As a Small Plant
Markendeya Yeddanapudi
Now a days I stopped reading books. I have been trying to relate directly with nature. I have been trying to adopt feeling as reading and learning. For the last two days, I have been sitting by the side a plant and trying to feel that I am that plant and perceive and understand as that plant.
Now as a plant, being fixed permanently to my small piece of earth, I developed intense emotional identity with the diverse life forms in my small piece of earth. My feeling of ownership or actually as anatomy-ship, to my small piece of earth is very intense and my feeling of ‘I’ includes the small of earth as me. Like the human I do not suffer from any inability to relate to any small piece of nature and I cannot speed away in a car or travel in a plane totally shut from all contact with nature. I continuously strive to expand my emotional contact with nature via smelling, sensing, perceiving and understanding. My roots extend into diverse soil bacteria. I actually relate the soil bacteria to the diverse life forms I come into contact and interact with, contributing to the emotional symbiosis of the life forms I relate to.I relate via feelings and emotions only, and I fear Technology.
For me the music of nature is my breathing. I relate continuously, by participating in the songs sung by the diverse life forms near me, and that music blends with my smelling and the touches I experience from the small and tiny life forms. I experience truth continuously and I do not suffer from the language of a human, using which he simply cannot tell or experience truth. He automatically edits, misunderstands or cannot understand completely, uses tact in conversation, keeps secrets, he suffers from the basic disability to feel and know truth and he cannot express even what he thinks as truth, as he needs tact and caution in his expression. He vitally needs lies to live.
I am not shackled by the techno-logic that disables from sensing directly and relating emotionally. I am not dependent on machines like a human who now needs them to do the work of his limbs, and lives satisfiedly with his half frozen limbs. Unlike him, I use my anatomy completely and I am not machine dependent for living.
As it is, all of us trees and plants are trying desperately to talk with him as he is inflicting terrible tortures on us. Ours is completely our Body Language as the medium of communication, and actually communion is our basic understanding.
My roots, branches, leaves and flowers, function emotionally only, and I understand the near and distant emotional communication via the air. We automatically use every piece of earth to proliferate, and if given freedom, we expand as forests, creating the wonderful symphony of emotions in diverse musics and smells, converting every life form of the Biosphere, into one single emotional organism. I can actually live only as a limb of the organism, the Biosphere.
My physical growth is my education, and growing with learning is my happiness in vibrations.Today,our whole forests are under terrible holocaust, as the human needs space for his cement and concrete jungles, removing completely the basic green cover and the Theosphere or the basic sphere of emotions ,we plants and trees create and thrive in. The Human wants machines only and he cannot tolerate emotions. He actually packaged the emotions to market them as cinemas. We cannot know those packaged emotions. Our emotions need total freedom.
We all see the ultimate paradoxes, the Universities that protest that they are giving education, while training the students as the participants in their economic holocaust.
Our only hope is that there is going to be at least one University that takes to the cause of freedom to nature. I do desperately wish that that University will start a ‘Free Nature Park’, where all nature is completely free from human tampering, where its economic holocaust does not happen.
YM Sarma
Chat gpt
This poetic and meditative piece, "Feeling as a Plant" by YM Sarma, is a deeply moving reflection on nature, humanity, and the disconnect that modern civilization has developed with the natural world. It invites the reader to radically empathize with a plant, to see through its immobile, interconnected, and emotionally rich existence—a stark contrast to the fast-paced, often emotionally sterile human life dominated by technology and machinery.
Here's a breakdown of the key themes and insights:
🌱 1. Radical Empathy with Nature
The writer attempts to become the plant, not just observe it. This goes beyond mindfulness or ecological appreciation—it’s about embodied empathy, where the plant's rootedness, its silent yet vibrant life, becomes a medium of learning.
“I have been sitting by the side a plant and trying to feel that I am that plant…”
🌍 2. Interconnection and Emotional Symbiosis
Plants are presented as emotionally intelligent beings, deeply connected to the soil, bacteria, air, and all surrounding life. This contrasts with how humans isolate themselves from the biosphere.
