dangerous than world wars.
He emphasised that tribal communities across the world must be kept robust to face the challenges of global warming and tackle the threat of climate change.
“Preservation of the spirit and knowledge of tribal societies in the long run is going to bring more benefits compared to that of industrialisation and the so-called modern way of living,” he said.
Wangchuk cautioned that the “culture of Delhi or Mumbai or New York as five-star cities” is not going to save the planet, but it is the tribal culture and tradition, that focus on the preservation and conservation of nature and natural resources, that will prove to be resilient.
He maintained that the traditional culture of people in the Bodoland region of Assam or his native Ladakh has a higher potential to contribute to the nation’s wealth.
Expressing his gratitude for receiving the award, the engineer-innovator said it has further encouraged him to work for the masses.
This year’s 20th award has been presented to Sonam Wangchuk, renowned scientist and innovator hailing from the Leh-Ladakh region.
The Upendra Nath Brahma Soldier Award for Humanity consists of citations, edi-coat-chadar, portrait of Bodofa and a cheque of Rs two lakh. Upendranath Brahma Trust has been conferring the Upendra Nath Brahma Soldier Award for Humanity every year.
After recieving the award, Wangchuk expressed his happiness to the media and said that real culture of India is being preserved by the tribal communities.
“I am happy that I have recieved this award from a place which is dominated by tribals. I believe the tribal communities are important as the knowledge and culture they preserve is not just for them but for the whole world. So one tribal person getting an award from another tribal community is quite important for me. The way the leaders and people of Bodoland have their culture is the core value of the country, not in Delhi or Mumbai. The real India resides in the hills of Ladakh and the jungles of Bodoland,” said Wangchuk.
The award was given during a ceremony held at the Bodofa Cultural Project at Chandmari in Kokrajhar.
Prashant Jyoti Baruah, Executive Editor of the Assam Tribune newspaper, was the chief guest on the occasion.
BTR chief Pramod Boro, cabinet minister Urkhao Gwra Brahma, Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Surath Narzary, ABSU president Dipen Boro, and others were present at the occasion.
