This Plaque in Ahmedabad Honors Sparrow Killed in 1974 Police Firing

World Sparrow Day 2025: Today, as we celebrate World Sparrow Day to raise awareness about the disappearance of sparrows, IFS officer Parveen Kaswan shared a photo of a unique plaque in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, dedicated to a sparrow that died in a police firing in March 1974. Kaswan highlights how sparrows, once common in cities, are now vanishing due to urbanization and habitat loss.

This plaque, which is believed to be the only one of its kind in the world, honors a sparrow that tragically died in a police firing during a protest in March 1974. The story highlights the ongoing decline in sparrow numbers, a bird whose sweet chirping once filled the air but is now fading from many urban areas.

Parveen Kaswan, the IFS officer, tweeted the photo with a poignant message, “Today is #WorldSparrowDay. Whose songs are fading day by day. But here is a unique thing to share today. Only plaque in world dedicated to #sparrow is in Ahmedabad. Dedicated to a sparrow that died in March of 1974 in police firing. People are beautiful!!”

See the post:

The plaque, located in Ahmedabad, reads, "During the 1974 Roti Ramkhan (Navnirman Movement) in Gujarat, on 02-03-1974, 5:25 pm, an innocent sparrow was killed here in reckless police firing." The memorial serves as a reminder not only of the bird's tragic death but also of the broader issue of sparrow populations dwindling due to urbanization and habitat loss.

Sparrows, once common in cities, are now becoming a rare sight in many areas. Netizens responding to Kaswan's tweet shared their memories of sparrows and expressed concern about their decline.

Read Also: World Forest Day 2025: Date, History, Significance, and 2025 Theme

 

One user commented, "Sparrows were as common as pigeons in Ahmedabad. They are gone now, don’t know what happened." Others shared their experiences of no longer hearing the chirping of sparrows in their localities.

World Sparrow Day 2025

World Sparrow Day, observed on March 20 every year, aims to raise awareness about the need to conserve these little birds. The day is spearheaded by the Nature Forever Society of India, with support from the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and other organizations. Conservationists like Mohammed Dilawar, who founded the Nature Forever Society, have been advocating for sparrow protection, encouraging people to take action to help preserve their habitats.