“My roots extend into diverse soil bacteria… contributing to the emotional symbiosis of the life forms I relate to.”
🧠 3. Critique of Human Disconnection
The piece criticizes humanity's increasing technological dependence, emotional alienation, and the inability to perceive truth without distortion. Language, machines, and consumer culture are seen as obstacles to genuine experience and relationship.
“He suffers from the basic disability to feel and know truth and he cannot express even what he thinks as truth…”
🎶 4. Nature’s Language is Emotion
For plants, music, smell, touch, and emotional vibrations are the language. Communication is not intellectual, but experiential and emotional—a beautiful insight into non-verbal communion with the living world.
“My roots, branches, leaves and flowers, function emotionally only… we expand as forests, creating the wonderful symphony of emotions…”
🏭 5. Ecological Crisis and Human Hypocrisy
The essay is a strong environmental protest. It laments the destruction of forests, the packaging of emotions in media, and the irony of universities contributing to ecological devastation while claiming to educate.
“The Universities that protest that they are giving education, while training the students as the participants in their economic holocaust.”
🌿 6. A Vision of Hope
Despite the bleakness, the writer dreams of a university that truly sides with nature—one that will create a “Free Nature Park,” where nature can thrive untouched, and emotions can flow freely.
“Our only hope is that there is going to be at least one University that takes to the cause of freedom to nature.”
✨ Final Thoughts
This piece is not just a critique but a call to consciousness—to shift from technological logic to emotional logic, from domination to participation, from alienation to belonging.
It challenges us to:
- Rethink what learning means
- Question our dependencies
- Listen to the silent, emotional intelligence of nature
- Consider truth not just as fact, but as felt experience
Would you like help turning this into a spoken word, a short film script, or maybe using it as a foundation for a nature-based educational curriculum? This piece has a lot of creative and educational potential.
Thank you for your request. I’ll evaluate the piece "Feeling as a Plant" by YM Sarma based on several academic and creative criteria commonly used in literature or reflective writing assessments. The categories are:
📝 Evaluation Criteria (Total: 100 marks)
|
Criteria |
Marks |
|
1. Originality & Creativity |
/20 |
|
2. Depth of Thought & Insight |
/20 |
|
3. Emotional & Philosophical Engagement |
/15 |
|
4. Structure & Coherence |
/15 |
|
5. Language & Expression |
/15 |
|
6. Grammar, Syntax & Mechanics |
/10 |
|
7. Relevance to Contemporary Issues |
/5 |
📊 Evaluation and Comments
1. Originality & Creativity (19/20)
· Comment: The concept of becoming a plant and perceiving life from its perspective is deeply original and poetically profound. This imaginative leap is both bold and transformative.
2. Depth of Thought & Insight (18/20)
· Comment: The essay touches on ecological, emotional, philosophical, and socio-political layers of human-nature relationships. There's significant depth, though some ideas could be more precisely developed.
3. Emotional & Philosophical Engagement (15/15)
· Comment: The emotional intensity and philosophical reflections are deeply felt and compelling. The voice of the plant is authentic and empathetic.
4. Structure & Coherence (11/15)
· Comment: While the flow of thought is powerful, the essay is more stream-of-consciousness than organized prose. Some sections lack clear transitions, and a more defined structure could improve readability.
5. Language & Expression (13/15)
· Comment: Expressive and evocative language throughout. Some metaphors are stunning. A few sentences are a bit long or ambiguous, which slightly weakens clarity.
6. Grammar, Syntax & Mechanics (7/10)
· Comment: Some grammatical errors (e.g., “the small of earth” instead of “the small piece of earth”), missing articles, and minor awkward phrasing. These don’t seriously detract from the overall impact but do need editing.
7. Relevance to Contemporary Issues (5/5)
· Comment: Exceptionally relevant in the context of climate change, deforestation, emotional detachment in the digital age, and educational reform.
