Scoote r!

No;Bicycl
e ! Ye s –W h y?
It can n ot b e said th at th e b icycl e is n ot a m ajor m e an s
of con ve yan ce in In dia. Th ough th e proportion of m otor
cars m ay stil lb e l e sse r th an th at of th e rich coun trie s, th e
m otor cycl e s an d scoote rs h ave in de e d b e com e a com m on
sigh t in th e coun try. Th e y are n ot on l y n um e rous on th e
roads an d stre e ts of citie s; th e y al so run up an d dow n th e
vil lage l an e s. Durin g m arriage ce re m on ie s, m ul titude s of
th e se tw o-w h e e l e rs can b e se e n park e d in l in e upon l in e
n e ar th e site of th e m arriage ce re m on y. Th e w ay in w h ich
th e pe opl e of In dia e xpl oite d th e b icycl e , it appe ars th at
th e y are n ow in th e sam e w ay e xpl oitin g th e scoote rs an d
m otor cycl e s. W h ol e fam il ie s can b e se e n pe rch e d on a
sin gl e scoote r or a m otor-cycl e . Th e y are al so b e in g use d
to tran sport goods.
Ch in a h as de ve l ope d pre tty fast. It h as an arm y w h ich
is th rice as l arge as In dia's. It h as al so m ade atom ic an d
h ydroge n b om b s. But de spite th e se th in gs, th e Ch in e se
roads are stil ldom in ate d b y th e b icycl e . No oth e r coun try
h as as l arge a n um b e r of b icycl e s on its roads as Ch in a. A
fe w ye ars ago, th e pe opl e in Can ada an d Am e rica h ad al so
b e com e foun d of b icycl e s. Th e y h ad a l arge n um b e r of
b icycl e s im porte d from In dia, n ot to ride for trave lb ut for
ph ysicale xe rcise . But in Ch in a, pe opl e use b icycl e s in a
m ore m e an in gfulw ay, i.e . for trave l lin g from on e pl ace to
an oth e r. Th e city of Be ijin g h as a popul ation 60 l ak h s
(19 89 ). It is e stim ate d th at th e n um b e r of b icycl e s in th at
city m ust at l e ast b e 30 l ak h s. If th e y did n ot h ave 30 l ak h
b icycl e s, th e n th e pe opl e w oul d h ave h ad to w al k to th e ir
w ork pl ace s an d sh ops; th e gove rn m e n t se rvan ts w oul d
h ave to go to th e ir office s w al k in g an d th e stude n ts w oul d
91
h ave w al k e d to th e ir sch ool s an d col le ge s.
Th e pe opl e of In dia m ay w on de r at th e ab ove
in form ation b e cause th e b use s an d m otor cars are b e in g
use d so m uch h e re , b ut th e in form ation is com pl e te ly true .
Th e ch ie f m e an s of con ve yan ce in Ch in a is th e b icycl e . No
doub t th e re are je e ps, rail w ays train s an d ae ropl an e s; b ut
th e y are use d on l y to trave lfrom on e city to an oth e r or to
go to far off pl ace s. Eve n to go from th e ir ow n tow n to a
n e arb y city or tow n , th e y use th e b icycl e . Th e re ason w h y
b icycl e s are use d in such n um b e rs in Ch in a is th at th e use
of m otor cars is re stricte d. Th e n um b e r of pe opl e w h o ow n
th e ir ow n pe rson alve h icl e s is e xtre m e l y sm al l. Al lve h icl es
use d for pub l ic tran sport are ow n e d b y th e gove rn m e n t.
Eve n th e ve h icl e s avail ab le for pub l ic tran sport are
sm al lin n um b e r. Th e m otor cars in th e Be ijin g city, w ith
60 l ak h in h ab itan ts, are cal le d taxie s. Th e y are n ot ow n e d
b y in dividual s b ut b y pub lic com pan ie s. Th e n um b e r of such
com pan ie s is 260, an d b e tw e e n th e m th e y h ave a totalof
9 800 m otor cars an d 2200 b use s. O ut ofth e 9 800 m otor cars,
4000 are re n te d b y th e gove rn m e n t, w h ich are use d for th e
con ve yan ce of gove rn m e n t official s to an d from th e ir
office s. Th e gove rn m e n t e n courage s its citiz e n to use th e
b icycl e , as it w an ts th at th e oil im porte d from ab road
sh oul d b e re duce d to th e m in im um , an d th e h e al th of its
citiz e n s sh oul d re m ain in good state th rough w al k in g an d
ridin g of b icycl e s.
Th us, th e Gove rn m e n t of Ch in a force s its citiz e n s to
do ph ysicale xe rcise as e xpl ain e d ab ove . Col . G.K . Ve rm a,
a m il itary office r w h o is attach e d to our e m b assy in Ch in a,
is m y pe rson alfrie n d. W h il e in Ch in a, I b orrow e d a m otor
car from h im , in w h ich I visite d a n um b e r of pl ace s in
Be ijin g city. In th at city of 60 l ak h in h ab itan ts, I coul d on ly
fin d a sin gl e m otor cycl e on th e roads, an d n o ob e se pe rson .
Eve ryon e w as ridin g a b icycl e , b e th e y m e n , w om e n , ol d
pe opl e or ch il dre n . Th e y al lh ad sl im b odie s; n o on e w as
fat. W h e n I poin te d out to th e re pre se n tative of an In dian
n e w spape r w h o w as accom pan yin g us th at in th is city of
60 l ak h pe opl e I coul d spot on l y on e m otor cycl e , h e said
92
th at h e h ad se e n tw o. Be it on e or tw o m otor cycl e s, it w as
a n ove lth in g. Be in g avid b icycl e ride rs th e pe opl e of Ch in a
are sl im an d sm art.
Th e m otor cars avail ab l e for h ire w e re n ot so
n um e rous. Th e y are se l lin g th e ol d m otor cars b ut th e n e w
on e s b e in g so e xpe n sive , th e y are un ab l e to b uy th e m . Til l
n ow Ch in a produce d b use s b ut n o m otors cars. Now th e
m otor cars h ave al so b e gun to b e m an ufacture d th e re . But
th e m otor cars b e in g b uil t th e re are so e xpe n sive th at th e y
are b e yon d th e re ach of an ave rage Ch in e se . Th e m otor
cars are al lsm al lsiz e on e s b ut th e ir price is on e lak h th irty
th ousan d rupe e s in Ch in e se curre n cy, w h ich is e q uival e nt
to rupe e s five l ak h s tw e n ty th ousan d in In dian curre n cy.
W h e n pe opl e ask th e car m an ufacturin g com pan ie s w h y
th e y do n ot in cre ase th e ir car production , th e y say th at
th e y h ave n o m on e y; th e y poin t out th at th e price of
e ve ryth in g is on th e in cre ase ; pe trolis b e com in g costl ie r;
gove rn m e n t taxe s are b e in g in cre ase d; th e re is e xpe n di-
ture e ve ryw h e re . Th e com pan ie s th at run th e car h ire
b usin e ss said th at th e y h ave 500 m otor cars;if th e y se l lal l
of th e m , th e n afte r payin g b ack th e due s of b an k s an d
in suran ce com pan ie s, th e y w oul d stillb e l e ft w ith rupe e s
six crore s; w ith th is capital , if th e y start an oth e r b usin e ss,
th e y w oul d ge t m uch m ore profit. But th e car-h ire com p-
an ie s can n ot se l la sin gl e car w ith out pe rm ission from th e
gove rn m e n t. In Ch in a, th e tractors are fe w in n um b e rs, so
m uch of th e pl ough in g is don e b y b ul lock s. Th e y th in k th at
th e tractors tak e aw ay th e e m pl oym e n t from l ots of pe opl e,
th e re fore th e b ul lock s are b e tte r. Th e y provide e m pl oy-
m e n t to pe opl e.

