To assess the
advantages of traditional habits we have to evaluate a lot of habits of
Indians. This requires the historical perspective.
Let
us start with the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), India’s first and
foremost Urbanized Civilization. It was also one of the early
Civilizations of the World.
They
had constructed the houses leaving the courtyard in the centre of
house. It allows freely air, water (rain), sunrays (fire), earth, and
sky in to the house. A traditional Indian can recognize that people of
Indus Valley Civilization had allowed the pancha mahabhutas into their
house. The human body is believed that it is made of pancha
mahabhutas. Even, if we do not consider, they allowed the fresh air,
which do not allow any ailments related to lungs. By allowing the
water, they can store it in the vessels. It also percolates in to the
earth and existing well in the courtyard. They also allowed the sunrays
into the house with which some vectors and microbes do not enter into
the house. It reduces the incidence of deceases early. Sunrays also
prepare vitamin D in our body, which make our bones stronger. It also
keeps off from the depression. The touch with the earth makes the man
cool, reducing the body heat the visibility of sky do not make man
myopic and reduce the depression.
In
contrast to the traditional system, now we are constructing a packed
house, which do not allow sufficient airflow into the house. It allows
switching on the fans continuously.
Surroundings
of the houses are floored with stones, which do not allow the water to
percolate and on the name of civilization, we do not store the rainwater
in vessels. Bore wells are replaced the wells. They are tools of
continuous sucking of water with out recharging.
Every one must conserve the resources. I already made it clear that stress on resources always cause global warming.
Even
sunlight is not allowed to enter into houses by constructing the houses
in the made of westerners. It forces the human beings to consume to
keep themselves hot.
People in some town do not get opportunity to watch the sky for days together and ultimately results to eyesight.
Hence, the design of the house is very much vital for avoiding the Global Warming, ill health and energy conservation.
The
material now used in the construction of houses are also aggravating
the problem of excessive use of energy, due to use of concrete, people
are compelled to use Fans and AC’s for houses together in hot season and
some people do not sleep without Fan and AC even during winter.
In
the Indus Valley Civilization, people did not kept the door of windows
and entrances open to the main roads. But in present days, people are
habituated to keep their door to main road, which allow the dust to
enter into the house.
Indus
Valley people maintained under ground drainage system with manholes in
regular intervals. But even in the much civilized (perhaps, we assume)
societies, under ground drainage systems are not possible and
maintenance in cities like Hyderabad is also a Herculean task. IN
absence of under ground drainage system, mosquitoes easily grow
They
established their towns in Grid System, in which roads are intersecting
to make the town into rectangular blocks. The roads are also wide.
But
even in present days, roads are hapazardous & narrow without
following the layout. It easily interrupts the free flow of traffic and
consumes more fuel, ultimately leading to pollution and Global Warming.
For the environment concern, they had maintained the dustbins in every
street. But unfortunately in present day we could not arrange dustbins,
either, completely take up the house Garbage Collection.
In
ancient period, even upto 30 years back in most of the towns, people
maintained trees, pants, for various purposes in their backyard. They
had got fresh air, flowers vegetables, and fruits for their consumption.
In
present days, there is no space for backyard. A few people started
thinking of greenery. We are consuming polluted air, which can cause
breathing problems. We have to buy flowers, fruits and vegetables,
which are preserved for 2 to 3 days. Again we preserve 2 to 3 days in
the refrigerator, loosing all the freshness and nutrition. Thus, we are
prone to more deceases.
Arrangement
of house, well, plants and trees are in perfect position. All the
consumed water t well (practically no consumption of water inside the
house) use to go to the plants and trees of backyard garden. The
excessive water after consumption of garden reaches a soak pit. It is
usually dug into 6 feet and filled with sand and coal, So as to absorb
the water. Hence there is no wastage of even a single drop of water.
Even in the Indus Valley, Soak pits are found in many places.
In
these days, whatever the water we use, it reaches the drains and
pollutes a lot and reaches the rivers of rivulets of tanks and makes
them polluted. Those are become breeding centers of mosquitoes and
sources of foul smell. Some times questions arises in my mind, whether
are we really developing the technology to cater our needs? or are we in
clutches of resources stress? The development that we are taking up is
not the for the development of resources. But it is for lacking the
resources.
In
olden days, the waste generated in the house used to be composted in
the backyard. At that time there was no synthetic material which do not
decompose. For every crop, the composted material has used. No body
needs to throw waste on the streets. The composted material works as a
organic manure for high yield.
In
Olden days all kinds of fruits, vegetables were cultivated as per the
season by preserving the seeds. They consume variety of food. More
importantly there was choice of raw food. It ensures of freshness,
nutrients, strength.
