That evening was painted in peace. As I returned from Srimanta Sankardev Nagar toward Hojai, I noticed an elderly man—perhaps in his late fifties—resting quietly under a sprawling banyan tree. Before him lay a vast paddy field, glowing gold under the evening sun. The air was still, carrying the earthy scent of freshly turned soil — a reminder that life begins here, in the hands of those who nurture the earth.
➤ I stopped my car and walked closer. “Kaka, how are you?”
He smiled softly. “I’m fine, just watching my field. You?”
I said gently, “Call me ‘tumi’, it feels warmer.”
And so began a conversation—short in words, long in emotion.
✬ He pointed toward the field.
“This is my land. I’ve tilled it myself this year, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to next year. My sons work in Bengaluru, my daughter is married away. They come sometimes, help a little, but I don’t know if they’ll ever take this soil in their hands again.”
His voice faded into the wind. For a while, neither of us spoke. I could only feel the weight of his question—
➔ “Will there be anyone left, who will still touch this soil with love?”
Those words echoed within me. Because beyond that question lies a truth we often overlook: the farmer’s hands are the roots of our civilization, and our future depends on the soil he protects.
In a world obsessed with progress, we forget that every breath we take, every meal we eat, begins with a farmer and the environment he preserves. When the earth suffers, we suffer too.
The real heroes are not always in uniforms or offices — sometimes, they stand barefoot in muddy fields, sowing hope grain by grain.
★ As individuals, we can honor them not just with words, but with actions:
Support local farmers and organic produce.
Avoid food waste — it disrespects the labor of those who grow it.
Plant trees, protect water, and choose sustainability in small ways.
Teach children that progress is not leaving the land, but loving it responsibly.
✬ Protecting the environment is not a choice — it’s gratitude in action.
Because when we protect the farmer, we protect the earth… and when we protect the earth, we protect ourselves.
Do you believe the next generation will carry this love for the soil forward?
Ashish Chakraborty।। MSW ,MA(Double)।। Digital Content Writter ✒️।। Voluntary Social Worker ।। ✍
Ashish Blogger | Writer | Socio-Environmental Volunteer 