Tuesday, 11 October 2022

RAJAGIRI DOHA ON GROWTH TRACK

Expected Campus 2023 Sep                                               Campus on Oct. 10, 2022

On October 10th, when the whole world spent in thoughts for well being on World Mental Health Day ,  Rajagiri-Doha, which completed eight years on September 21st, took a 'concrete' step in its pursuit of wellbeing of its students, by ensuring  'excellence in infrastructure' with a separate new campus to accommodate the primary section. 







The new campus in Matar Qadeem  is just 8 kilometers away from the present Abu Hamur campus.  It  is meant to give greater facilities like play courts, assembly halls, swimming pool etc.  to both the primary section as well as the senior sections. 

The construction was officially begun dedicating the work to the protection and guidance of the Almighty. Prayers were offered in Hindi and English by one of the skilled workers and the Academic Director, and the traditional symbol of committing our work and wisdom to the Almighty's design by the smashing a coconut was done.  The Chairman Mr. Mohamed Nasser Khatab Al Kaabi dedicated the stone, which was officially laid by the Managing Director Mr. Jacob George. The soberly sweet boondi laddu helped all the staff to share in the sweetness of this step in the direction of infrastructural excellence.

Inshah Allah, building is hoped to be ready by September 2023. 

Almost all the members of the governing board and the Principal and the Vice Principal were present. 


Monday, 10 October 2022

Oct 10, 2022 Mental Health and Well Being for All - a Global Priority


सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनःसर्वे सन्तु निरामया:||

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तुमा कशचित् दुखभाव भवेत् ||  
शान्ति: शान्तिः शान्तिः || 

 

May all be well; May all be free from illness
May all see the auspicious, May there be no any shadow of sorrow!
May there be peace all around!

That is my prayer for all of you as we celebrate World Mental Health Day, aligning itself with the sustainable development goals 'Mental Health and Well Being for all' (Ref. SDG 3)

While there could be any number of tips for mental health, the simple items of routine that come to my mind are: 

FIVE COMMANDMENTS

1. Trust in God - rise up entrusting oneself to the author of life/source of all being - whatever name you call! And leave your worries into God's hands and heart. 

As we retire for the night, again, leave our life and worries into the hands of God: 'Thank you. Into your hand, I commit my life'. 

(I have no suggestion in this regard for those who deny this principle or deny the knowledge of the same. May God save them! They could start with No. 2)

2. I love the REIKI* pledges for the morning to live in 'today':

Just for today, I shall show the attitude of gratitude
Just for today, I shall not worry
Just for today, I shall not anger
Just for today, I shall show respect to all beings
Just for today, I shall do my duties diligently

 

I add, I shall do at least one act of goodness today. (That I draw from our blessed founder father, St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, who warned all of us that a day without a good deed would not be counted in the last reckoning.)

3. Drink water:  As my former boss, and guide, Rev. Bp. Kariyil used to say humourously: I believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (that is Christian faith); next, I believe in drinking water. 

Be not miserly in this matter. I had been careless and have experienced its negative impacts - still in the process of correcting it. A doctor’s tip in this regard was a healthy adult should be able to pump out two and half litres of water from one’s body, to flush out the waste generated by the body – so, adequate water to ensure that much of flushing out.

4. 'What-Can-be-Done' instead of 'Oh-It's-Because...': On issues that worry you, especially on things that have already happened, check what can be done to make things better - first of all by oneself, next by others. Blaming the situation or others, is in no way going to make things better or solve the problems.  If the issue worries you much, if you can afford, write that down, describing the details and your worries. I have found this a very useful practice to clear one’s mind.

5. Be FIT: शरीरमाद्यं  खलु धर्म साधनम्  - Indeed, body is the primary means to perform your dharma.

Take one step at least in the direction of keeping yourself fit. Unless you are tuned to a routine of manual labour in conversation with mother earth, or directly managing the household chores of home-maintenance and cooking, Yoga asanas and Pranayama are the most handy one totally within one's control; Zumba; Brisk walk or Jogging; Games; Swim; Gym etc. are the alternatives - The most easily manageable item is walk - being under your control and being the least expensive, and always upgradable.  When one of my colleagues became too busy with administrative tasks to find time for keeping fit, he decided to walk 6 kilometers to his college and return in the evening walking, saving on both pollution and his fitness front. Last week, in a conversation, Rev. Bp Kariyil revealed, that he finds time for this daily, which keeps your steps from faltering, and your head thinking!

May the author of life, keep us all well, guide our paths and make us a cheerful presence radiating life and joy around! And may we all have life, and life in all its abundance!

