Window Seat 21.3.21 | Mrinal
Chatterjee
Water Water
March
22 is observed as World Water Day since 1993. It raises
awareness of the 2.2 billion people across the world living without access to
safe water. India is particularly vulnerable in this aspect.
More than half of our population has no access to
safe drinking water and about 200,000 people die every year for lack of access
to safe water. To put things into perspective, till February 2021, Corona has
claimed about 1, 60, 000 lives in India.
India is suffering from one of the world’s worst
national water crises. The problem is so big, our lives and livelihoods hang in
the balance. Our future is at stake.
The 2018 Composite Water
Management Index (CWMI) noted that 6% of economic GDP will be lost by 2050,
while water demand will exceed the available supply by 2030. Food supply is at
risk as areas for wheat cultivation and rice cultivation face extreme water
scarcity. Health sector will also be impacted badly, as over 75% of households
do not have clean drinking water, while 40% of the population will have no
access to drinking water by 2030.
As more and more cities exhaust
ground water reserve, people will be forced to buy water from tankers and consume bottled drinking water- leading to
problem of huge plastic waste on one side and the unscrupulous people taking
over the water supply business- like one has started noticing in Mumbai and
Chennai.
The government has been developing ways to address this growing
crisis. Over the past years, it has worked on groundwater recharging projects,
micro-irrigation, and legislative changes to promote better water management.
Technology is also trying to ease the problem. However, these are reactive
measures. The solution lies with us treating with respect it deserves. We must
contain water pollution and wastage and re-learn the ancient art of preserving
rain water.
Birth Centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman, considered as the father of Bangladesh, whose birth centenary is being
celebrated led a dramatic life that
could be compared with a Shakespearean tragic hero. Early 1940s saw him demanding a separate
country- Pakistan as an activist of Bengal Muslim League. From late 1940s he
was fighting for the official status of Bengali language. He left Muslim League
and joined Awami Muslim League and was fighting for independent Bangladesh from
early 1970s.
As a young man he demanded
separate Pakistan on the basis of religion. As the premier of independent
Bangladesh he wanted the state to be secular. Ironically he found himself in
situations where all his moves and policies were opposed. He was opposed by the
fundamentalists as too secular and the secularists considered him as
fundamentalist. Both the communists and Islamic fundamentalists attacked him.
His closeness to India was criticized. Amidst this turmoil, the famine in 1974
devastated agriculture and triggered a food crisis, which made the situation
worse. He made a last ditch effort, formed a new political party-BAKSAL and consolidated
power in his hands.
 |
| Postage stamp released by Bangladesh and India on birth centenary of Mujiur Rahman |
He was assassinated on 15 August
1975. After his death, Bangladesh saw an extended period of unrest and a
surging anti-India sentiments till Seikh Hasina, daughter of Mujibur Rahman
took over as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Under Seikh Hasina Bangladesh has
prospered. So has Indo-Bangladesh relationship.
As Bangabandhu’s birth centenary
is being celebrated, people in Bangladesh and India are rediscovering the
legacy and dream of Bangabandu to forge a close friendship which would yield
mutual benefit.
Flame of the Fire
Palash or Flame of
the Fire (Butea monosperma) heralds the spring season.
Native to tropical
and sub-tropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, it is
available almost in all parts of India except higher Himalayan region.
It finds mention in
several ancient texts including Jayadev's Geeta Govinda as a symbol for the
arrival of spring and the colour of love.
Palash flowers are associated with the celebration of Holi, both symbolically and practically. Symbolically, the deep orange-saffron flowers reflect the passionate love. Practically it is used to prepare a traditional Holi colour.
Photo: @BN Neelima
Morning Newspaper Reading Session
We are three
persons at home- yours truly, mother and wife. We subscribe to four newspapers-
one in Odia, one in Bengali and two in English including a business daily. Every morning we have an informal newspaper
reading and discussion session, my mother 78, being the most vocal. She does
not read the business-paper as she does not understand the jargons usually
associated with business and economics. Once I tried to explain her bull and
bear and miserably failed. “Why drag poor animals into your murky world of
business?” she asked.
She reads local
news and loudly comments on any news that catches her attention- from chain
snatching to lady eloping with her paramour. She is also very interested in the
leaflets that come within the folds of the newspapers. In fact she reads them
first. Once my wife said, Ma why are you reading the leaflets first, read the
newspapers?
-
You do not understand. Some local
stores might be offering heavy discounts. That is more important than what CM
or PM tells.
Lesson learnt:
information that directly and immediately concerns us- assume more importance.
Expiry date
A foreigner came to
Kashi, visited Viswanath's temple and
all the ghats.
Then he bought a
VIBHUTHI packet from a boy selling on the street.
Foreigner then
asked, "What is its expiry date?"
Boy replied looking
surprised: "Its made from expired people and when you apply on your
forehead it increases your expiry date."
(Courtesy: Social
Media)
***
Anthology of this weekly column
published in 2020 has been published in book form. Should you want a free
e-copy, please write a mail to mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com
***
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