There are a few books which enthrals us for their language and power to transport us to a world which is full of beauty and hope. There are others which explore the conflict and contradictions in human nature and its relations.
Some entertain us through suspense and drama – we are at the mercy of the author till the last page is turned and then sit back and reflect with immense satisfaction the clever nuances of the plot and hidden clues it contained.
And then there are books which start a revolution! They too inspire us, lay bare the contradictions of our civilisation and entertain us through lovely prose but they do not stop there. They compels us to question the accepted worldview, springs Governments and people to action and sum total of the effect of such books are nothing short of revolutionary.
‘Silent Spring’ by Rachel Carson is one such book. This book is credited with starting the global environment movement with a bang and the movement is gathering momentum with each passing day in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the form of global economic order, consumerist culture and endless human want.
There were nature lovers before Carlson who wrote about the loss of nature’s harmony and ill effects of industrial revolution in evocative prose like Muir and Emerson. Then there was Mahatma Gandhi who attacked the evil effects of western civilisation and its technology in ‘Hind Swaraj’. But the people who mattered hardly took notice of them – dismissing them as utopian and romantics. But Carlson was different – while her prose didn’t suffered in comparison to likes of Leopald or Muir, she also amassed hard scientific evidences to support her claim which survived the most meticulous scientific scrutiny.
Before writing this book in 1962, Rachel Carson worked as a marine biologist and had written some articles and books primarily on marine life. They were much loved for her beautiful prose and the way she explored the interrelationship amongst the different organisms living inside oceans. One day, in 1958, she received a letter from her friend narrating how birds in her area are losing their lives due to indiscriminate DDT sprayings. For next four years, Rachel Carson spent her time understanding the impact of manmade chemicals in general and DDT in particular on our lives and environment and the ultimate outcome of her effort is the book.
In the book Rachel Carson wrote about the importance of each organism in complex web of life and how in our effort to get rid of a particular type of insect, we are threatening this web itself. Often the relationship is too subtle for human perception and adverse effect of human intervention is apparent only in hindsight. She also pointed out how the ‘specialists’ of a particular discipline are ultimately causing more harm than good as they lack the holistic worldview. The book also exposed the ill effects of other harmful chemicals in our daily life and how our birds, our trees, our water and our soil are being contaminated with their lethal residues.
In the most poignant chapter of the book, the author drew a picture of a sad spring that is devoid of chirping of birds, giggles of children, playful fishes in rivers and fruits in trees. That picture is already a reality in many parts of the planet.
When first published, the book instantly created a furore amongst public, indignation amongst the manufacturers of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and unrest in general. Some hailed the new messiah while others accused her for taking humanity to dark ages when diseases ruled our lives. But ultimately, in spite the heavy odds; Miss Rachel Carson’s stand was vindicated and DDT was banned first in US and then gradually in many other parts of the world(it continued to be used in India and it remains the only country in the world still producing it, China having stopped its production since 2007).
Perhaps the more lasting legacy of the book is the new found awareness amongst the masses that they should guard themselves against the new inventions of science and they started insisting on proper testing before introduction of a new pesticide or food or medicine. This spirited crusader ultimately succumbed to breast cancer and shortly before her death she warned humanity that though today they are in a position to overpower nature, they should not forget that human beings are a part of it and our efforts of defeating nature will ultimately result in self defeat.
‘Silent Spring’ is one of the most important books ever written by a person with great moral character and inner beauty. Its message is more relevant today than ever before and I would recommend the book to all those who have love for good literature, nature and life.