• O z on e l aye r is th e con ce n tration of oz on e (O 3) gas

particl e s in th e atm osph e re . Th is l aye r lie s ab out 10-
50 k il om e te rs ab ove th e e arth 's surface in th e
stratosph e re . Its m axim um con ce n tration is at ab out
25 k m s ab ove se a l e ve l
. Scie n tists h ave re ce n tly
m e asure d th e th ick n e ss of th is laye r ab ove th e South
93
 Pole an d foun d a l arge h ole in it.
• O z on e l aye r acts as a sh ie l d to prote ct th e an im al
an d pl an t l ife on e arth from th e h arm fule ffe cts of
ul traviol e t rays from th e sun . Th e adve rse e ffe cts
th at are l ik e l
y to fol l
ow from th e de cre asin g
th ick n e ss of th is l aye r are as fol low s :
• In cre ase d possib il ity of sk in can ce r; th e ul traviol et
rays de stroy th e acid con tain e d in th e DNA.
• In cre ase in e ye dise ase (cataract) an d sk in b l iste rs.
• Dam age to th e im m un e syste m .
• Adve rse e ffe cts on crops an d an im al s.
• In cre ase in th e grow th of w e e ds ove r l an d an d se a
w ate r.
• Cool in g of th e stratosph e re an d adve rse e ffe cts on
atm osph e re ove r th e e arth .