P.S. My elder sister, who is leading a retired life, after more than 3 decades as an academic and administrator in higher education, adds: "I would like to add my suggestion about keeping  fit, what I am practicing. Doing the usual domestic chores as far as possible by oneself, starting with sweeping floor and compound, mopping, washing, ironing, watering plants,  cooking, washing the dishes, just the usual works, providing ample exercise to individual organs . It keeps the mind and body engaged and  you can say your prayers too."

Another elder sister, retired from service as a college professor after more than thirty years of service, has become quite active with household farming - producing variety of vegetables, and also finding a new avenue for fitness and self-expression in zumba dancing. And I find her much healthier and relaxed than how she used to be 10 years ago. 

 

* The Japanese non-invasive healing system that relies on the aura of spiritual life-force energy enveloping each individual. It focuses on activating the aura for healing and health. 

 


Saturday, 8 October 2022

MITRADHAM - AN ABODE OF SUN IN GOD'S OWN LAND

New Leader Jan 16, 2023: pp. 23-24


Om Mitraya namah! That is the sun salutation with which the traditional popular Indian holistic fitness module (surya namaskar) begins. In Sanskrit tradition, Mitra is one of the synonyms for sun, the source of energy for the planet. Mitradham - the abode of Sun is creative scientific idea in tangible form, with a link to the Indian tradition of venerating the source of all energy on the planet - a centre for solar energy!! 

An Idea for Change 

The centre began with the young, energetic and creative Physics professor of Sacred Heart College, Kochi, getting the insight into the issues the 21st century world will face - regarding energy needs and climate change - from his post-doctoral exposure with International Research Institute, Max Planck Institute, Stuttgart, way back in the mid 1990s.  Always a person with a creative bend of mind - as a poet, a musician, a scientist and a disciple of Christ belonging to the clerical order of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), Fr. George did not waste any time to transform the dream into a morphous reality in the bucolic verdant village of Chunangumvely in Ernakulam district. It is 26 kilometers away from Kochi airport, the first international airport run totally on solar energy.  (It is worth recalling that the coordinator of the UN acclaim winning airport solar project  was in the delegation of entrepreneurs given exposure and orienataion to renewable energy installations in Germany as a Mitradham project) 

By 1997, the project was fit for launch in a campus of 8 acres.  A new building was built with inspiration from 'Inspiration' the architectural firm led by the eco-architect Jayagopal. The undulated terrain was left as it was and utilised to create a structure that would accommodate multiple levels. It could accommodate 32 residential trainees, and required minimum maintenance with minimizing on cement plastering and paint on the exposed areas of the building. Thus was born, perhaps the first ever fully equipped, residential research cum training centre for solar energy of India on 1st May 1999.

Gramswaraj in 21st century

From a solar energy focused centre it has gradually evolved into an experiment in holistic living and  development.  It looks at energy needs as a starting point of its work.  The centre has completed almost a quarter of a century, without having to depend on government for power or water supply for this vast campus, thus proving to be a lesson in local self-reliance (gramswaraj, as dreamed by Mahatma Gandhi). 

Efforts are made to produce food on the campus - vegetables, tubers, egg, meat, fish, fruits and spices. With 'dignity of labour' as a foundational principle, manual labour is part of the Mitradham routine.  At 70, Fr. George spends almost 6 to 8 hours tending to the land, fulfilling the creator's call in the Bible, addressed to every human being: 'to till  and keep the earth' (Gen. 2:15-17).  

Holistic Lifestyle - From Text to Context

The centre provides skill training in technology for food presevation using solar driers - he has experimented with drying fruits of all sorts, so that the fruits that go wasted during the harvest season, are able to be gathered, cleaned and dried for better use during off-season periods. This addresses,on the one hand, the issue of fruit produces being wasted, on the otherhand, gives the twin advantages of additional income for the producer (farmer or homesteads) and making safe to eat preserved fruit available throughout the year.  The products made using solar driers were found to be more delicious and clean compared to products otherwise processed. 

Mitradham campus is conceived as a tool for holistic life-style education - there are installations that convey the messages of healthy life-styles regarding attitudes to be nurtured in one's life.  There is one that gives you the experience of climbing a tree-house, while providing the experience of a view point. There are open air venues for holding lectures, discussions and interactive sessions adaptable for groups of varying size.  It also provides a few venues for silent contemplation and meditation. 

The campus lies adjoining paddy fields gradually rising in elevation forming the lower part of a watershed area. On its northern edge the campus includes some paddy field, which is cultivated.  An area of 50 cents in the low lying portion of the land has been converted into a water storage, which also serves the purpose of a natural fish pond.  For the residents it serves as a natural swimming pool.

