By Barnes Mawrie
Today is June 5, – World Environment Day. It is being observed all over the world. Of late this day has gained more significance and acquired a sense of greater urgency, in the face of climate change that is scourging humanity and threatening its survival. Recently, climatologists have predicted that the period between 2023 and 2030 will witness some of the hottest years in history. It is in this context that I think we need to reinvent our lost relationship with our natural environment. Probably it is time to speak of Anthrocology, the science for survival.
Anthropology is the science that studies human beings, their origin, their evolution, ethnicity and culture. It comes from the Greek root “andro” meaning man and “logos” meaning knowledge or study. Ecology on the other hand is a science that studies the natural environment. It comes from another Greek root “oikos” meaning relationship between organisms and their environment and “logos” meaning study. In many universities this discipline is under the name of Environmental Science. These are already established sciences in their own rights. They exist as important disciplines in most universities. However, today humans should not content themselves with just studying Anthropology and Ecology, but we should perhaps invent another discipline, namely, Athrocology. Let me explain the reasons for the need for such a science.
The above mentioned two sciences have a great lacuna because they study two realities (man and nature) separately without establishing a connection between them. Unfortunately, the development of different sciences in the West has given so little attention to the study of our natural environment. The study of Biology, Botany or Zoology are strictly connected with the physical aspects of these elements, basically the anatomy of plants and living organisms. As such, none of these sciences deals with the seemingly “less scientific” aspect of the organic relationship between these realities. The adverse outcome of this western scientific approach is the utter “indifference” towards the well-being of our natural environment.
Man has overstepped the responsibility given to him by the Creator to be “stewards” of creation. He has instead declared himself as the “master” of creation, thereby almost usurping God’s authority. This has resulted in “reification” or “commodification,” of our natural environment, considering Mother Nature no more as a living entity but as a non-living thing to be fully exploited at will. It is precisely this materialistic outlook on Mother Nature that has led to the destruction of our planet Earth by man and today we have to bear the adverse consequences of it all. Global warming, rising temperature and climate change are all man-made calamities. Remember what Pope Francis said “if you slap nature, nature will strike you back.” Nature is not merciful but it pays us in the same coin. Therefore, when humans try to mess with her, this is what they are getting back, calamity after calamity and the worse is still to come.
Anthrocology strictly speaking could be considered a science practiced by the tribal people. Tribal communities are that section of humanity that is closely connected to Mother Nature. They are the ones who understand and are able to feel the pulse of nature. They possess the ability to communicate with every element in nature. The Khasi ancestors used to say that once upon a time “men and beasts spoke the same language’ (u briew u mrad, u khla u thlen, kawei ka ktien ki dang ki dang iakren). One of the well-known Khasi myths speaks of the common market of humans and animals known as Iew Luri-lura. Such beliefs are very common among tribal communities all over the world. It seems that humans basically aspire to regain that ability to communicate with nature. This is projected in today’s animated films and cartoons.
Anthrocology has its basis on the cognitive assent and affective link to our natural environment and the realization that the Earth is an organism and thus everything in it (living and nonliving) are closely interconnected. The fact that we humans and other living entities on this Earth are suffering the adverse impacts of climate change caused by our greed and ambition, is a clear proof of this organic character of our planet. Anthrocology thus studies the basic symbiosis and the interdependence between organisms which exist in our planet but which we humans have set off balance.
Primitive or tribal communities are the ones who understand this science because they have been living it for centuries. No wonder the world today looks up again to these communities for inspiration. For example, the institution of sacred groves popular among tribal communities, is the practical manifestation of this science and it has proven the wisdom of our ancestors. In the present situation when the existence of our very own planet is in great danger, perhaps it is time for humanity to return to our primitive lifestyle of being intimately connected to Mother Nature. In Biblical terms, it means a return to the “Eden existence,” which has every characteristic of tribal life where there was a perfect communication and communion between the Creator, humans and Mother Nature. To retrieve this lost communion would be the goal of Anthrocology.