Art Inkling

4 September 2022

The first time I visited the Mini Forest, I knew Faridabad was losing one of its finest treasures, gifted by none other than children and teens . The tiny forest is a little stretch of wilderness in the city that has developed and prospered over the last five years. It’s home to 140 native plant species, 48 bird species noted, and several butterflies and dragonflies. The metamorphosis from a rubbish dump to a magnificent ecosystem is remarkable.
It all began five years ago, with 16-year-old Samarrth Khanna feeling very disappointed and disturbed by the environmental concerns that surrounded him. Finally, after much effort, he discovered the ideal location for improvement : a trash dumping site.
Samarrth and his companions had quickly taken over the area and were trying to clean it up.
Returning to the present, the jungle is on its way to destruction in order to make room for a cycling route and a footpath. The administration has decided to uproot the numerous creatures that live in the forest, which breaks my heart not just for the bulbul chicks, but also for the many youngsters who have put so much effort and belief into the forest. The little forest has created a community of like-minded environmental enthusiasts and given people hope that nature and city life may coexist even today.
We are taught that putting in effort and hard work always comes with a reward, but is this the reward we deserve? Having our efforts snuffed out in a few years is not something that anybody wants, which is why it’s so important to help us save this small bit of beauty amidst Faridabad's streets and hustle.
- Vanya Pal