***

94
 En e m ie s of Poor Pade s trian s :
Th e M otor Cars
Do n ot w e ave traps of de ath b y fil lin g your roads an d
stre e ts w ith scoote rs an d m otor cycl e s. Th e youth w h o
spe e ds h is m otor cycl e on th e road to sh ow off h is spe n dour
is on l y addin g an oth e r stran d to th e trap of de ath from
w h ich e ve n a sparrow can n ot e scape , l e t al
on e a h um an
b e in g. Do n ot tre at th e se sccote rs as pl ay th in gs; th e y are
tool s of de ath , w h ich are turn in g th e roads in to k il l
in g
groun ds an d th e h ospital s in to h om e s for th e crippl e d.
Th e se dan ge rous toys are m ak in g pe opl e crippl e s an d
puttin g b e ggin g b ow l s in th e ir h an ds. Th e y are m ak in g
w om e n w idow s an d ch il dre n orph an s. Th e se toys give off
de adl y gas carb on m on oxide w h ich is on e of th e m ost
poison ous gase s on e arth . Th is gas e ats up th e l un gs an d
re duce s pe opl e s' l e n gth of l ife . It cause s un n e ce ssary
de ath s. M an y a youth pl ayin g w ith th e se toys h ave b e e n
crippl e d in th e prim e of th e ir l ive s an d m an y crore s h ave
gon e in to th e l ap of de ath .
In dia is th e coun try w h e re pe opl e use d to distrib ute
k h e e r (rice cook e d in m il k ) and k rah (porridge ) on th e
auspicious days of Sangrand (1st day of m on th ), n e w m oon
and ful lm oon . Th ose sam e pe opl e are n ow racing scoote rs
and m otor cycl e s on roads and th e dust raise d by th e ir tyre s
in goin g in to pe opl e s' lungs an d causing dre adfuldise ase s
lik e TB. Th e se dre adfulm ach ine s b urn up oxyge n in th e
atm oph e re and turn it in to th e poison ous carbon m onoxide .
O xyge n sustain s l ife w h ile th e carbon m onoxide k il ls it.
Th e se m e ch an icalm on ste rs al so give off l e ad w h ich e ats into
our vital s. Th e m ah an dal(b l ack gram ) h as al w ays b e e n
95
give n im portan ce in In dia as it is m ore nourish in g for th e
b ody. M y coun trym e n! re m e m be r your sage s and saints w h o
starte d such l ife -giving practice s; but now you h ave starte d
going astray. W h y are you ge tting in to th is trade w ith th e
poison ?
M y b roth e rs! you w h o ride m otor-cars an d m otor-
cycl e s, scoote rs, do n ot ruin th e h e al th of your coun trym e n
b y sh ow in g off your fal se pride . Do n ot go on th e path of
e con om ic ruin . Do n ot in cre ase th e n um b e r of crippl e s; do
n ot in cre ase th e e xpe n diture of h ospital s, an d h om e s for
th e crippl e s. Do n ot sacrifice your l ive s in th e prim e of your
youth . Th e se are n e w e vil s. You h ave forgotte n h ow to give
m on e y for good cause s b e cause you are b usy in th e se
e xpe n sive triffl e s. Th e y h ave taugh t you to tak e b rib e s, to
ch e at at w e igh ts an d m e asure s, to ste al , an d to com m it
rob b e rie s. You are h arde n in g your h e arts tow ards th e
n e e ds of your pare n ts, poor an d w idow e d w om e n , b e cause
of your in cre ase d spe n din g on th e se triffl e s. You are
causin g in jurie s an d de ath s to ch il dre n pl ayin g in ope n
space s an d n arrow stre e ts for w an t of prope r pl ayin g
groun ds w h e n you ride your m otor cycl e s th e re . By ridin g
your m otor cycl e s re ck l
e ssl y in n arrow stre e ts, you h ave
m ade m oth e rs ove ran xious for th e safe ty of th e ir ch il dre n ,
so th at th e y don 't al low th e ir ch ildre n outside th e ir h om e s.
Ign oran t fool s! you h ave al re ady turn e d th e roads in to
k illin g groun ds, you h ave n ot spare d e ve n th e stre e ts,
w h e re ch il dre n pl ay; you h ave b rough t th e se m on ste rs to
th e stre e ts w h e re th e y dan ce th e ir ugl y dan ce . Th ough
th e re stil lare ope n space s in vil lage s w h e re th e ch il dre n
can pl ay, in th e citie s th e y h ave n ow h e re to pl ay b ut th e
stre e ts in fron t of th e ir h ouse s. You do n ot de sist from
b rin gin g th e se fit-fits to th e stre e ts to sh ow yourse l ve s off.
Th e se pran k s are n ot b e fittin g to th e in h ab itan ts of a poor
coun try; th e y are sh am e fulacts. Th e l oud fit-fit soun d of
your scoote rs is e spe cial ly pain fulto th e e ars of th e ol d
pe opl e.
Th e tim e of ol d age is th e tim e w h e n th e n e rve s an d
arte rie s of a pe rson are in a w e ak e n e d state ; it is th e tim e
96
w h e n a pe rson n e e ds a q uie t pl ace w h e re th e re is n o n oise .
In th e M ah ab h arta te xt, th e re are dutie s m e n tion e d
w h il e trave l lin g on road. Th e y are : give w ay to th e
fol low in g :- ol d m e n or w om e n , a pe rson carryin g l oad ove r
h is h e ad, sm al lch il dre n an d a sain t or m ah atm a. You give
th e m w ay. But n ow , on th e con trary, you are forcin g th e m
to give you w ay. Coul d th e W ah e guru b e w atch in g th e se ,
your viol ation s of good b e h aviour, w ith favour. Th e sm ok e
an d dust w h ich you raise w h e n you ride th e se m ach in e s,
goe s an d se ttl e s on m il k , curd, gol -guppe y , al u-ch h ol e e tc.
an d give s rise to dise ase s l ik e TB. W h at m ore e vilde e d can
you pe rpe trate again st your coun trym e n ?A coun try w h e re
m oralval ue s de cl in e , b e com e s w e ak e r; n ay it m ay e ve n
b e com e sl ave to an oth e r coun try.
Your re ck l e ss e xpe n diture can e n dan ge r th e pol itical
an d e con om ic w e l l -b e in g of your coun try. 'Th e b l in d grin d
corn an d th e dog e at'; it can n ot go on for e ve r. Pul lup
yourse l ve s! l e st you m iss th e ch an ce to re form yourse l ve s
in tim e . K e e p th e w arn in g give n b y Pre side n t San je e va
Re ddy in your m in ds, w h ich h e gave on 31 M arch 19 79 ,
to th e b ig trade rs an d in dustrial ists : w h e n you b uy or use
som e th in g do n ot forge t th e con dition of th e poor in your
coun try;h ave sym path y for th e m ;an d l ive sim pl e life . Th e
spre ad of b l ack m on e y is corruptin g th e l ive s of th e
pe opl e ; it is m ak in g gove rn m e n t official s corrupt. H e said
if th e prom ise s m ade to th e pe opl e for th e l ast 31 ye ars
are n ot ful fille d, w h at w il lb e com e of th e m ? H e said if th e
in e q ual itie s in th e e con om ic structure are n ot corre cte d,
th e stab il ity of th e n ation w il lb e in dan ge r. H e said th at
th e rich sh oul d n ot l ive oste n tatious l ive s b y spe n din g
m on e y on n on -e sse n tialth in gs; th e y sh oul d k e e p in m in d
th e fact th at 50 pe rce n t of th e ir coun trym e n are l ivin g
be l ow th e pove rty l in e ; a poor w ork e r h as som e tim e s to
w al k m il e s to e arn tw o rupe e s a day. Th e toys l ik e m otor
cars, m otor cycl e s an d scoote rs are m ak in g you to com m it
such te rrib l e sin s th at e ve n th e e arth w oul d tre m b l e . Th e
ne w l y w e d poor girl s are b urn e d to de ath m e re l y b e cau se
th e y w e re n ot ab l e to b rin g such toys as scoote r, te l e vision
97
or fridge in th e ir dow ry. Se ve n girl s pe r day are b e in g
m urde re d in th is m an n e r.
If you do n ot stop tre atin g th e se toys as sym b ol s of
your gre atn e ss, th e n ature w il lb e force d to de vise som e
in strum e n t for your pun ish m e n t an d w illave n ge e ve ry sin
th at you are com m ittin g again st th e se poor girl s. M an y
such in strum e n ts of pun ish m e n t h ave appe are d in a
n um b e r of coun trie s, w h ose in h ab itan ts n ow re gre t th at
th e re w as n o on e to w arn th e m ab out w aste fulspe n din g
of m on e y to sh ow off th e ir w e al th an d socialstatus; th at
th e re w as n o on e to advise th e m to sh are th e ir w e alth w ith
th e poor; th at th e y are n ow re gre ttin g th e ir fool ish n e ss
an d are w arn in g th e oth e rs again st com m ittin g th e sam e
bl un de rs.

