Some 35 years ago when we went to Mumbai on a holiday trip, father brought an animal skin water bag, which looked like a hot water bag,
from one of his colleagues. It had a wheat color and we were told that it is
made out of camel skin. The water bag could carry almost 2-3 liters of water
and if my memory serves me right, we managed the whole journey with that water
bag. Those days the drinking water provided at the stations was “drinkable” and
we could refill the bag from any big station. We could hang that bag outside
the train window and after a while the water will be really cold.
I don’t remember having wasted a single drop of water during
that whole journey. In other words, we filled water whenever we needed and used
it to the last drop. At that age, if we were told that soon water will be sold
for money and will be available in bottles, we would not have believed. What I feel
is making water a commercial product changed our attitude towards it. Today, we
have developed a habit of leaving the bottles behind after taking a few sips. Slowly
and steadily, we are forgetting the value of water.
I thought of the above-mentioned water bag because of few things
I came across recently.
Few days back I got a forwarded message in whatsaap. It was
a video wherein a group of children are singing a song highlighting the
importance of preserving water. In the video, the children were correcting the
elders while they were wasting water urging them to develop some new habits.
Further, I came across the news of Bangalore facing huge
water crisis. Most of the housing societies started regulating the use of
water. There was even a fine of fifteen thousand rupees if you washed your
vehicle. We may find it difficult to believe that things have reached such a
situation.
Then I had the visuals of, in spite of all this water
crisis, people celebrating Holi with all pomp and splendor. I am sure, while drenching
themselves in gallons of water, no one might have thought of the imminent water
scarcity.
And the last one, which I am certain is the most watched
video recently, is about beer being served instead of water at a Bangalore
wedding. That I received this message from not less than 15 people will show
how much popular the video has become.
That made me think whether we are really serious about the water
crises we are facing. Are we really aware of its intensity? Why are we not able
to decide that we will not play Holi this year because of the scarcity of
water? Do we always need an authority to force us to do that or need fine to be
imposed rather than taking some sensible decisions of our own? Are we not
reducing such a serious issue to trolls and whatsaap jokes by senselessly
circulating few videos which may look apparently harmless?
Few days back a monkey came to our housing society giving us
many sleepless nights. One day I saw the monkey opening the lid of my water
tank and drinking water from it. Obviously, it came in search of water. We are
told that many wild animals are leaving their habitat in search of water.
The signs all around are not at all encouraging. We all are
staring at a looming disaster. I think some small amends which we can make in
life will help us in a big way to face this situation in a better way. Each one
of us should find out what best we can do in our personal capacity and
implement it immediately in our day today life.
