Butterfly garden in the asphalt jungle

By Kalakeerthi Dr. Edwin Ariyadasa

Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955) Scientist - Philosopher

Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers the mountain and the sea are excellent schoolmaters...
- Sir John Libbok (1834-1913) British scholar

Students steadily straying away from nature, has been a troubling issue, in many cultures of contemporary society. There is an ironical aspect to this development. In human history, there has never been any younger generation, that has had such sophisticated opportunities, to study environmental impacts, as the children of holiday’s world.

But, in real practical and pragmatic terms, the children of our time, have become largely alienated from the allure of nature, in spite of the considerable emphasis placed on ecological studies at academic level.

Let us ask a few simple questions. Do the tiny ones in our schools, derive a childlike thrill, observing the descent and the ascent of the sun, in a daily pageant of glorious multiple colours? Do many of them feel intimately touched, they see the ripples and the waves, that constantly break into sprays, upon the sandy beaches, in lacy foam?

Dew-drop

Does even a rural child, living amidst the lavish treasures, nature has bountifully endowed upon us, linger a moment, to focus his attention on a gleaning dew-drop, remaining balanced on a blade of grass?

The general response to this question is that most children are not that eco-oriented.

The unmistakeable reason for this, is the failure of a vital segment of the educational philosophy. We have not paid much attention, to the crucial need to provide sentimental and emotional education to our children. What is comely, and beautiful in nature, should raise a responsive aesthetic echo, in the incipient soul of our children.

Taking pleasure in what is aesthetically appealing, is, by and large, an acquired asset. The children should be educated in that skill.

When one comes upon an educationist, who takes a worthwhile initiative in creating that aesthetic, emotional and exploratory keenness, in the child-mind, we cannot help but admire that kind of exceptional individual.

Exemplary

The exemplary person I have in mind, is Upali Gunasekera, Principal, Royal College. His institution is located, right at the centre of cosmopolitan Colombo.

Over a long span of time, this educational institute has continued to be recognised as an elitist place of learning. A majority of the students, at this institute, are products of an ethos, that is primarily urban-oriented.

A good part of the students at this College, has a but a scant familiarity with the prime stream of indigenous culture. To many of these students, the rural style of life and the folk traditions of this land are only a dim and distant presence.

But, the enlightened Head of this institute, introduced, about a year ago, such staples of Sri Lankan rural menu, as “green porridge”, “medicinal rotties” and home-grown vegetables. The children, acquired a taste for this cuisine.

This engendered within these children an empathy for the indigenous, making it possible for their family members also to assign a new importance to what is indigenous.

Pragmatic

This, to my mind, is an instance of pragmatic eco-education.

This educationist, has moved on, from this food education, to yet another, eco-friendly arena, that will certainly surprise many.

At premises of his institute of learning, he has set up a Butterfly Garden.

The children, who are responsible for the maintaining of this butterfly haven, in the centre of the city, have been able, with the assistance of experts, to make the young ones of the College, to take a keen interest in this life-species.

The blossoms that attract the butterflies, are produced by the trees in the garden, which is looked after with assiduous care.

In this city-habitat of the butterflies, a wide variety of species can be seen. Visitors to derive pleasure viewing this strange butterfly garden. The Garden produces several highly significant spin-offs. In the first instance, an eco-friendly attitude, is inculcated in the young ones.

Those who are so inclined, can conduct sustained research about the life-cycle of butterflies.

A keen sense of observation, prods the children to transfer their attention to other gifts of nature as well.

The butterfly patch, provides, a place for pleasant relaxation, viewing the ways of the butterflies as they go about their tasks.

Butterflies

Some may wonder - and quite justifiably too, for that matter - how a colony of butterflies of 80 varieties, manages to survive, in a background of unceasing din, that invariably occurs in a place where over 8,000 students assemble - and, they are all boys at that.

The Principal Upali Gunasekera offers an explanation. He is of the view that the din does not disturb the butterflies - but, on the other hand, he believes, that the sounds generated by the student group, make a positive contribution to the way of life of the butterflies.

But, we cannot, set aside the popularly held view, that the butterflies are deaf and dumb.

When everything is said and done, this a praiseworthy instance of eco-friendly education. When our children begin to take this sustained and keen interest in eco-phenomena, they will invariably develop a marked love of life.

When viewed that way, this is a commendable combination towards bringing into being, a generation of peace and serenity loving children.

They will, to a great extent, counter the wide-spread tendencies of violence and unkindness that mar the beauty of life in many theatres of human existence.