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Saving the sparrows of India from extinction | Mohammed Dilawar | TEDxGodaPark


the chirps of the sparrows and the

the chirps of the sparrows and the sparrows have been with us for more than

sparrows have been with us for more than

sparrows have been with us for more than 10,000 years they have been with us from

10,000 years they have been with us from

10,000 years they have been with us from the start of the civilization when

the start of the civilization when

the start of the civilization when humans became agriculturist from hunters

humans became agriculturist from hunters

humans became agriculturist from hunters and gatherers they have seen the rise

and gatherers they have seen the rise

and gatherers they have seen the rise and fall of civilizations and the

and fall of civilizations and the

and fall of civilizations and the sparrows were the first bird that

sparrows were the first bird that

sparrows were the first bird that children identified when they were small

children identified when they were small

children identified when they were small the chirps was the first sound they

the chirps was the first sound they

the chirps was the first sound they could relate to coming out from an

could relate to coming out from an

could relate to coming out from an animal and I was no different I had a

animal and I was no different I had a

animal and I was no different I had a wonderful childhood which was full of

wonderful childhood which was full of

wonderful childhood which was full of birds which was full of flowers full of

birds which was full of flowers full of

birds which was full of flowers full of nature in those days such abundant was

nature in those days such abundant was

nature in those days such abundant was the population of sparrows

the population of sparrows

the population of sparrows that they were part of the family the

that they were part of the family the

that they were part of the family the entire lifecycle of the sparrow would

entire lifecycle of the sparrow would

entire lifecycle of the sparrow would get unravel in front of your own eyes

get unravel in front of your own eyes

get unravel in front of your own eyes we never mind minded in those days

we never mind minded in those days

we never mind minded in those days Sparrow was making a nest on the back of

Sparrow was making a nest on the back of

Sparrow was making a nest on the back of the photo frame or on the top of the

the photo frame or on the top of the

the photo frame or on the top of the cupboards we never mind them bringing

cupboards we never mind them bringing

cupboards we never mind them bringing grass and dropping some down in fact my

grass and dropping some down in fact my

grass and dropping some down in fact my grandmother never used to allow to put

grandmother never used to allow to put

grandmother never used to allow to put on the fans because the sparrow would

on the fans because the sparrow would

on the fans because the sparrow would get killed I had an amazing childhood

get killed I had an amazing childhood

get killed I had an amazing childhood growing up with birds animals so found

growing up with birds animals so found

growing up with birds animals so found was I of seeing all these birds that

was I of seeing all these birds that

was I of seeing all these birds that most of the time in the school library I

most of the time in the school library I

most of the time in the school library I opened up all the books which used to

opened up all the books which used to

opened up all the books which used to have birds animals because in those days

have birds animals because in those days

have birds animals because in those days we didn’t have Discovery or National

we didn’t have Discovery or National

we didn’t have Discovery or National Geographic either started growing up

Geographic either started growing up

Geographic either started growing up more and more I got involved into this

more and more I got involved into this

more and more I got involved into this fascinating world of my life so much in

fascinating world of my life so much in

fascinating world of my life so much in world I was that as I grew young I got a

world I was that as I grew young I got a

world I was that as I grew young I got a root shock of my life

root shock of my life

root shock of my life the vultures which were among one of the

the vultures which were among one of the

the vultures which were among one of the most common Raptor in the world which

most common Raptor in the world which

most common Raptor in the world which were found in millions in India had

were found in millions in India had

were found in millions in India had catastrophically declined

catastrophically declined

catastrophically declined they had reached a point where the

they had reached a point where the

they had reached a point where the scientists were spectacled whether they

scientists were spectacled whether they

scientists were spectacled whether they would survive the decade or not this

would survive the decade or not this

would survive the decade or not this thing shook me to the core I was

thing shook me to the core I was

thing shook me to the core I was speechless I didn’t had any answers my

speechless I didn’t had any answers my

speechless I didn’t had any answers my mind was refusing to accept what the

mind was refusing to accept what the

mind was refusing to accept what the people were saying so I went back to all

people were saying so I went back to all

people were saying so I went back to all the places in my childhood where I had

the places in my childhood where I had

the places in my childhood where I had seen a lot of vultures this municipal

seen a lot of vultures this municipal

seen a lot of vultures this municipal clock tower in the city center of Nasik

clock tower in the city center of Nasik

clock tower in the city center of Nasik during my childhood full of vultures but

during my childhood full of vultures but

during my childhood full of vultures but that time I couldn’t find any what made

that time I couldn’t find any what made

that time I couldn’t find any what made me even more nervous what made me even

me even more nervous what made me even

me even more nervous what made me even more spectacle was that it was not only