Accordin g to an e stim ate of th e Un ite d Nation s Food

an d Agricul ture O rgan isation (UNFAO ), in th e de ve l -
ope d w orl d ab out 200 m il lion h e ctare s of fore sts h ave
pe rish e d b e tw e e n 19 80-19 9 5.

***

98
 Th e Cigare tte K il
led Me
Am e rican w rite r, M ark W ate rs, com pl e te d w ritin g h is
life story four days b e fore h is de ath . Ab out th is l ife story,
h e cl e arly said, "Th is is m y l ast w il lan d te stam e n t an d I
am w ritin g it so th at oth e rs coul d b e n e fit from re adin g it."
H e w rote : "th e cigare tte prove d to b e m y de ath . I first
b e cam e acq uain te d w ith th is k il le r at th e age of 14 ye ars,
w h e n I stol e cigare tte s from m y fath e r's pock e t. At first its
sm ok e m ade m e fe e ll ik e vom itin g, b ut as I b e cam e h ab itual
of sm ok in g, th is fe e l in g sl ow ly disappe are d.
Late r, I b e gan to w ork in th e sh ippin g de partm e n t.
Cigare tte s w e re avail ab le th e re at ve ry ch e ap rate s. I
sm ok e d tw o pack e ts a day. Afte r com pl e tin g 20 ye ars of
sh ippin g se rvice , I e n rol l
e d in a un ive rsity an d got a B.A.
de gre e . Th e n I b e gan to w ork for a n e w spape r. O n e day
w h ile w al k in g tow ards m y m otor car, I h ad a m il d strok e
an d col l
apse d. Th at n igh t, I sm ok e d cigare tte afte r
cigare tte . Late r b oth I an d m y w ife forgot al lab out it.
But th e n m y h e al th b e gan to b e com e w orse , day b y
day; I l ost th e se n se of taste in m y m outh ; I l ost appe tite ;
b re ath in g b e cam e difficul t; m y ch e st b e cam e ove r-se n sitive
to col d. From Jun e 19 65, I b e gan to h ave stom ach prob l e m s;
I got up to sm ok e at e ve ry h our of th e n igh t an d al so to
drin k m il k . From Se pte m b e r on w ards, I b e gan to h ave
te rrib le b outs of cough in g an d m y l un gs pain e d. I w e n t to
doctor, w h o tol d m e th e re w as a tum or in m y l un gs. A
surge on ope rate d on m y ch e st an d re m ove d it. Afte r on e
m on th , I re turn e d to w ork an d h ad n o prob l e m s for th e
n e xt th re e m on th s. By th e n I h ad give n up sm ok in g,
b e cause as soon as I in h al e d th e sm ok e , m y ch e st h urt.
In Jan uary, I caugh t a ch il lan d w as l aid up again . I
99
h ad to visit doctors tim e an d again . I l ate r cam e to k n ow
th at at th e tim e of m y first ope ration itse l f th e doctor h ad
tol d m y w ife th at I m ay n ot l ive th rough an oth e r ful lye ar.
But m y w ife h ad n e ith e r b e l ie ve d h im , n or h ad tol d me
ab out it. Th e doctor n ow tol d us th at th e l un g can ce r w as
of four type s an d e ach type grow s at diffe re n t rate ;h e al so
said th at on l y on e patie n t of can ce r out of e ve ry tw e n ty
survive s th e dise ase . Fifte e n to tw e n ty pe rce n t of h e avy
sm ok e rs w e re sure to catch th is dise ase . Th e y catch n ot
on ly can ce r, b ut m an y oth e r ail m e n ts; as a re sul t th e y die
w ith in a sh ort tim e .”
"I do n ot k n ow w h e th e r m y l ife story w il lte ach an yon e
to give up sm ok in g, b ut pe opl e sh oul d n ot re m ain ign oran t
of th e facts;th at is th e purpose I am w ritin g th is story for.
M y b re ath in g h as b e com e so difficul t th at I can n ot w al k
e ve n five ste ps in on e go. Th e can ce r h as re ach e d m y h e art,
so th e re is n o doub t th at I am goin g to die . I w as too l ate
to re al ise m y m istak e b ut pe rh aps you stil lh ave tim e to
give up th is fatalh ab it, so th at you do n ot h ave to de spair
for your l ife , as I am doin g n ow ."
Tw o and a quarte r cigare tte s h ave so m uch poison in
th e m th at if it is inje cte d into a pe rson's bl ood, h e can die .
A pe rson sm ok ing tw e n ty cigare tte s a day, consum e s four
h undre d m il igram s of nicotine pe r w e e k . If th e sam e am ount
is inje cte d in h is b l
ood, it w il lk il lh im as fast as a bul le t. A
four-ye ar study in an Am e rican Unive rsity h as found th at th e
boys w h o did not sm ok e gre w tal l
e r in h e igh t th an th e on e s
w h o sm ok e d; th e ir w e igh t incre ase d faste r, as w e l las th e
capacity of th e ir l ungs. Th e ch e sts of non-sm ok e rs gre w by
77 pe rce nt faste r th an th e sm ok e rs; and th e ir h e igh t
incre ase d by 24 pe rce nt faste r. Sports te ach e rs say th at th e
non-sm ok ing boys' m uscl e pow e r grow s faste r th an th ose w h o
sm ok e d. Th e bre ath ing rate of th ose w h o sm ok e cige re tte s
and tobacco be com e s faste r; b ut th e ir l ife spans b e com e
sh orte r.

