A DUTY BEFORE US

                                   A  DUTY BEFORE  US    j.k. sivan 

                                                            

We inherit properties left as legacy by our ancestors. We either develop, modify, demolish and renew, or repair and live in it. It all depends on its status, condition  and suitability for present  needs and pattern of our  life.  We always try best to  enhance  the  utility for our happy,  comfortable  living and plan for its fitness to meet  the demands of the future.

Stop to think for  a minute.  The world we live in, is  such a a gift of Nature to us.  It has  been enjoyed by our ancestors. They nurtured,  maintained  it,  improved upon it, planted and grew trees, dug wells, lakes, tanks and temples,  and built  bridges and dams for conserving water --  all for our  happy living. They lived with Nature, depending fully on what  Nature offered in plenty, and ensured they derive more from Nature by helping it, improving  upon it, and expanding the scope of a better living than what they were gifted at the beginning. 

In fact they were more knowledgeable and wiser than us.  We are proud that we are better educated and know science and economics. Regrettably, we broke their finest system in the garb of advanced civilization and modernisation.

What is education?  To learn to kill ourselves and others by various  short sighted systems,  ignoring  ecological balance, and disturbing nature in its entirey?   Our scientific development and knowledge had wrongly channelled us in more ways than one.

Our invention of the plastic, dependence on rubber, chemicals, and pvc, polythene products  etc., cement, pesticides, chemical fibres in place of pure cotton, for wearing our garments,  metal tar etc-- we thought  are  for  our mprovised  modern, easy and beneficial living.  It has disturbed the nature  and  slowly and steadily makes it detrimental for our normal happy living.  

Diseases spread  faster and brings innumerable disorders and  difficulties, because of ecological disturbance,  use of  chemicals, and  poisoning the food  nature  has been giving  all along by  using  artificial means and pestiticides, chemical manures etc.,

Nature relies on recycling its own products and offer  comfort and safe materials and  stuff  which we disturb by  introducing  in lieu  the indestructible harmful  chemical based products which  cannot be recycled easily.  The side effects  of  each and every modern introduction is proving more harmful. It has become unavoidable.  Health is not cared for and reliance  on nature’s cure is overlooked and poisonous  and harmful antibiotics are introduced  into our biological system from childhood. 

Say  ''No'' to plastic.  Carry with you cloth bag or bamboo basket  for buying your groceries and  vegetables. Refuse when offered  by the vendors and shop keepers. If no taker, then the demand for such harmful things will fade and disappear slowly  as none would manufacture or sell,

Dont  buy chemical mixed products for use on your body such as creams and deodorants  etc.,  Use  natural products  like sandal wood,  neem,  and  home  made   products for contact with your skin.  Encourage  using  paper bags. It  can be  recycled and re- used . There will be no pollution.  

Agriculture fields are fast disappearing  eaten by flat promoters and real estate investors.  Villages are no longer the same as they were during the days of our ancestors.   Walk to the shops and avoid using  two wheelers .  Use  public vehicles such as train and bus wherever  time  permits and possible. Accordingly  plan your day and strictly follow it.   Teach children to become interested in gardening and use of cotton  etc, instead of artificial fibres and silk.  Now the rains have made the earth soft and regenerated, plant saplings. grow your own kitchen garden.

We are a recognized large agrarian country. Why  our agricultural products are becoming scarce and the price demanded for them is soaring high?  because of inadequate land and labour to work upon it.  Our  unscrupulous acts , encouraged by most of us  results in fertile agrarian lands of produce being made concrete jungles.. ..  money money and greed for money had usurped us.   

Trees are cut and plants are destroyed for various  commercial and business reasons for becoming rich.  Everyday we read and see pictures of red sanders and wood stealthily cut from our protected forests. We are naturally inviting disasters by  causing failure of  seasonal rains and water supply and storage facilities. 

We  have  so many ideas to disturb nature and spoil the beautiful and bountiful  mother earth under the guise of modernisation and advancement. It is nothing short of suicide. 

 Let every one  try to plant a tree  if you have  space in your house or  grow creepers and small plants in  tubs,  cement troughs and  big  containers  even if living  in flats watering them daily  and replacing the soil from time to time. You will find them a happy company and  the joy and benefit you derive  out of this is matchless and incomparable.  Grow green chillies, coriander leaves, tomatoes and greens at home for your own use and the joy of seeing the flowers and vegetables grown by you is matchless.