more spectacle was that it was not only

more spectacle was that it was not only the vultures that I was not seeing even

the vultures that I was not seeing even

the vultures that I was not seeing even I was seeing fewer sparrows I was seeing

I was seeing fewer sparrows I was seeing

I was seeing fewer sparrows I was seeing fewer other common birds which were

fewer other common birds which were

fewer other common birds which were present everywhere during my childhood

present everywhere during my childhood

present everywhere during my childhood so I went upon catching hold of every

so I went upon catching hold of every

so I went upon catching hold of every research paper every report in the

research paper every report in the

research paper every report in the country but what I found out was a

country but what I found out was a

country but what I found out was a scientist or ornithologist never cared

scientist or ornithologist never cared

scientist or ornithologist never cared to count the common flora and fauna in

to count the common flora and fauna in

to count the common flora and fauna in our country however in UK where they

our country however in UK where they

our country however in UK where they were counting the sparrows and other

were counting the sparrows and other

were counting the sparrows and other common birds there had been a

common birds there had been a

common birds there had been a catastrophic decline in UK and mainland

catastrophic decline in UK and mainland

catastrophic decline in UK and mainland Europe the same thing was happening in

Europe the same thing was happening in

Europe the same thing was happening in India also the only thing that we didn’t

India also the only thing that we didn’t

India also the only thing that we didn’t do was we never counted a common flora

do was we never counted a common flora

do was we never counted a common flora and fauna that time I made a promise to

and fauna that time I made a promise to

and fauna that time I made a promise to myself that what has happened with the

myself that what has happened with the

myself that what has happened with the vultures what has happened with other

vultures what has happened with other

vultures what has happened with other species I would never let that happen

species I would never let that happen

species I would never let that happen with the sparrows the sparrow has been

with the sparrows the sparrow has been

with the sparrows the sparrow has been with humanity since its start it is one

with humanity since its start it is one

with humanity since its start it is one of the best bio indicator of the

of the best bio indicator of the

of the best bio indicator of the environment in and around us the same

environment in and around us the same

environment in and around us the same causes which were responsible for the

causes which were responsible for the

causes which were responsible for the decline of sparrows were also affecting

decline of sparrows were also affecting

decline of sparrows were also affecting humans however we were blind enough not

humans however we were blind enough not

humans however we were blind enough not to see those the conservation of Sparrow

to see those the conservation of Sparrow

to see those the conservation of Sparrow was even more important because it is

was even more important because it is

was even more important because it is one of the most important connection

one of the most important connection

one of the most important connection between

humanity and nature and if this breaks

humanity and nature and if this breaks people would not stand up to save the

people would not stand up to save the

people would not stand up to save the nature I came from a business family

nature I came from a business family

nature I came from a business family background and I thought that if I had

background and I thought that if I had

background and I thought that if I had to save sparrows and commit my life

to save sparrows and commit my life

to save sparrows and commit my life towards saving them I had to convince my

towards saving them I had to convince my

towards saving them I had to convince my family to allow me to relieve my dream

family to allow me to relieve my dream

family to allow me to relieve my dream it also gave me a thought that if my

it also gave me a thought that if my

it also gave me a thought that if my family believed in what I am going to do

family believed in what I am going to do

family believed in what I am going to do if my family was convinced that the

if my family was convinced that the

if my family was convinced that the sparrows had to be conserved it would be

sparrows had to be conserved it would be

sparrows had to be conserved it would be quite easy for me to convince the world

quite easy for me to convince the world

quite easy for me to convince the world but from the day they were convinced I

but from the day they were convinced I

but from the day they were convinced I have never looked back

have never looked back

have never looked back there have been the rock-solid support

there have been the rock-solid support

there have been the rock-solid support which has helped me go out and save

which has helped me go out and save

which has helped me go out and save sparrows so a boy from NASA without

sparrows so a boy from NASA without

sparrows so a boy from NASA without having any exposure to the field of

having any exposure to the field of

having any exposure to the field of conservation had embarked on a journey

conservation had embarked on a journey

conservation had embarked on a journey to save sparrows however when I entered

to save sparrows however when I entered

to save sparrows however when I entered the real field I entered into the big

the real field I entered into the big

the real field I entered into the big conservation organizations in the

conservation organizations in the

conservation organizations in the country I found it was quite different

country I found it was quite different

country I found it was quite different it had its own biodiversity but not what

it had its own biodiversity but not what

it had its own biodiversity but not what I had expected and I found out that it

I had expected and I found out that it

I had expected and I found out that it was totally tree centric either