Som e Facts
• Th e re is n o sh ortage of food in th e w orl
d, ye t 85

100
 crore poe pl e sl e e p on h un gry stom ach .
• Durin g th e l ast 20 ye ars, th e use of ch e m ical
fe rtiliz e rs h as in cre ase dd b ut th e food production
h as de cre ase d.
• Durin g th e l ast 50 ye ars, th e in put cost of agricul -
ture h as b e e n on th e in cre ase , w h il e th e val ue of
food produce d h as b e e n de cl in in g.
• Eve ry k in d of in form ation is re adil y avail ab le , b ut
de spite th e in form ation ab out n ourish m e n t val ue of
diffe re n t k in ds food b e in g avail
ab l e , th e dise ase s are
on th e in cre ase .
• Th e in dustrial isation of agricul ture h as give n rise to
m an y prob l e m s, such as de ath due to pe sticide s,
suicide b y de b t-ridde n farm e rs an d l ack of e m pl oy-
m e n t in th e vil lage s.

***

101
 Fridge
To prote ct te e th an d gum s from de cay e xtre m e s of
te m pe rature sh oul d b e avoide d. It m e an s th at to save th e
gum s an d te e th one sh oul d avoid e atin g and drink in g
e xtre m e ly h ot or e xtre m e l y cold th in gs. Eating or drink in g
e xtre m e ly h ot or e xtre m e l y cold th ings is to b e crue lto your
te e th and gum s b y m ak in g th e m dise ase d.
Pe opl e are givin g up th e tim e h on ore d custom s an d
usage s, and adopting th ose th at are ye t to b e te ste d. On e
such practice is to re pl ace e arth e n ve sse l
s by re frigrators
to coolw ate r. Pe opl e k e e p m any th in gs at h om e to sh ow off
th e ir w e alth , b ut th e y are n ot al w ays aw are ab out w h at th e y
sh oul d k n ow ab out th e m be fore starting to use th e m ; th e y
do not k n ow al l th e risk s invol ve d in th e ir use . W ate r
b e com e s sufficie ntl y coolw h e n k e pt in an e arth e n pots but
th e uppe r cl ass pe opl e th in k it b e l
ow th e ir dignity to use
th e m . Th e y pre fe r to drink th e fridge cool e d w ate r, w h ich
is so col d th at it h urts th e th roat. W h e n e ve r I h ave to drin k
th e fridge w ate r I do it w ith gre at re gre t, k n ow in g th at it
m ay h arm m y th roat. An oth e r sil ly th ing pe ople do is to e at
ch appatie s com in g h ot from th e tava (cook ing pl ate ) an d
drink in g th e ice col d w ate r of fridge at th e sam e tim e . Eve n
if a h ot e arth e n pot is k e pt on a col d surface , it crack s. To
indul ge in th e ab ove practice cause s th e sam e h arm to te e th
and gum s as th e col d surface doe s to th e h ot e arth e n pot.
Dr. Sias De v w rite s th at if you w an t to k e e p a fridge ,
you m ust first k n ow ab out th e rul e s for its use . H e h as
liste d various food ite m s l ik e fruits an d ve ge tab le s an d th e
duration b e yon d w h ich th e y sh oul d n ot b e k e pt in th e
fridge . Th e se al so in cl ude ch utn e ys . Th e pe opl e w h o k eep
fruits an d ve ge tab l e s in th e fridge b e yon d th e ir spe cifie d
duration s, coul d catch th e fol l
ow in g dise ase s : cough , col d
102
an d in te stin aldise ase s. H e w rite s th at if a fam il y m an age s
to save fifty rupe e s pe r m on th b y pre se rvin g food articl es
in th e fridge , it m ay h ave to spe n d as m uch as tw o h un dre d
rupe e s on tre atm e n t of dise ase s w h ich re sul tfrom e atin g
food k e pt b e yon d its pre scrib e d l im it in th e fridge .
Pe opl e h ave a m istak e n n otion th at if th e fruit k e pt
in fridge h as n ot ch an ge d its surface col our an d se e m s
outw ardl y in th e sam e con dition in w h ich it w as k e pt in
th e fridge , it is safe to e at it;b ut th e y are w ron g. Tak e th e
case of an appl e . If it is k e pt in th e fridge b e yon d 16 h ours
it w il lb e gin to rot from in side , th ough it m ay n ot ch an ge
its oute r col our for 48 h ours. Th e dise ase carryin g ge rm s
are th us produce d in its in te rior, th ough outw ardl y it m ay
appe ar to b e th e sam e .
Th e gre ate st cul prits are th e Tandoor ow ne rs. Th e y k e e p
ve ge tab le s and m e at in th e fridge for 5-6 days at a stre tch .
Th e e ate rs of th e se ite m s are sure to ge t dise ase . If you h ave
to e at, e at at a tandoor th at h as no fridge ; or e at from th ose
pl ace s w h e re th e w om e n se l l h om e -cook e d food on th e
roadside . If you are offe re d food or drink in a h om e , pol ite l
y
te llth e m not to se rve anyth ing th at h as be e n k e pt in th e
fridge . A one ye ar ol d girldie d in Am ritsar from con tact w ith
a fridge th at h ad a sh ort-circuit. Th e pe opl e in vil lage s w h o
h ave cattl e in th e ir h om e s do not n e e d to k e e p th e l e ftove r
food in th e fridge . Th e y can fe e d it to th e ir cow s and buffal oe s,
w h ich is th e righ t th ing to do. If one doe sn'th ave a cow , h e
coul d fe e d it to th e n e igh bour's cow . One sh oul d not ignore
th e cattl e ; th e y are our com pan ions; it is w ith th e ir support
th at th e h um an race survive s. Th e basis of l ife for us Indians
is th e agricul ture . Bul lock s are ne ce ssary for agricul ture ; it
is th e y th at pul lour carts an d pl ough s. Th e m il k of cow is
be tte r for ch il dre n th an th at of a buffal o; num e rous h ouse -
h olds in India th e re fore fe e d ch un k s of fl our dough to th e
