Nobody knows where or how time flies. We take birth, we start crawling, we start walking and before we know we are full-grown adults looking back at our childhood. As I look back at my own childhood, the one thing that makes me very nostalgic is the sight of fireflies.

I was raised in my maternal uncle’s little village—Rangi of Rautahat district. As the sun went down, fireflies always popped up slowly and steadily illuminating the village little by little. I loved chasing these fireflies. They amused me. As I wandered off behind them, I always wondered how it was that these little bugs carried little lamps on their back.

I always compared the light to the kerosene lit ones that could be found in every household in the village.

Fireflies are by far the prettiest and most beautiful insects I have ever seen. Like stars illuminate the sky, fireflies illuminated the earth. They made my evenings pretty and happy too. Even in the darkest nights like those with no sign of moon, fireflies spread light and warmth. They became a sign of hope even when it was pitch black. They brought smile to one’s face even if it was momentary.  The best part was they were everywhere—fields, streets, river banks, gardens, houses. And it was a sight so remarkable it always makes me nostalgic.

I used to wander around fields and jungles all day long and finally settle down with my friends in the evening to watch the fireflies. Once there were enough, we would chase these pretty bugs. We’d all bring our catch together and put them in a bottle. The illuminated bottle looked spectacular. If we got bored by just looking at these bugs, we’d get into action. We would hide behind bushes and wait for people to come out of their houses. Once someone came into plain sight, we would throw the bottle full of fireflies their way to scare them. As random people scurried with fear, we ran in opposite direction bursting out in laughter.

I eventually moved to the city for my further studies, only to realise that fireflies were not so fond of cities as we humans were.  As soon as I got an opportunity or a holiday to visit the village, I would try to salvage the experience. I would still wait for the fireflies and then chase them.

With time and with urbanisation, I observed that the fireflies were gradually decreasing in number around houses and roads. Accounting to fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides that started getting sprayed into the fields, these bugs stopped showing up there as well. 

Today, as I long to see fireflies, I fear they are long gone. I am afraid they are close to extinction. I don’t remember the last time I spotted a firefly and it saddens me to imagine a world without these insects.

Today, in this age of development we are advancing in all sectors such as agriculture, technology, and commerce. It is important to move forward undoubtedly. But the question is—at what cost?

In the name of progress we are destroying the nature, knowingly and unknowingly. The gradual disappearance of fireflies is only a small example of nature diverting from its course. How much are we risking in the name of development? How much are we destroying? Are we taking over natural habitats of innocent creatures that just want to take a flight in the evening breeze?

I grew up with fireflies and I wish my children could too. But what can we do about it? What is done is done and there is no going back. As educated people we are in the best position to control hazardous activities and opt for a sustainable development. We are in the process of evolving and we have enough opportunity to make our country eco-friendly. Let’s do what we can, let’s start where we stand.

Chaudhary is a BBA student at Kantipur Valley College