was totally tree centric either

was totally tree centric either it had to be Tigers or threatened

it had to be Tigers or threatened

it had to be Tigers or threatened because there I realized all the name

because there I realized all the name

because there I realized all the name fame and money lied here this was

fame and money lied here this was

fame and money lied here this was against my thought processes it was

against my thought processes it was

against my thought processes it was against the fundamentals of ecology

against the fundamentals of ecology

against the fundamentals of ecology because there I was taught that

because there I was taught that

because there I was taught that everything from an ant to an elephant is

everything from an ant to an elephant is

everything from an ant to an elephant is important and here I could see that

important and here I could see that

important and here I could see that there were more tiger Wallace than the

there were more tiger Wallace than the

there were more tiger Wallace than the actual Tigers in the in the country so I

actual Tigers in the in the country so I

actual Tigers in the in the country so I was in a state of shock again totally

was in a state of shock again totally

was in a state of shock again totally blank didn’t knew what to do however

blank didn’t knew what to do however

blank didn’t knew what to do however there was right at the end of the tunnel

there was right at the end of the tunnel

there was right at the end of the tunnel I got a wonderful opportunity to work

I got a wonderful opportunity to work

I got a wonderful opportunity to work with grass root level conservationists

with grass root level conservationists

with grass root level conservationists and organizations across the country

and organizations across the country

and organizations across the country this was through a project with Royal

this was through a project with Royal

this was through a project with Royal Society for protection of bird

Society for protection of bird

Society for protection of bird a uk-based organization which is one of

a uk-based organization which is one of

a uk-based organization which is one of the world’s most biggest organization

the world’s most biggest organization

the world’s most biggest organization saving birds I got an opportunity to go

saving birds I got an opportunity to go

saving birds I got an opportunity to go to UK get trained and this opened up

to UK get trained and this opened up

to UK get trained and this opened up entire different world

entire different world

entire different world I learned about the different approach

I learned about the different approach

I learned about the different approach of conservation which were quite

of conservation which were quite

of conservation which were quite different from the textbook conservation

different from the textbook conservation

different from the textbook conservation which was happening back in India it

which was happening back in India it

which was happening back in India it opened up that to be able to save

opened up that to be able to save

opened up that to be able to save something you not only needed to do your

something you not only needed to do your

something you not only needed to do your work but you also had to talk with the

work but you also had to talk with the

work but you also had to talk with the government agencies the media you of you

government agencies the media you of you

government agencies the media you of you need to had a proper funding mechanism

need to had a proper funding mechanism

need to had a proper funding mechanism in place so there I learned and I

in place so there I learned and I

in place so there I learned and I thought that if I want to save sparrows

thought that if I want to save sparrows

thought that if I want to save sparrows I would not take a project based

I would not take a project based

I would not take a project based approach and if I had to commit myself

approach and if I had to commit myself

approach and if I had to commit myself towards the sparrows on a lifelong

towards the sparrows on a lifelong

towards the sparrows on a lifelong mission I need to have a sustainable

mission I need to have a sustainable

mission I need to have a sustainable plan in place back in India when I came

plan in place back in India when I came

plan in place back in India when I came back I realized like the real people who

back I realized like the real people who

back I realized like the real people who are doing conservation where the

are doing conservation where the

are doing conservation where the grassroot level people they were the

grassroot level people they were the

grassroot level people they were the small organizations pressed across the

small organizations pressed across the

small organizations pressed across the length and breadth of the country and

length and breadth of the country and

length and breadth of the country and later on they would become my true

later on they would become my true

later on they would become my true allies in saving sparrows however what I

allies in saving sparrows however what I

allies in saving sparrows however what I didn’t hand in on my side was time the

didn’t hand in on my side was time the

didn’t hand in on my side was time the sparrows were declining too fast and I

sparrows were declining too fast and I

sparrows were declining too fast and I had to give them a life-saving injection

had to give them a life-saving injection

had to give them a life-saving injection however such extraordinary situation

however such extraordinary situation

however such extraordinary situation needed an out-of-box approach the

needed an out-of-box approach the

needed an out-of-box approach the traditional approach would not work I

traditional approach would not work I

traditional approach would not work I realized that too soon because of my

realized that too soon because of my

realized that too soon because of my lifelong observation of the ecological

lifelong observation of the ecological

lifelong observation of the ecological behavior and the needs of sparrows the

behavior and the needs of sparrows the

behavior and the needs of sparrows the kind of setup that we had in India and

kind of setup that we had in India and