cow s. Th e cow m ay be one 's ow n , or it m ay b e l ong to som e one
else , b ut if w e be gin to k e e p th e l e ftove r fl
our dough and dal
in th e fridge for n e xt day's use inste ad offe e ding th e m to th e
cow , w h o w oul d be m ore fool ish th an us?
Fridge can som e tim e s stin g l ik e a sn ak e . Th e e le ctric-
103
ity th at run s it som e tim e s k il ls pe opl e . Fridge s are m ak in g
us to ign ore cattl e ; b y doin g th is w e are on l y advan cin g
tow ards ruin . W h e n m an is crue lto an im al s, h e w il ln ot
h e sitate to b e crue lto h is fe l l
ow h um an b e in gs. Dh aram raj
Yudh iste r h ad tak e n e igh t vow s, on e of th e m b e in g th at if
h e com m its an un just act, l e t h im b e pun ish e d for th at sin
b y pun ish m e n t, w h ich is th e e q uival e n t of th e sin of
drin k in g th e m il k of a cow m e an t for h e r cal f. Durin g
ch ildh ood w h e n e ve r I w as give n a n e w h e ad cove rin g or
sh irt, m y m oth e r w oul d say th at I m ust w e ar it on l y afte r
touch in g it a cow 's h orn s or a pot of w ate r.
Th e Bath in da Th e rm alPl an t produce s e l e ctricity. It
b urn s ab out a h un dre d rail w ay b ogie s of coale ve ryday. Th e
bl ack col oure d ash th at com e s out of its ch im n e ys de posits
ab out h al f a k il
ogram of dust in e ve ry h ouse w ith in five
k ilom e te rs of th e pl an t. If l e ft ove rn igh t in th e ope n ,
cl oth e s ge t b l ack e n e d. Th e sam e ash goe s in to th e pe opl e 's
lun gs, due to w h ich th e y ge t l un g dise ase . Th e se are
crue l tie s w h ich th e e l e ctricity ge n e ratin g pl an ts are
pe rpe tratin g on th e pe opl e . Th is ash is cove rin g th e fe rtil e
fie lds, w h ich w il lon e day b e un ab l e to produce an yth in g.
Th e b urn in g of coal in th e pl an t al so produce s carb on
dioxide , w h ich k il ls an im alan d h um an l ife .
Guru Nan ak 's De v Ji use d to graz e cattl e in h is youth ,
an d th e Yogiraj Sh ri K rish an Ji al so did th e sam e in h is
youth . Th e H e ad Gran th i San t K ish an Sin gh Ji of
Gurdw ara De ra Sah ib , w h ich com m e m orate s th e m artyr-
dom of Sh ri Guru Arjun De vJi, use d to se t aside a m outh ful
of food to fe e d it to an im al s an d cattl e b e fore h e ate it
h im se l f. It w as a practice at th e l an gar run b y Sh ri Guru
Am ar Das Ji th at al ll e ftove r food, ch appatie s, dal ,
ve ge tab l e s an d rice w e re offe re d to th e w ate rs of Be as
rive r so th at th e fish coul d fe e d on it.
Fridge is n ow acting as a ste am rol le r ove r al lth e se
tim e h onoure d custom s an d practice s. W h e n I w as ch il d, m y
m oth e r w oul d give m e a bask e t of grain so th at I coul d
spre ad it on th e roof to fe e d th e sparrow s, dove s, gutars an d
pige ons; w h e n I saw th e m pick in g grain, I w oul d fe e lth at
104
th e se b irds m ust al so h ave a pl ace in th e divine orde r of th e
cre ation; I w oul d fe e lth at th e y sh oul d be prote cte d. O n th e
day of th e Dusse h ra, th e m oth e rs w oul d tak e th e ir ch ildre n
e arl y in th e m orning to an an t-col ony and spre ad se e ds of
se sam e , rice and crush e d jagge ry on th e groun d for th e ants
to fe e d. Th e m oth e rs and ch il dre n w oul d sin g an d invok e
th e b l e ssin g of an ts : An ts! in se cts! give us food; give us
w e al th , give us broth e rs; give us n e ph e w s to pl ay w ith .
Do n ot k il lin se cts an d in cur sin . Th e H in du re l igion
h as a tradition th at a pe rson sh oul d pe rform five k in ds of
yagyas (sacrifice s), on e of w h ich is to offe r food to an im al s
an d cattl e . In 19 26, I re ad an articl e in En gl ish W e e k ly
'Aryan Path '. It said th at th e day a youn g m an h un ts
an im al s for sport, h e l ays th e foun dation of a w ar in w h ich
m e n w oul d b e k il le d. An im al s h ave b re e din g se ason s;
durin g th is pe riod, th e y sh oul d n ot b e h un te d.
W e are crue lif w e are n ot active l y k in d, said Joh n
Rusk in . By th is h e m e an t th at if w e do n oth in g to re l ie ve
th e pain of an an im al , w h ich w e are in a position to do an d
th e justice de m an ds th at w e do it, th e n w e are crue l .
Th e popul ation of our coun try is in cre asin g. Th ose
farm e rs w h o h ave sm al ll an d h ol din gs, n e e d b ullock s to
pl ough th e ir fie l ds. In an oth e r tw e n ty ye ars, al lth e die se l
w oul d b e use d up. You m ust k e e p cow s in ste ad of m otor
cars. Give th e ir cal ve s sufficie n t m il k an d w h e n th e y are
grow n up, gift th e m to poor farm e rs so th at th e y can
produce food. An articl e give n in th e Tim e s of In dia, titl ed
'No al te rn ative to gre e n re vol ution ', says th at th e produc-
tion of food w il ln ot b e ab l e to k e e p pace w ith th e grow in g
popul ation in In dia, an d l ik e Ch in a, th e re w il lon e day b e
a force d re distrib ution of w e al th .
Durin g 2001, th e b urn in g of pe trol e um products,
w ood an d coal , re l
e ase d 655 crore ton s of carb on dioxide
in to th e atm osph e re . W ith th is, th e proportion of carb on
dioxide in th e air h as in cre ase d to 370.9 parts in 10
lak h s. Th is q uan tity w as th e gre ate st in th e last 4,20,000
ye ars, an d prob ab l y th e last 2 crore ye ars.

