In recent years, we’ve been harsh with the environment around us. We exploit it every day—often unconsciously—to meet our needs and wants. Not a single day goes by without us disturbing its balance.
So why an apology letter?
Because it’s more than just saying “sorry”. It’s about confronting our wrongdoings, acknowledging the harm we’ve caused to the soil, water, air, and creatures, and beginning to change.
This project collects five unique apology letters from individuals across different generations and professions, each confronting the damage they’ve caused—and how they’re trying to make amends.
Letters to the Earth
1. To the Soil I Contaminated
By Resham Lal Singh, 62-year-old farmer
Confession:
“Maine apni kheti ki zameen ke kayi ped kaate hain, jisse mitti mein badlaav aaye. Ab maine khaad daal daalkar use theek banaya hai. Lekin andar se woh zyada hi toot chuki hai.”
Describe your planet in one word:
Saampurn (Complete)
One activity you are grateful for:
I planted a mango tree as a child—today it gives me shade when I rest.
How do you practice sustainability?
I use a bucket to bathe and limit groundwater usage.
How’s your home and neighbourhood?
Surrounded by agricultural fields, peaceful and green—I love it.
Advice to your children:
Our environment reflects how we treat it. If you want beauty, act beautifully toward it.
Favourite element of the environment:
The sky—ever-changing, always beautiful.
2. To My Trees That I’ve Cut
By Bhupesh Kumar, 69-year-old farmer
Confession:
“Ek samay paiso ki kami thi. Maine apne zameen ke ped kaatkar ek dukaan khol di. Aaj bhi us faisle par afsos hota hai.”
Describe your planet in one word:
Vasundhara (Mother Earth)
One activity you are grateful for:
I adopted five stray dogs and care for them daily.
How do you practice sustainability?
I never leave taps or pipes open in the field—water is precious.
How’s your home and neighbourhood?
Uneven and rough, but those few trees bring life.
Advice to your children:
Respect the soil—it’s where we come from.
Favourite element of the environment:
Green fields and rich, nurtured soil.
3. To the Water I’ve Always Wasted
By Rinku Bhaduria, 78-year-old farmer
Confession:
“Maine motor ka paani poore din chala kar barbaad kiya. Aaj uss galti par dukh hota hai.”
Describe your planet in one word:
Saundarya (Beauty)
One activity you are grateful for:
I plant a tree every Environment Day with a local NGO.
How do you practice sustainability?
I switch off unused lights and fans to save electricity.
How’s your home and neighbourhood?
A mix of cement homes and farmland.
Advice to your children:
Water is life—don’t repeat my mistakes if you want a safe future.
Favourite element of the environment:
Tall roadside trees—they’ve seen everything.
4. I Am Sorry for the Smoke, Air
By Manas Lal Singh, 60-year-old shop owner
Confession:
“Maine apne dukaan ke kabaad ko jalakar hawa ko ganda kiya. Pehle roz karta tha, ab samajh aa gaya hai ki ye hanikarak hai.”
Describe your planet in one word:
Bharpurna (Abundant)
One activity you are grateful for:
Started a small organic farm and rear poultry.
How do you practice sustainability?
I teach children not to waste water; we celebrate Holi with dry, organic colours.
How’s your home and neighbourhood?
Very artificial, but we grow trees at home to stay connected to nature.
Advice to your children:
The air you breathe must not be tainted by your actions.
Favourite element of the environment:
Pure groundwater.
5. I Am Sorry, Animals
By Kranti Lal Shah, 85-year-old farmer
Confession:
“Mere aas paas bahut saare jaanwar the—kutte, billi. Ek din pareshaan hoke unhe jungle mein chhod diya. Aaj tak wapas nahi aaye.”
Describe your planet in one word:
Mehtvapurna (Significant)
One activity you are grateful for:
I also plant a tree every Environment Day with an NGO.
How do you practice sustainability?
I conserve electricity by switching off unused appliances.
How’s your home and neighbourhood?
Cement buildings and farmland blend together.
Advice to your children:
What I did, you must never do—animals deserve our care.
Favourite element of the environment:
The shade of tall, wise trees.
Acknowledgement
Thank you to all the people who trusted me with their stories and made this original report possible.
Final Thought
Mistakes are human—but so is redemption.
The goal of this project was to encourage environmental accountability. Writing an apology won’t undo the past, but it helps lighten the burden, open space for change, and begin again with intention.