kind of setup that we had in India and the lessons that I had learned in UK so

the lessons that I had learned in UK so

the lessons that I had learned in UK so we’ve decided to form an organization

we’ve decided to form an organization

we’ve decided to form an organization named nature forever Society which would

named nature forever Society which would

named nature forever Society which would not discriminate between species based

not discriminate between species based

not discriminate between species based whether they are threatened or rare it

whether they are threatened or rare it

whether they are threatened or rare it would not discriminate between

would not discriminate between

would not discriminate between conservationists whether they are normal

conservationists whether they are normal

conservationists whether they are normal citizens we formed a society with

citizens we formed a society with

citizens we formed a society with humanity at its core a society which

humanity at its core a society which

humanity at its core a society which would be transparent weak

would be transparent weak

would be transparent weak designed to adopt an icebox and bird

designed to adopt an icebox and bird

designed to adopt an icebox and bird feeder program in order to give that

feeder program in order to give that

feeder program in order to give that life-saving injection to sparrows the

life-saving injection to sparrows the

life-saving injection to sparrows the program helped us achieve three main

program helped us achieve three main

program helped us achieve three main goals to create critical habitat for

goals to create critical habitat for

goals to create critical habitat for sparrows which was declining across the

sparrows which was declining across the

sparrows which was declining across the country mainly the nesting sites and the

country mainly the nesting sites and the

country mainly the nesting sites and the food because as globalization opened up

food because as globalization opened up

food because as globalization opened up the country our lifestyle changed

the country our lifestyle changed

the country our lifestyle changed traditional architecture gave way to

traditional architecture gave way to

traditional architecture gave way to modern at architecture we didn’t had the

modern at architecture we didn’t had the

modern at architecture we didn’t had the nesting sites for sparrows food was not

nesting sites for sparrows food was not

nesting sites for sparrows food was not easily available so this address this

easily available so this address this

easily available so this address this key ecological need of sparrows what I’d

key ecological need of sparrows what I’d

key ecological need of sparrows what I’d also broken post globalization was the

also broken post globalization was the

also broken post globalization was the emotional connect that we had as a

emotional connect that we had as a

emotional connect that we had as a society had with the sparrows add those

society had with the sparrows add those

society had with the sparrows add those and windows were shut for sparrows so

and windows were shut for sparrows so

and windows were shut for sparrows so was a culture we had to reinstate this

was a culture we had to reinstate this

was a culture we had to reinstate this emotional bond between the sparrows and

emotional bond between the sparrows and

emotional bond between the sparrows and humanity once again at the same time

humanity once again at the same time

humanity once again at the same time since we had not taken a project-based

since we had not taken a project-based

since we had not taken a project-based approach towards conservation we

approach towards conservation we

approach towards conservation we required as funding which would be

required as funding which would be

required as funding which would be long-term and transparent we didn’t

long-term and transparent we didn’t

long-term and transparent we didn’t wanted people to donate money to us we

wanted people to donate money to us we

wanted people to donate money to us we didn’t want it checkbook charity what we

didn’t want it checkbook charity what we

didn’t want it checkbook charity what we wanted them to do was to adopt the

wanted them to do was to adopt the

wanted them to do was to adopt the responsibility of saving sparrows in the

responsibility of saving sparrows in the

responsibility of saving sparrows in the past 1012 years we have been able to

past 1012 years we have been able to

past 1012 years we have been able to create more than 30,000 nesting sites

create more than 30,000 nesting sites

create more than 30,000 nesting sites across the country safe nesting sites

across the country safe nesting sites

across the country safe nesting sites for birds not only sparrows but manners

for birds not only sparrows but manners

for birds not only sparrows but manners parakeets the birds which were declining

parakeets the birds which were declining

parakeets the birds which were declining in the urban landscapes we were able to

in the urban landscapes we were able to

in the urban landscapes we were able to connect create more than three point

connect create more than three point

connect create more than three point file at sustainable source of food for

file at sustainable source of food for

file at sustainable source of food for sparrows which was critical in

sparrows which was critical in

sparrows which was critical in reestablishing the emotional connect

reestablishing the emotional connect

reestablishing the emotional connect which was breaking and which would

which was breaking and which would

which was breaking and which would guarantee that the future population of

guarantee that the future population of

guarantee that the future population of sparrows have a sustainable source of

sparrows have a sustainable source of

sparrows have a sustainable source of food however one of the thing that we

food however one of the thing that we

food however one of the thing that we were able to achieve we were able to get

were able to achieve we were able to get

were able to achieve we were able to get more than 30,000 sparrow supporters

more than 30,000 sparrow supporters

more than 30,000 sparrow supporters across the country so when I started I

across the country so when I started I

