Rose Mary

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded. – Luke 12:48

The New Year issue of Deccan Herald flashed one of their flagship events titled ‘DH Changemakers: 20 to watch in 2020.’ In a grand function honoring the chosen 20 who came from all walks of life, the editor of DH emphasized that they had identified and recognized people at the forefront of change, saying that “These are young men and women who typify the power of good.” Among these bright young minds were an architect duo I knew, whose firm Mason’s Ink was already well known for the number of initiatives they had taken up to educate the youth of Bangalore on sustainable construction, materials and living spaces. The recognition and award was well deserved especially at a time when the construction industry was speeding in the direction of unsustainable material resources and high levels of atmospheric and water pollution. In a radio interview that followed the award ceremony, these two young architects spoke eloquently about green architecture, and exhorted people to use local stones and building material which were naturally more suited to the climatic conditions of the locality rather than source Italian marble and other exotic tiles that may not necessarily blend with local temperatures and climes.

This was a story of two young lady architects from Kerala who have become a force to be reckoned with in Karnataka. Kerala is not far behind in the call for sustainability. We have young and prominent social entrepreneurs who have come to the forefront advocating for the conservation of earth’s non-renewable resources. Well known among them is Lakshmi Menon who found a solution to plastic ball point pens by using recycled paper with a seed embedded in it. Just imagine the foresight of this designer, whose mind travelled with the used and thrown product to its final resting place, probably under the earth or in a landfill, where it once again had the chance to spring to life and green the earth! Of course, none can easily forget the Chekutty Dolls that she modelled for the devastated Chendamangalam weavers that finally became symbolic of Kerala’s self- propelled capacity to rise from the ashes, or, as in this case, from the inundating flood waters!

Sustainability in business is also receiving a great deal of attention these days, but in this case we are still struggling to push the needle out of the red column. While CSR has helped to a certain extent, the basic components of a number of manufacturing units come from non-renewable sources. This explains the continued activity in illegal rock, sand and coal mining. Byproducts and chemical wastes are still causing untold damage to precious water and atmospheric resources. Voices against unsustainable practices are few and far between, and time is running out. This battle has to be fought from common ground. We cannot afford to be sympathetic onlookers any longer. Each one of us must take a cue from environmental crusaders to see that we fight this corona virus of unsustainability with a serious personal change in life style.

Of course some of the best practices are gaining popularity with the help of legislation and publicity by governmental agencies. The use of plastic covers has significantly reduced with the plastic ban imposed by the government. The creation of one’s own kitchen garden has caught the imagination of people who have the luxury of land space or terraces. Organic vegetables are still considered a luxury item because of their price differentials, but the desire for chemically free fruits and vegetables are there. We can only hope that this will finally fuel the demand for it in future.

While people are conservative spenders on organic food items, the same trend reverses itself when it comes to body lotions, face creams and perfumes. The after-shower moisturizer has all but replaced the inimitable oil massage that was part and parcel of beauty and skin treatment in Kerala. New born babies have another range of body creams whose artificial perfumes have unfortunately replaced the magical aroma of home-made virgin coconut oil. Chemically rich shampoos and hair conditioners have wiped out their less flamboyant natural hair cleansers. It is time to give some thought to the products we use. Are we directly or indirectly poisoning ourselves or the environment around us? If we are, let us make small changes wherever possible. Our children have to learn to cherish this return to nature before time runs out.

In the first chapter of Genesis, God hands over the earth to mankind giving him dominion over everything. The earth was meant to sustain forever, for all the generations to come. Let us not leave behind us a poisoned earth, full of thorns and thistles, overrun by floods and hurricanes. Let not our children receive the punishment for the habits we refused to change, and for wrongs that we refused to set right!