Since childhood, I have shared an uncanny relationship with nature. I have identified with nature in ways that, perhaps, few people can. And in all of these 23 years, I have realized one very interesting facet of nature – its equation with God, or to be more euphemistic, with nature. As I lay down thinking about my potential career in wildlife and nature photography, I was inadvertently veered towards the underlying truth of the ‘eccentric’ decision. Most of my friends have landed ‘conventional’ jobs and the rest are pursuing the same goal with an additional degree. And the opinions we share about each other’s career choices are the same. It takes 20 odd years of your life to develop physical and mental strength (with a little help from mom!) just to let it wither away in a 24/7 job in front of a machine. However, there is no attempt being made to malign these people and their choices. People have their perspectives, don’t they? For once, I did thank my good fortune ‘coz I do have a ‘perspective’. And this has helped me understand nature better.

An ecosystem comprises several million species, each dependent on the rest for survival. For instance, lions and tigers are keystone species that play a crucial role in the sustenance of an ecosystem. If they don’t prey on deer, the grasslands will be stripped bare in no time. Needless to say, the threads that hold the ecosystem in balance will snap and extinction will just be a matter of time.

Have you ever realized that each of you is a ‘keystone species’ as well? Each of us is dependent on others for our survival. Imagine a world where each of us is self-dependent. In that case, all of us would have to set up shops for our daily needs. Now, it is not a feasible solution because the world doesn’t have enough space for over 8 billion grocery shops, bookstores, retail stores, etc.

Now, consider the same scenario from a varied angle. IT engineers create codes to keep our computers and other devices running. Take them out of the equation and you will have to return to the Stone Age. At the same time, they have jobs because we use their products. If all of us decided to get creative and become photographers, movie makers, etc, there would be nobody left to make cameras and other devices essential for these roles.

Now, it leads me to an interesting observation. Who takes all the decisions about an ecosystem and the roles played by each species in preserving it? All of us make conscious decisions unconsciously. Every single decision we take comes down to the feelings we develop for something in the course of time. Perspectives are mere conclusions. Informed decisions stem from a liking we develop for a career. We don’t choose…our decisions are coherent with a pre-conceived plan. And none of us really knows who conceives them. And the invisible force behind all these is what we call GOD!!