Education and Action for Sustainable Development

Technically, it functions as the research and extension centre of Sacred Heart College, with focus on solar energy related technology as well as sustainable development. 

Fr. George's practical approach towards sustainable development has a three pronged approach of revering the planet 1)  productive action 2) preventing pollution starting through cleanliness campaign focussing on waste reduction and waste management and 3) an earth centred spirituality of joy in living. The centre initiated a district wise on-foot campaign  (padayatra) for 10 years from 2010 to 2020, contributing to the awakening of the region towards practical measures to be taken in this regard by individuals, institutions and local bodies. 

In the post covid times, Mitradham is widening its educational trajectory to the finer realms of human existence while not discarding its original focus on sustainable energy through dissemination of technology and awareness creation among community leaders. The new realms it seeks are those of truth seeking and peace.  This is addressed by opening its doors to all people of good will who are interested in promoting peace and truth to come together and explore together the means to attain happiness and peace. School and college student groups, educators, residents of local communities, people's representatives, voluntary action groups - all make use of the campus for experiential learning and insights for sustainable living. 

R-E-S-T for a Transformed World

Fr. George's formula for sustaining peace is REST - Renew, Energize, Share and Transform; which the centre has begun to offer as a package for those who seek and promote peace. It involves restful and energizing time on the campus, experiencing the campus energy, exchange of ideas, healthy food and resultant transformation.  In general, all programmes  are offered on the principle of sustainability on a cost-recovery basis. 

The vast campus is a centre of biodiversity with more than 150 species of trees and over hundreds of herbs.  The avian dwellers and visitors come to more than 50. 


The effort, to my mind is an effective re-creation of an earthly paradise - of abundance, joy, sharing and peace, which in development lingo, can be translated as a model for 'sustainable development'. It shows that such communities are not impossible. It is beyond a 'surya namaskar' (sun salutation), but a salutation to the creator of sun and all other beings  (daiva namaskar),  through creative ideas and action for 'the greater common good'. I hope the effort is sustained and replicated! 






 


Friday, 7 October 2022

Meena Menon - A Solo Local Green Warrior


Remembering Meena Menon - A Solo Green Warrior

The pyre lit on the clearance in the 'forest  of peace' (shantivanam) consumed its daughter, mother, guardian, one-(wo)man army.  Her persevering fight for justice for herself and to the rare piece of verdant patch near Paravoor, the increasingly becoming-urban town in Ernakulam, for more than 3 years, against the might of state and its conniving politics, perhaps did not yield the desired result so far. In spite of the resistance, appeal, and public opinion against the state electricity board's covetous usurpation, indicating the priorities of the state, KSEB managed without great difficulty to aquire forcefully precious 5 cents or more in the middle of an urban forest, in the process destroying more than 50 trees.  

Instead of supporting and promoting such valiant and rare private initiatives to strengthen the lungs of the planet, the state has only served to harass and exploit the family which decided to tread the unbeaten track of a green life, dedicating an ancestral property that would have easily fetched crores for a greater public good. Now who will decide between the common good the state stands for - that is, cheaper power supply or the one Meena fought for - maintaining and enriching the green patches, and habitats for several non-human species available on the land  and decide for 'the greater common good'!  

After years of resistance, she had to succumb to the literal loneliness the development monster had imposed on her and shantivanam, with neighbourhood being swallowed up by it, and left to her own in her lonely forest, and shift her dwellings elsewhere, for security. Today, as Meena departs as an unsung heroine from the face of the planet, through fire, I hope that the test of fire she underwent will be the strength of her daughter Uttara, and that Meena's fiery spirit will energize her  to sustain her mother's efforts. 

Amratamgamaya!! May she rest in peace and may her spirit continue to live in power!! 

School of Communication of Sacred Heart College (SHSC), took some initiative when her resistance was being widely reported in the print media, to express solidarity with her. I had the good fortune of being with them, and interacting with her. When teachers and students  met her in 2019 at Shantivanam, she told the students: "You need not do anything to preserve environment; the environment doesn't require your protection  All you need to do is to leave it alone". 


