“Normalizing” Loss— Just like another trend?

“A personal letter to those who forgot. And to those still listening.”

Long back, when I was a kid, I used to accompany my mom to her training programs at the university campus. It’s the same campus that’s now made headlines for all the wrong reasons, mainly being— Biodiversity loss on campus. Back then, it was surrounded by friendly guards waving a warm “Hello!” The lush green gardens, where students and researchers embraced nature — relaxing in its lap after a hectic workday. Peacocks danced. Deer walked past like old friends. They were not trapped in any fences or enclosures. They were free– exactly like they were supposed to be. And maybe, just maybe, they had favorite humans too– the faces they saw every day. Life was peaceful back then.

But what it was, a few days back, was nothing short of “a waking nightmare.” These trees are the lungs of our city. Destroying them? What do you think you’ll breathe? You cannot grow a WHOLE damn forest just by planting new ones if that is a defense. These forests took decades to form and were shoved off to dust in seconds. Destruction at the cost of development? Humanity should be ashamed and disgusted if this is what we very proudly call “Progress”.

Do we really need this development that comes by abandoning so many lives? If yes, then where is it taking us? We keep building IT hubs and glass towers — but somehow still find unemployment. These corporate buildings breathe money yet can’t buy clean air.

Social media was filled with devastating visuals of the homeless animals in despair and hopelessness. The very soul of that place has now turned to dust. We still hear the haunting cries of the peacocks. Still see “forwarded” messages of displaced deer wandering into human homes desperate for a sip of water. And yet we simply “like,” “share” and forget. The trees didn’t grow back, and the animals never found a new home. The earth is still bleeding. And that’s how quickly we normalize destruction once the hashtags die out.

“Why DESTROY what you can’t RESTORE?”

We build concrete jungles, destroying the real ones. Wow! Ironic.

Maybe we don’t deserve this planet. We never chose co-existence – we chose greed. But, when nature rebels, there will be no negotiations. The payback will be brutal.

When I saw people protest, I felt a hope that maybe something could be done. Not realizing we only talk when it’s trending and scroll away when it’s not. We can’t settle for some temporary pauses; we need a permanent ban on such inhumane acts. Why should we force ourselves to believe that the raised voices will only fade into silence?

Forget creating life on Mars. When we can’t preserve what’s here, on earth, right in front of us. Yet so many continue to behave unbothered and minding their own business like all this never even happened. It’s our city, our home, our Hyderabad. Stop being practical about the outcome. This isn’t just about the trees in Hyderabad but the stories of millions of trees across the Earth being cut down every year in the name of development. If we forget this loss, we will scream for a week and normalize the next one too.

We’re already living in the future that scientists once warned us about. If this continues, there’ll literally be nothing left for us to pass on to our next generations.

As I write this post, with my heart full of pain and grief — I still hope that somewhere, humanity is still alive. Don’t let their cries vanish into the dark.

If you’ve already moved on, read this again. Because if you don’t realize it now, you may never realize even later.

“This loss feels personal.
The damage is already done.
Don’t just read this.
Remember it — feel it.
Because we protect what we remember.“

“The ecological balance is far more critical than most people realize. As National Geographic explains— it’s the foundation of life on Earth.”

Disclaimer: This blog post is a personal reflection based on my own memories, emotions, and opinions. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any organization or institution mentioned. The purpose is solely to raise awareness.

To know more about me and why I write, check out “About.”