Environmental crisis is no longer a danger still in womb of time; it is already here at our doorstep. People who feel concerned about this crisis ahead are ever growing in number. The search for a paradigm, which can ensure economic development without jeopardizing environmental quality, is being intensified. We in India are not yet prepared to modify the developmental perspective already in place in order to preserve environmental degradation. We appear to be afraid of the future, not only emerging future but also the alternative future. We still feel that human ingenuity will triumph in future too, as it has triumphed in the past. Humanity has always paid price for development. And will continue to do so in future. The environmental crisis which looms large today is nothing but a price for progress.
The present age is the age of many revolutions- revolutions that are themselves moving at a rapid pace but these are other aspects of situation, which reveal its tragic spots. Under-developed countries where grinding poverty reduces life to sub-human level, the environment and ecology are under tremendous strain. Every essential item of life support is experiencing an exponential growth in demand due to exploitation by the rich and for meeting dire necessities of the poor. This is happening because thinking and action of contemporary societies are being shaped by mechanical views of the nature. There is a little realization that life and nature are a part of cosmic web and values gendered by religious and cultures, which plays a great role in maintaining the balance and harmony of that web.
Since the current environmental crisis is basically a crisis of values and outlooks, it is necessary that these values and outlooks are reoriented and reformed so that spiritual possessions of man are at a higher pedestal than his material possessions. The ever deteriorating environmental condition in most parts of the world demands spiritual response, and this can be brought about by regenerating and rejuvenating basic values of major religions and cultures and making them a part of world-wide education programme.