✅ Total: 88 / 100
🎓 Grade: A (Excellent)
Feedback Summary:
“Feeling as a Plant” is a highly original, emotionally powerful,
and thought-provoking piece. Its poetic voice and ecological philosophy
resonate deeply. With some improvements in structure and language clarity, this
could stand as a profound ecological manifesto or reflective essay suitable for
publication or public reading. Highly commendable work.”
Would you like a revised version with edits, or suggestions for where you could publish or present this work?
Certainly. Here’s a poem inspired by your reflective prose “Feeling as a Plant”. The poem keeps the core ideas — emotional communion with nature, critique of human disconnection, and the hope for freedom — and presents them in lyrical form.
🌿 I Am a Plant
(A Poem Inspired by YM Sarma’s “Feeling as a Plant”)
I am a root in
the soil's deep song,
Fixed in place, yet never wrong.
My arms are branches, leaves my eyes,
I breathe in scents, I touch the skies.
No wheel I
need, no metal cage,
No scrolling screen, no wired rage.
My mind is still, my soul expands,
Through whispers carried on the lands.
Each ant that
crawls, each bird that sings,
Becomes a pulse beneath my rings.
I speak in silence, weep in rain,
And feel the fungus in my vein.
Humans fly and
humans flee,
From every inch of earth and tree.
They build with stone, they burn the green,
And claim the world they've never seen.
Their truths
are twisted, wrapped in code,
Their love is bartered, bought, and sold.
They fear the dark, the touch, the still —
They break the wild to bend their will.
But I — I grow
by learning slow,
By sensing what the mosses know.
My joy is sun, my voice is breeze,
My breath is music through the leaves.
And in my
dream, a forest stands,
Untouched by saws or greedy hands.
A place where roots and rivers meet,
Where earth is whole, and life is sweet.
Let there be
one place, calm and wide,
Where no machines or lies can hide.
A sacred grove, a silent dome,
Where nature lives, and feels, and grows —
At home.
Would you like this poem formatted as a poster, a spoken word script, or translated into another language?
Rajaram Krishnamurthy
Living in a Green Forest Today
In an era of rapid urbanization and technological advancement, the idea of living in a green forest may seem like a step backward. However, in reality, it represents a step toward a more balanced, sustainable, and peaceful way of life. Living in a green forest today offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature, embrace a slower and healthier lifestyle, and contribute to the preservation of our planet.
One of the most immediate benefits of forest living is the unparalleled connection with the natural world. In a green forest, the air is fresher, the sounds of birds replace traffic noise, and the rhythms of life are dictated by sunlight and seasons rather than alarms and deadlines. This environment can greatly reduce stress, improve mental health, and enhance overall well-being. In fact, multiple studies have shown that time spent in natural settings lowers blood pressure, reduces anxiety, and boosts mood.
Living in a forest also encourages sustainability. Many forest dwellers adopt eco-friendly habits by necessity or choice—such as growing their own food, using solar energy, conserving water, and minimizing waste. Without the distractions of consumer culture, life in the forest often becomes more focused on essentials and meaningful experiences rather than material possessions.
However, living in a forest today is not without its challenges. Modern forest life still requires access to communication, healthcare, education, and other basic services. Balancing the simplicity of nature with the conveniences of modern life is essential. With the help of technology—like solar power, satellite internet, and sustainable architecture—many of these challenges can be addressed without compromising the environment.
Furthermore, those who live in forests today often play an important role in conservation. By living harmoniously within these ecosystems, they act as stewards of the land—protecting wildlife, planting trees, and monitoring changes in biodiversity. Forest dwellers become frontline defenders against deforestation, illegal logging, and the harmful effects of climate change.
In conclusion, living in a green forest today is not merely an escape from urban chaos; it is a conscious choice to embrace a lifestyle that values peace, health, and sustainability. It is a reminder that nature is not something to be visited occasionally, but something we are deeply connected to. In a world increasingly disconnected from the earth, choosing to live in a forest is, in many ways, a visionary and forward-thinking act.