The
opportunity of diversification of food and consumption of food
according to seasons ensured them health. Their habit was not sit like a
rock, but to work like a clock. What is the need of insulin or any
other medicine? Their average life is less but their strength was more.
Our average life is more but our strength is less. Our strength lies
only in our minds. Other advantage of consuming raw food is that we do
not waste the resources unnecessarily. It means reducing the Global
Warming. I feel that it the duty of every person to consume Atleast 25%
of raw food on daily basis. It Atleast reduce 10% of green house gas
emission. It is because (1) energy is saved (2) he has to rear Atleast
some plants for consumption (3) in a long run, he consumes less amount
of food and his digestive and excretory system improves (4) His health
also improves, consequently (5) seeds while becoming sprouts consume
carbon dioxide (6) wastage of uncooked food does not arise (7) there is
no need of using the refrigerators for preservation.
There
are so many advantages for the raw food consumption. After reading
above points, definitely some people switch to raw food for certain
days. But continuity is the most important aspect.
Except
on festivals and when relatives arrive, then only people preferred
cooking of non-vegetarian food. Generally it is said that to assimilate
in body. Vegetarian food takes 24 hours and Non-vegetarian food takes
96 hours. In our Global warming aspect, Non-Vegetarian creates more
amount of pollution. These days consumption of Non-Vegetarian. Have
increased a lot. They are grown in special forms. On one hand there is
increment in large scale in animals, which consume Oxygen and leaves
the CO2. On the other hand for constructing cattle farms & poultry
sheds, the precious trees are destroyed and reducing the land for
cultivation. It again put stress on Oxygen generation.
In
olden days, the cooked food consist less amount of oil. They use to
cook soups and graves to serve the whole joint family. Fresh foods are
cooked in short time consuming less energy.
But
in present days, fried curries are preferred in food. But these are
increasing the incidence of cancer cases. The oil in the curries is
buoyant. This has been reason for obese adolescent children. In
similarity with Non-vegetarian, oily food also consumes a lot of time to
assimilate into body. It also accumulates in body as fat, increasing
the food.
Human
beings are lacking work in present days. It is resulting in obesity.
It is pertinent to mention that Hyderabad had become capital of
diabetes.
The
other facet of life is habit of awakening and sleeping. In ancient
days, people use to wake up before the sunrise and used to carryout
their daily routine. They ate food in timely manner, since they do not
have complex duties to perform or to travel long distances to meet
somebody or to earn. After working hard, they used to return to home,
just before the sunset. Very soon they preferred to take their supper
and spend some time with family members. People preferred to sleep
between 8o clock to 9 o’clock. Even some people retire before 8’clock.
But
in present days, nobody sleeps early and rises early. Most of the
people do not take time on food. Even some people do not get time even
to eat food. The mental stress is making men feeble to vulnerable to
deceases.
After
wide spreading of Idiot Box (TV), most of the people are not sleeping
before 11’clock. Women are habituated to watch serials continuously.
It is consuming a lot of energy unnecessarily. In some states we hear
of closure of Industries due to paucity of electricity and huge number
of people are becoming unemployees and under employees. Watching TV
also made them isolated. This reduces the thickness in relations. In
case of any problems, people are resorting to suicides.
Due
to the vide spread of material culture, all the materials are available
for payment of money. It is decreasing the dependency on one other. It
is forcing people more to isolation causing a lot of stress.
In
Olden days the grain used to be pounding that removes only husk of the
rice. But these days every one is resorting to milling, which removes
the upper red layer decreasing the important nutrients. The concept of
Para boiled rice has been increasing. All these activities are making
under nutritious. Even if we consume more, we lack nutrition in above
circumstances.
The habit of drinking also varied from Ancient time to modern times.
In
ancient days people use to drink lemonade, buttermilk, ragi drink,
milk, coconut water. These liquids gave a lot of nutrients and made
them strong.
But
unfortunately in modern days, a few people are consuming the above
drinks. Instead of that people are consuming cool drinks, which do not
contain any nutrition.
Kindly watch the following comparison in present days.
S.No. TRADITIONAL DRINKS COOL DRINKS
1. Provide nutrition & energy to body 1. No nutrition
2.
Improves tree plantation activity and transportation is minimized,
there by reduce Global Warming. 2. Drain the Ground Water and causes
Global Warming.
3. Chemicals are absent 3. Contain pesticide residues and dangerous chemicals
4. Improve digestive system 4. Reduce digestion
5. Maintain water balance in body and rehydrates 5. No rehydration.
6. Save humans from hydration conditions 6. Do not save from hydrating conditions
7.
Provide employment to a lot of people and remove disparities 7.
Provide employment to a few people and escalate the disparities.
