Mir Iqbal Hussain
Sometimes, the biggest environmental lessons do not come from conferences, reports or speeches. They can be found quietly in the courtyard of an ordinary home. The story of Asgar Ali is one such example. In a time when we often talk about climate change, pollution, disappearing greenery and environmental degradation, Asgar Ali has shown that protecting the environment does not always require large projects or huge resources. Sometimes, it begins with a few plants, a little care and a personal decision to keep our surroundings green.
His courtyard stands out as a reminder of what a small individual effort can become over time. While many of us have courtyards in front of or around our houses, they are not always green. Concrete, construction and other uses have gradually taken the place of plants and trees.
Asgar Ali chose a different path. He allowed greenery to become part of his everyday surroundings. There is something deeply meaningful about such an effort. A tree planted today may not immediately change the appearance of a neighbourhood. A small plant may seem insignificant. But when it is watered, protected and allowed to grow, it slowly becomes part of the landscape. Years later, its shade, beauty and ecological value can be enjoyed by everyone around it. This is a lesson Kashmir needs to remember.
Our relationship with nature has always been an important part of life in the Valley. Trees, orchards, wetlands, streams and green open spaces have shaped the character of our villages and towns. But increasing construction, shrinking open spaces and changing lifestyles are putting growing pressure on our natural surroundings. We often wait for government departments to solve every environmental problem. Government action is certainly important. Large-scale plantation programs, protection of forests, restoration of degraded land, preservation of wetlands and proper urban planning require institutional support. But government efforts alone cannot create an environmentally conscious society.
People must also become participants. Imagine if every household with a courtyard planted even a few suitable trees or plants. Imagine if schools maintained small green spaces, if offices cared for trees around their premises, and if communities adopted neglected public spaces for plantation and maintenance. Individually, these actions may appear small. Collectively, they could transform the character of our neighbourhoods. This is where the example of Asgar Ali becomes important. His courtyard is not merely a collection of plants. It represents an attitude towards the environment — the belief that we can do something ourselves instead of waiting for someone else to act.
“Local environmental efforts—from a school’s green corner to a person’s garden—collectively drive meaningful ecological change. Asgar Ali’s green courtyard in Kashmir demonstrates that environmental responsibility rests on individual, everyday actions rather than slogans alone.”
Plantation should therefore not remain limited to annual drives where trees are planted and then forgotten. The real challenge begins after planting. Trees need protection, watering and care. Communities, schools, local institutions and government departments can work together to ensure that plantation becomes a continuing responsibility rather than a one-day activity.
The Government can provide saplings, technical guidance and institutional support. Local bodies can identify suitable spaces. Schools can involve students in caring for trees. Residents can plant and protect greenery around their homes. Community groups can adopt public spaces. Together, these small efforts can create a much larger environmental impact. There is also an important educational message here. Children who grow up seeing trees in their surroundings are more likely to develop an emotional connection with nature.
A plant in a school courtyard can become more than decoration; it can become a living classroom. Students can watch it grow, understand seasonal changes and learn that caring for the environment is not merely something written in a textbook. We do not always need to begin with something big. One person can plant a tree. A family can maintain a garden.
A school can create a green corner. A neighbourhood can protect an open space. A government department can support thousands of such efforts. When these actions come together, they can create meaningful change. Asgar Ali’s story therefore deserves to be seen beyond his own courtyard. It reminds us that environmental responsibility is not only the duty of governments, scientists or environmental organisations. It belongs to all of us. Kashmir does not need more environmental slogans alone. It needs more people willing to turn those slogans into small, visible actions. A green courtyard may seem like a very small thing. But sometimes a small beginning is exactly what a larger change needs.. Small actions can bring big changes — if we start today and continue tomorrow.
(The author is a teacher and Environmental Science researcher pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
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