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| Nature power |
| Archana Jahagirdar / New Delhi Jun 07, 2009, 00:10 IST |
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Newly minted minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Jitin Prasada is a wildlife enthusiast
Indian politicans have been, until recently, taciturn about their interests outside of politics. But, as winds of change sweep through the corridors of power (making ministers accountable in this government is a major shift in Indian politics), politicians are now slowly opening up and admitting to passions and hobbies, making them finally seem human.
Recently appointed minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Jitin Prasada, therefore, is less coy about his life away from the hustle and bustle of politics. “I am,” says the immaculately turned out Prasada, “an outdoors person.” The seeds of that interest were sown early in Prasada’s life when as a child his parents, the late politician Jitendra Prasada and Kanta Prasada would take him regularly to the khet that they owned in Uttar Pradesh.
“The farm that we had was a proper khet and not the posh houses that masquerade as farms that you see in Delhi,” says Prasada. As a young boy, Prasada would go for joy-rides on the tractor, and says,
“I learnt how to drive on it.” Prasada has also driven the harvest combine. Prasada says with child-like glee, “It’s huge.” The farm tubewell was where he and his cousins, his constant companions back then, would bathe.
And during his Doon School days, Prasada would invite his schoolmates, during the mid-term break, back to the family farm. Did the posh Doon School boys turn up their noses up at this rustic Prasada retreat? “They loved it,” says he.
At the farm, Prasada also learnt how to sow and reap crops, specifically sugarcane. And then there was horse-riding as well. “Till class six, my school was in Nainital, so I got to horse ride a lot then.
I haven’t been able to do much of it since. I am sure if I get on a horse now, my back will hurt.”
Prasada laments the lack of time, but says that had he more of it, he would spend as much of it as possible travelling to wildlife sanctuaries. For him there is no bigger stress-buster than being out in the open, as close as possible to nature in all its pristine beauty. He recounts, “When there were elections in Uttaranchal and I was involved in them, I rewarded myself with a break to Corbett [National Park] after the whole thing got over.”
Prasada, who works seven days a week and spends almost 10 days a month in his constituency, says that the sights and sounds that nature puts out are unparalleled. “The grass, the river, the sounds, all this gives me such a high. Its a real stress-buster. Only a nature enthusiast would understand that feeling.” After having travelled to some of the wildlife parks in India, Prasada also went to Africa. He says, “I would love to go to all the wildlife parks.”
Prasada says that he inherited this love for the wildlife from his father. He says (without disclosing his normal waking-up time), “The only time I wake up early is when I am at a wildlife sanctuary.”
Prasada’s love for the great outdoors hasn’t meant that he reads books on wildlife. He says, “It’s when you are visiting these parks or are out in the jungle you get to know about the animals. You learn to recognise animals.” And Prasada also doesn’t like taking wildlife pictures. He says, “My sister likes to do that.
I feel that if you start taking photographs you focus on the frame rather than concentrating on nature’s beauty.”
If time has been a major constraint in the way of Prasada’s travel to wildlife sanctuaries, he has tried to keep in touch with nature by weaving it into his schedule. He recounts, “On the border of my constituency there is a river and one of those sand islands. When I was campaigning during the last general elections, I spent a night there. It was restful.”
Right now, though, even as Prasada squeezes some time out of his schedule, the stress is entirely on work and his new ministry. He says, “There is a 100-day plan in place. You have to perform.” Possibly a first in India, this deadline has meant that all the new ministers have their noses to their grindstone. Prasada points to three or four thick books on a side table and says, “They all have to do with the petroleum sector, and I have to read up. These books have been given to me.” For Prasada, that’s particularly hard work, as he says that he isn’t that much of a reader. But he isn’t complaining, happy to have charge of such an important ministry. Prasada, however, says wistfully, almost aware that his next holiday isn’t happening anytime soon,”Whenever next I go on a holiday, it will be to a wildlife park.”
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