8.
Use of refrigerator is not necessary and can serve fresh 8. Use of
refrigerator is necessary to keep cool and it causes cold after
drinking.
9. Micro nutrients are available 9. No micro nutrients are available
10. Not harmful to dental system 10. Deplete the Enamel Layer of teeth
11. Contain the fiber and helps the excretory system 11. Fiber is absent
12. Works like ayurvedic medicine and prevent some deceases unknowingly 12. No such quality
India
was such in population (Human Resources) and Investment as well in
ancient period upto the free trade policy introduced by British in
India.
In
ancient days, people do not consume more than required. They
economized their living. They use to give huge donations to temples,
Buddhist monasteries schools and poor people. Even in some periods
money was available @ 8% to 12% per annum interest. India was
torchbearer in civilization for entire Asia and some parts of Africa.
Indians settled in many parts of the world, but they never disturbed the
local traditions, culture, etc.
Similarly,
for the economic benefits, our Indian never destructed the environment
and ecology. We used our human resources effectively. Astonishingly,
in present days, we are imitating the culture of west blindly. It is
not objectionable to replicate the good things, but imitation of
culture, which doesn’t suit to Indian conditions, is very much
dangerous.
For
instance, India is a hot country. Here wearing a loose cotton dress is
healthy. But people wear suit. The suit not only suits environmental
condition but it requires extra material for manufacture. We already
know that extra use of any material induce Global Warming. We use
cosmetics made in foreign countries such as soaps, powders, de-odorants,
perfumes, etc. These cosmetics neither cater the needs of the people
nor qualitative. Other fact is that some of the products consists
dangerous gases that are harmful to environment. Some Soap produces
more lather. It also pollutes the environment.
We
are also wasting food by preferring to eat in hotels. We also spend
for our own purpose. Only a few people among us give the donations by
economizing our own life. People now are spending much on smoking,
liquor, eating non-vegetarian etc. Houses are occupying much space in
the plots without caring for open spaces and greenery.
In
present days, we are dependent on machines. Even to travel a distance
of 100 meters, we are habituated to use vehicle. To step into first and
second floors, we are using the lifts by consuming a lot of energy
unnecessarily. It is also creates the problem of accumulation of fat in
body. Moreover accumulation of fat results to a cascading effect of
habituating to use the machines and vehicles forever, till he become a
patient. Thus a fat man contributes to the Global Warming. But a few
fat people recognize the danger with their fats and work to tide over
the problem.
India
is a country with vast human resources. We have to effectively utilize
the human resources and make it our strength. But we need sympathy
& faith on the poor people. Then only utilization of HR is
possible. Training also plays a vital role in development of Human
Resources. Education must reach to every doorstep in the whole country.
Our vision must be to lead the whole world. Today so many foreigners are visiting India for various purposes.
In
ancient days also, so many foreigners visited Indian lands and admired
the climate, traditions, hosting, peaceful condition efficiency in trade
and commerce, knowledge in science and technology.
Some
kings have taken utmost interest in restoring the peaceful conditions
for improvement of trade and commerce with foreign countries. But now,
we hear of atrocities on foreign nationals. Are we progressing really?
Are we keen on the development of our country? We must not forget the
Vedic saying Athithi Devo Bhava (respecting the guest). The
dissemination of knowledge of various regions are possible with the help
of visiting foreigners. Trade and commerce prevail in our lands
escalating the opportunities of employment.
India
was a knowledge hub in ancient days. Indians were a lot confident
about their knowledge, deeds etc. But the same confidence is lacking in
us. For resources such as minerals, fuels, we are depending on the
foreign countries.
In
fact we have to develop self sufficiency in energy sector, which paves
the way to success. The opportunity with us is renewable energy sources
such as solar energy, energy from waste wind energy, ocean energy etc.
This not only provides self-sufficiency but also avoids the dependency
on the foreign countries. Valuable foreign exchange would be saving.
More importantly above technologies are clean technologies and saves the
environment and prevents the Global Warming.
Lack
of work is causing diabetes, hypertension, and stress. Insomnia etc.,
above deceases leads to continuous use of tablets, which are made up of
chemicals and a lot of resources are required for manufacture them.
Some of the above deceases also make the human beings make them to
depend on vehicles. Again it results to Global Warming. Hence
economized consumption always prevents pollution and Global Warming.
Other
Indian traditions worth mentioning are Water Therapy, Yoga and Fasting,
which unknowingly improves the environment. The use of medicines made
of chemicals is minimized by above.It means it is doing good to the
environment.
Thus,
it is clear that the traditional Indian habits are eco-friendly in
nature and it conserves the nature. So, let us follow the traditional
habits to conserve the nature.
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