105
 W h y Bu s e s are Fu l
lan d
R ailw ay Train s Em pty?
Rail w ay train s start from n um e rous station s in th e
coun try b e fore sun rise an d run e m pty, ofte n upto th e first
te n station s e n route . From Am ritsar, th e fol low in g train s
start e m pty e arl y in th e m orn in g :-
At th re e in th e m orn in g, a passe n ge r train starts for
Ludh ian a; it is al m ost e m pty w h e n it de parts. Afte r th is
an oth e r passe n ge r train de parts for Ludh ian a at 4:40
A.M .;th at too is e m pty. Afte r th at an e xpre ss de l uxe train
de parts; on th re e days it goe s to Bom b ay an d on an oth e r
th re e days to Cal cutta. Th is train is th e re fore ful l
. Th e n
a m ailtrain Sh an -e -Pun jab de parts for Ludh ian a. Busi-
n e ssm e n an d e m pl oye e s trave lb y th is train as th e y h ave
to re ach th e ir office s at Jal an dh ar, Ph agw ara an d
Ludh ian a citie s b e fore 9 -10 A.M . Th ough th is train h as
e n ough passe n ge rs, th e re is stil l room for m ore . Afte r
th is, at 9 :20 A.M . a passe n ge r train l e ave s for Fe roz e pu r,
w h ich stops at al lstation s e n route . Th is al so is h al f-full.
Th e n a m ail train de parts at 9 :45 A.M . It too is n ot
com pl e te l
y ful lan d h as room for m an y m ore passe n ge rs.
O n e train goe s to Path an k ot e arl y at 4 A.M ., w h ich l e ave s
com pl e te l
y e m pty. Th e K al k a M ail w h ich l e ave s for
Path an k ot at 6:15 A.M . is on l y on e -th ird fullan d tw o-
th irds e m pty. O n e re ason w h y fe w e r passe n ge rs l ik e to
trave lb y th is train is th at b e in g a m ailtrain , it doe s n ot
stop at m an y station s on th e w ay. O n e train de parts for
Qadian at six in th e m orn in g an d h as al m ost n o
passe n ge rs til lQadian . O n th e oth e r h an d, startin g from
3:45 A.M ., b use s l oade d w ith passe n ge rs l e ave for
106
Jal an dh ar, Ludh ian a an d Path an k ot citie s. Th e y are fil led
to capacity. Th is is sh e e r w astage of fue l , th at th e
n e w spape rs an d radio sh oul d h igh l igh t.
I w ish th at th e Vice -Ch an ce l lor of Agricul ture Un ive r-
sity Ludh ian a sh oul d tak e n ote of th is articl e an d w rite to
th e de partm e n t of radio to b roadcast th at th e train s are
run n in g e m pty. Th e passe n ge rs at b us station s sh oul d be
give n th is in form ation . At Am ritsar Bus Station , th e re
sh oul d b e a m an poste d w ith a l arge b e llw h o sh oul d te l
l
passe n ge rs th at th e train s are goin g e m pty, so th at th e y can
availth e m se l ve s of th is se rvice . Sim ilarl y, a m an sh oul d be
poste d at Ludh ian a Bus Stan d, w h o sh oul d te l
lth e pe opl e :
"Frie n ds, l ook ! th e train s goin g to Am ritsar are h al f
e m pty". Th e Sh an -e -Pun jab train re turn s to Am ritsar from
Ludh ian a at 10:15 A.M . It h as 19 com partm e n ts. Th e
passe n ge rs w h ich trave lb y th is train are too fe w to fil lal l
th e se com partm e n ts, b ut sin ce th e train is a m ailtrain an d
run s fast, th e com partm e n ts are adde d for safe ty, so th at
th e train doe s n ot de raildue to l ack of l oad. Th is train
re turn s to Am ritsar h al f-e m pty; it doe s n ot h ave e n ough
passe n ge rs to run it e con om ical ly. M ost of th e passe n ge rs
of K al k a M ailge t dow n at Ludh ian a w h e n th e train m ak e s
its re turn trip to Am ritsar.
Th e m ajority of m oth e rs in In dia n ow te ach th e ir
ch ildre n to gath e r as m uch m on e y as possib l e , b y an y
m e an s, fair or foul ; b y b rib e ry, b lack m ark e tin g, ch e atin g
at w e igh ts an d m e asure s, th e ft or rob b e ry, givin g fal se
te stim on y, b y re fusin g to give m on e y for ch arity, an d b y
turn in g th e ir b ack s on n e e dy b roth e rs an d siste rs. Th e y
te llth e ir ch il
dre n : "ge t m on e y, an d m ore m on e y; spe n d it
on w h ate ve r you w an t; you don 't h ave to th in k w h e th e r
th e e xpe n diture is e sse n tialor n ot". Th e im port of die se l
h as im pose d un b e arab l e b urde n on th e coun try's fin an ce s;
e ve ry in dividualsh oul d b e w orryin g ab out h ow to re duce
it.

