Opinion Jane Goodall’s legacy is one of deep conviction and unshakeable hope

What finally took the cake was when Goodall discovered that chimps made and used tools — a privilege we had reserved for ourselves, and by which we defined ourselves. The cherry on top of the cake was, of course, when Goodall decided to give her subjects names: Greybeard, Fifi, Flo, Grub, et al – rather than numbers. This appalled the straightjacketed scientific community — largely male — who accused her of anthropomorphism while conveniently forgetting that we often give automobiles, ships and planes female names (such as Queen Elizabeth) and refer to them as “she” and “her”. Even today sadly, the convention of giving animals numbers instead of names prevails — thus, tigers in National Parks are called T1, T2, etc. rather than by names, and we continue to be indifferent to their gender. An animal whose gender is known is still always referred to as “it”, and not “he” or “her”, which to my mind immediately distances the animal and turns it into an object – which it patently is not.

Goodall showed us what patience, quiet observation, steely determination and the ability to last the distance could achieve. Sit quietly, keep a notebook and pen in hand, a camera and binoculars ready, watch all day and there will be revelations. The frenetic “twitchers” and tickers in the birding community and those who visit national parks to tick off species, falling over each other in their zeal to capture their sightings in Instagram reels and social media-worthy photos, would do well to follow this ethos.

Apart from her pioneering work on chimps, Goodall was deeply concerned by issues such as climate change, deforestation and global warming. The resources of our planet are finite, she said, and one day they will finish. What do we tell our children when the treasure chest we have been looting is empty?

But far from throwing up our hands and giving up, Goodall deeply believed in the power of hope. As long as we have hope – as long as there are people, young and old, willing to do their bit, even if it is just a little bit — it is a start. That is how movements develop. One voice joins another, then another, till there’s a full-fledged chorus. It is this hope we must give our children, because they are the ones who are going to live on this planet in the future.

Another sublime message that came through her study of chimpanzees is that violent, tyrannical and brutish leaders never last. So there are things we can pick up from chimp society that will be good for us. Goodall focused a lot on spreading her message to children, beginning a small “Roots and Shoots” movement in Africa that has now spread to 140 countries (India is not amongst them). Spend time with nature and it will change your perspective of the world and make you care for it.

Listen to a world leader or politician thunder, roar and pontificate on television or radio and you will have forgotten what they spoke about in 30 seconds. Listen to Goodall’s soft, gentle voice, filled with conviction and irrefutable logic, and her message will stay with you forever.

All this from a 26 year-old girl, who long ago dared step into the dark African rainforest alone, to observe and study chimpanzees in the wild.

Lal is a writer, environmentalist and birdwatcher