With the climate change conference in Copenhagen just concluded, I have decided to take a break from writing on politics and social issues and instead write about another passion of mine, which is environmental protection. I was going to call it ‘The birds in my life’ but had second thoughts since readers might think it’s the confessions of Tiger Woods!

When I was small, the pictorial images of heaven invariably had humans surrounded by wild animals, birds and exotic flora. Having always lived close to the jungle ever since my childhood, I have come to associate the closeness of animals, birds, butterflies and beautiful flora with heaven...