• Scie n tists b e lie ve th at due to h e atin g of th e atm o-

sph e re , th e oz on e laye r w il
lw e ak e n , b e cause as th e
107
 te m pe rature of e arth in cre ase s th e stratosph e re
(th e oz on e l aye r is ab ove th is) cool s, due to w h ich
th e n atural proce ss of oz on e re pl ace m e n t lose s it
m om e n tum .
• Th e oz on e l aye r w h ich prote cts th e pl an t an d
an im all ife from h arm fule ffe cts of sun 's radiation
h as b e e n ge ttin g de pl
e te d sin ce m an y ye ars. Scie n -
tists say th at siz e of th e h ol e in th e oz on e laye r ove r
An tarctica, h as n ow in cre ase d to th re e tim e s th e
siz e of Am e rica an d is w ide n in g stil lfurth e r.

***

108
 Live W ith You r Eye s W ide O pe n ,
M y Cou n trym e n ! R e du ce You r W an ts
an d Le arn to Save
O n e -fourth of th e e l e ctricity produce d in In dia is
w aste d. In gove rn m e n t office , fan s k e e p run n in g w h e n n ot
n e e de d. No cl e rk or office r b oth e rs to sw itch off l igh ts an d
fan s w h e n l e avin g th e ir office s afte r w ork . Eve ryon e h as
h is e ye s sh ut.
Th e coun try is facin g se rious prob l e m s. Fore ign de b t
h as in cre ase d to th e siz e of a m oun tain ; in te re st paym e n t
itse l f is b ack -b re ak in g. Un l e ss e ve ryon e of us care s to do
our duty, th e situation w il l b e com e dan ge rous. Th e
gove rn m e n t m e e ts al lits e xpe n se s th rough tax m on e y it
col l e cts th rough dire ct an d in dire ct taxe s from th e pe opl e.
Th e gove rn m e n t official s too pay th e se taxe s. Th e purpose
for w h ich th is tax m on e y is col le cte d is n ot on l y to run
th e se office s b ut to spe n d it on pe opl e s' w e lfare . Sch ool s
an d h ospital s are re q uire d to b e b uil t; roads h ave to b e
b uil t an d re paire d; b ridge s h ave to b e b uil t. If h al f th e tax
m on e y ge ts use d up on gove rn m e n t office s, th e n th e w h ol e
purpose of col le ctin g it is de fe ate d.
Th e re is an En gl ish sayin g th at 'th e m on e y save d is
m on e y e arn e d.' O n l y th e w ise com m un itie s k n ow h ow to
con se rve th e ir re source s durin g crisis. Durin g th e W orl d
W ar II, an association w as form e d in Am e rica w h ich w as
cal le d 'W ipe up Your Pl ate Cl ub '. Its m ain sl ogan w as :
"le ave n o l e ftove rs in your pl ate w h ile e atin g;e at your food
as if you h ave at th e e n d to l ick your pl ate cl e an ". Th e th e n
Que e n M ary of En gl an d w ork e d 8 h ours a day for 9 ye ars
109
to w e ave a carpe t w ith h e r ow n h an ds;th e n sh e h ad it sol d
to ge t m on e y for h e r coun try's w ar e ffort. Durin g th e
pe riod of th at w ar, pe opl e of En gl an d l ive d frugall ive s. Th e
ration e d sugar issue d for 7 days w as sufficie n t for on l y on e
day, b ut stil lth e pe opl e b ore w ith it; n o on e in dul ge d in
bl ack m ark e tin g of sugar. Th e pe opl e m ade do w ith th e
q uota of cl oth th e y w e re issue d.
Th e grow n ups gave up drin k in g m il k so th at it coul d
b e give n to ch il dre n .
Pan dit Jaw ah ar LalNe h ru al w ays e n sure d th at l igh ts
an d fan s of h is office w e re sw itch e d off b e fore h e l e ft it.
Be in g prim e m in iste r h e cl im b e d six fl igh ts of stairs to h is
office til lth e e n d of h is life ;h e n e ve r got in to th e se de n tary
h ab it of usin g th e l ift; th us h e save d e l e ctricity use d to
drive th e l ift. Th ough h e w as prim e m in iste r, h e al w ays
use d to ride in a sm al lcar, an d n ot th e b ig on e . H e n e ve r
al low e d h is drive r to drive at fast spe e d. Pan ditji al w ays
w ore h an d-w ove n cl oth e s; e ve n h is b e dsh e e ts w e re h an d-
w ove n . H e use d to spin cotton on th e Ch ark h a (spin n in g
w h eel ), a m ust for an y on e w ish in g to b e com e a discipl e of
Gan dh iji. To spin or w e ave cotton , n o die se lor pe trolis
re q uire d; n o coalor e l e ctricity is use d, n or an y w ood is
b urn t. Th e cotton th re ad can b e spun at h om e b y w idow s,
an d can th e n b e w e ave d in to cl oth b y th e vil lage w e ave rs.
Pan ditji ofte n w rote articl e s for n e w spape rs in praise of
cotton cl oth . Th us Pan ditji h e l pe d w idow s an d oth e r
w om e n of th e vil lage s to fin d w ork in th e ir vil lage s an d
save d th e m from th e n e ce ssity of com in g to citie s an d l ive
h ellish l ive s in city h uts.

***

110