across the country so when I started I was alone with my family

was alone with my family

was alone with my family today we have more than 30,000 families

today we have more than 30,000 families

today we have more than 30,000 families across the world helping us save

across the world helping us save

across the world helping us save sparrows who have made sparrows a part

sparrows who have made sparrows a part

sparrows who have made sparrows a part of their family

of their family

of their family these people are a voice of sparrows

these people are a voice of sparrows

these people are a voice of sparrows what we also wanted to do with sparrows

what we also wanted to do with sparrows

what we also wanted to do with sparrows is to raise the profile of sparrows

is to raise the profile of sparrows

is to raise the profile of sparrows because it was always the Tigers and the

because it was always the Tigers and the

because it was always the Tigers and the elephants the glamorous species which

elephants the glamorous species which

elephants the glamorous species which was getting all the attention so for the

was getting all the attention so for the

was getting all the attention so for the first time in the history the Indian

first time in the history the Indian

first time in the history the Indian Post released a stamp on sparrows so

Post released a stamp on sparrows so

Post released a stamp on sparrows so common flora getting on the stamp was a

common flora getting on the stamp was a

common flora getting on the stamp was a big win for us we worked with the Delhi

big win for us we worked with the Delhi

big win for us we worked with the Delhi government and got the sparrow declared

government and got the sparrow declared

government and got the sparrow declared as the state bird of Delhi we worked

as the state bird of Delhi we worked

as the state bird of Delhi we worked with a bomber based organization in

with a bomber based organization in

with a bomber based organization in distributing more than 52,000 bird

distributing more than 52,000 bird

distributing more than 52,000 bird feeders free of charge across the

feeders free of charge across the

feeders free of charge across the country in the world we believe that

country in the world we believe that

country in the world we believe that creating 15,000 opportunities for

creating 15,000 opportunities for

creating 15,000 opportunities for sparrows will help in bringing them back

sparrows will help in bringing them back

sparrows will help in bringing them back this helped us get back the emotional

this helped us get back the emotional

this helped us get back the emotional connect that we were looking out for

connect that we were looking out for

connect that we were looking out for however now what we wanted was people

however now what we wanted was people

however now what we wanted was people should commit themselves towards Pharaoh

should commit themselves towards Pharaoh

should commit themselves towards Pharaoh conservation saying I love Sparrow was

conservation saying I love Sparrow was

conservation saying I love Sparrow was not enough we wanted people to say I’ll

not enough we wanted people to say I’ll

not enough we wanted people to say I’ll put food for sparrows however we didn’t

put food for sparrows however we didn’t

put food for sparrows however we didn’t wanted to reinforce things on people

wanted to reinforce things on people

wanted to reinforce things on people because our supporters came from all

because our supporters came from all

because our supporters came from all walks of life they were doctors

walks of life they were doctors

walks of life they were doctors engineers policemen politicians that

engineers policemen politicians that

engineers policemen politicians that other things to look after also so they

other things to look after also so they

other things to look after also so they based on the time budget we calculated

based on the time budget we calculated

based on the time budget we calculated that even if someone gives 15 minutes in

that even if someone gives 15 minutes in

that even if someone gives 15 minutes in a week it will create big effect on the

a week it will create big effect on the

a week it will create big effect on the sparrows the Isle of Sparrow campaign

sparrows the Isle of Sparrow campaign

sparrows the Isle of Sparrow campaign reached more than 1 million people

reached more than 1 million people

reached more than 1 million people across the world people started

across the world people started

across the world people started committing themselves towards Pharaoh

committing themselves towards Pharaoh

committing themselves towards Pharaoh conservation because of this wide beats

conservation because of this wide beats

conservation because of this wide beats of audience that we had across the world

of audience that we had across the world

of audience that we had across the world we were able to declare 20th March as

we were able to declare 20th March as

we were able to declare 20th March as the world’s Pharaoh day which is today

the world’s Pharaoh day which is today

the world’s Pharaoh day which is today spread around more than 50 countries

spread around more than 50 countries

spread around more than 50 countries however today when I look back

however today when I look back

however today when I look back even after 15 years this is what is the

even after 15 years this is what is the

even after 15 years this is what is the biggest motivation even today when

biggest motivation even today when

biggest motivation even today when someone sends us a photograph of a

someone sends us a photograph of a

someone sends us a photograph of a sparrow its nest being occupied all

sparrow its nest being occupied all

sparrow its nest being occupied all sparrows on the feeders we get the same

sparrows on the feeders we get the same

sparrows on the feeders we get the same kind of excitement which was there 15

kind of excitement which was there 15

kind of excitement which was there 15 years back because we believe that the

years back because we believe that the

years back because we believe that the sparrows will help humanity consume

sparrows will help humanity consume

sparrows will help humanity consume nature one day

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