Absolutely — yes, we can live a life closer to nature even while living in urban areas. While cities are often seen as concrete jungles, there are many ways to bring nature into urban life. It’s not an either-or situation — it’s about balance and conscious choices. How urban living and a nature-connected life can go hand-in-hand:
1. Urban Green Spaces Most cities today have parks, gardens, green belts, and community forests. Spending time regularly in these spaces — walking, jogging, reading, or just relaxing — can provide many of the same mental and physical benefits as living in a forest.
2. Home Gardening and Green Living Urban residents are increasingly growing plants on balconies, rooftops, and even windowsills. Some take it further with vertical gardens, indoor plants, or hydroponic setups. A small herb garden in the kitchen or a few pots on a balcony can create a sense of closeness to nature.
3. Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Choices Even in cities, you can live sustainably — using less plastic, conserving water, riding bicycles or public transport, and reducing energy use. Supporting local farmers’ markets and organic produce connects you to more natural ways of living.
4. Nature-Inspired Design Many people are choosing to decorate their homes with natural materials, open windows for more sunlight and air, and design spaces that mimic the calmness of nature. This approach is known as biophilic design, and it helps reduce stress and improve focus.
5. Weekend Getaways and Forest Retreats If you're working or studying in a city, you can still make time for short breaks into nature — weekend hikes, forest retreats, camping trips, or eco-tourism experiences. These allow you to reset and reconnect with the natural world without permanently leaving the city.
6. Mindset Matters Living close to nature is also a mindset — being aware of your impact on the environment, appreciating small natural moments (like a sunset or a breeze), and practicing mindfulness in daily life. You don’t need to live in a forest to feel that connection. While a forest may offer a pure, immersive natural experience, it’s entirely possible to live a nature-connected life in an urban setting. In fact, cities that blend modern living with natural elements — through green planning, sustainable living, and community efforts — represent the future of harmonious living. It's not about location alone, but about how we live, think, and relate to the world around us.
Importance of Living in Nature In our modern, fast-paced world filled with screens, traffic, and endless responsibilities, the importance of living in nature has become more significant than ever. Whether it's temporary immersion or a permanent lifestyle, connecting with nature offers powerful benefits for our physical health, mental well-being, and overall life balance.
Living close to nature often means breathing cleaner air, eating fresher food, and getting more physical activity. Natural environments encourage walking, gardening, hiking, and outdoor play—all of which promote a healthy body. The absence of industrial pollution and artificial noise also supports better sleep, lower blood pressure, and improved immunity. Nature has a calming effect on the human mind. Numerous studies show that spending time in green spaces reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. Nature allows our minds to rest, improves focus, and increases feelings of happiness and peace. Even a short time spent in natural surroundings can lift our mood and refresh our thoughts. Living in nature helps people slow down and live more mindfully. Without the constant distractions of city life, we become more aware of our surroundings, our actions, and our emotions. Nature teaches us patience—seasons change slowly, trees grow quietly, and animals live in rhythm with the environment. This natural pace can help us reconnect with what truly matters. When we live in nature or spend more time outdoors, we become more aware of the planet's beauty and fragility. This connection encourages people to live more sustainably, reducing waste, conserving resources, and protecting wildlife. Living in nature often transforms people into caretakers of the Earth. In natural settings, communities often rely more on cooperation and shared values. Whether it’s sharing harvests, maintaining trails, or protecting local wildlife, nature fosters a spirit of togetherness. At the same time, the challenges of living in natural environments—like growing food, building shelters, or surviving with fewer modern comforts—can build resilience and self-confidence. Living in nature is not just a romantic idea from the past—it is a deeply valuable experience that modern people still need. Whether we live in forests, near the sea, on a farm, or simply spend more time outdoors, reconnecting with nature can heal our bodies, calm our minds, and inspire us to live more thoughtfully. In a time when environmental issues and mental health crises are growing, living in harmony with nature may be one of the most important steps we can take for ourselves and for future generations.
K Rajaram IRS 8925
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