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Sunday, 2 October 2022

Remembering Gandhiji - Oct 2, 2022

എത്ര മിഴികൾ കൊണ്ട് കാണ്കിലും കാഴ്ചകൾക്കപ്പുറം നിൽക്കുന്നു  ഗാന്ധി 
എത്ര വർണ്ണം മാറ്റി  എഴുതിലും  എഴുത്തുകൾക്കപ്പുറത്തെഴുതുന്നു ഗാന്ധി

Etra mizhikal kontu kaankilum kaazhchakalkkappuram nilkkunnu Gandhi

Etra varannam maatti ezhutilum ezhuttukalkkappurattezhutunnu Gandhi 

How much so ever I look around, Gandhi transcends all my visualisations
How soever I shift the letters in my writings Gandhi still transcends all those writes... (Madhusoodhanan Nair - Malayalam poet). 

Bapu, our beloved father
I see him grow taller in stature
And I discover dimensions deeper
That me and you are challenged to gather.      


He is a mahatma
But was never born thus
Bit by bit he grew into a Maha Atma
Perseverance paying the price to be thus


I see him shirtless 
To showforth oneness with those who had less
An emboldened decision to be useful by using less
Which amidst the people of the more, never made him any the less


We salute him on his birthday
With the nation stopping by in a holiday
Missing his call to 'do or die' never missing a day 
In ceaseless pursuit of truth n' love to make evryday a holy day!

Imitation of Christ my Lord
Disloyal tho, I see the goal set for  a Christian 
And as I struggle with its 'sweet' but tiring load
Bapu walks before me surefooted sans  label, but full a  Christian!


P.S. And he provokes me to: 'to live as if I were to die tomorrow; to learn as if I were to live forever'

Thursday, 29 September 2022

Hiking Heart-Zones with Haiku

Mary Magdalene - July 26, 2022

Clinging not to memories 
Mary flew mesmerising skies 
Grazing  boundless green pastures!


Rain in the Desert - July 28, 2022

Where rare the roar of rain
Desert we define
We had pined for it to rain
Then we forgot that it could ever rain

But then it came thru darkn'd clouds
Drowning desert in torrents of floods
But, it soaks in pining pain
Reviving gaia in new green sheen

Ignatius - July 31, 2022

A query set afire Ignatius
A fiery spirit ignited
A dreary world steered clear n' conscious
To hear the voice of one's conscience.

Eternity
With awe behold aI
The great souls with whom I vie
To scale their realms high

I yearn for eternity
Long for people to hold me in memory
But find only futility

I yearn to learn n' learn
Then churn out works for all to learn
That I am there with them long aft I'm gone

Or to  thus go - tathagata
As did my Master go
By doing good to all as I go.

Desert
In the urban desert
I live deserted
I feel deserted

I feel I am not wanted
I feel I am avoided
Fear my days go unrewarded.

Never did I have
So much time at hand
But unable to make things happen

Recall I models of old
Who sought deserts hot and cold
In them grew steadily bold
In pleasure before mighty God.

Though in silence did they go
Their lives did rays of hope show
For many to thrive and grow

And in desert Lord let me bloom
As a father for those in gloom
That desert may like garden bloom!!


SMALL ME
At least, on turns
Did I feel I was big
But as it turns out to be
I find myself a prig

Thought I will grow up
And be a world leader
Compared those in power
And thot myself better

But as things did turn
I saw people around
Stars in their domain
Leading teams big n' small

And I find myself 
In my cocoon of self esteem
With hardly anything 
To be proud of ...

August 6, Transfiguration
From my banal smallness 
How I long to be
Transfigured  in greatness
On the mountain peak

In my heart of hearts
I  pine to grow to heights
To write great books
To rule the Church in 'service'
To conquer heights and hearts

At times to write big books
At times to found big institutions
At times to rule the church or others
But then I find the contradiction
Of desiring to be great
And the shortcut Jesus wrote
Of being small, to grow big

But, kaash! if I could only
Set aside these desires
And to follow Jesus solely
Be my heart's desire!

And as on that mount
May I too be ever found
Into the Lord transformed
An' to be there feel good. 

Smiles ... as she thus went by Aug. 12, 2022
She was a long smile
A smile lasting a mile
And in that vanished all wile
As she spread it awhile

Walked she with a smile
Fought she with a smile
And went she with a smile
As I weep over her I smile

How I miss her winning style
How, recalling, she wins over,  while
I am upset by my bile
Alive in me as I forge ahead all smiles

Watch I prayers go up in a pile*
To gods of all hues and smiles  
For victory over all viles
I too can't help a smile!
Though I still weep over her smile!
(After Ananya's - Mrunal Thakur - smile in Toofan;  *prayers by the well-wishers belonging to various religions, typical Bollywood religious amity)


DEATH CELEBRATING LIFE

SHE departs in peace
Sparking a series in peace
Ties gone to pieces now are back in terms of peace
Citizens far and near queue in peace

Peace peace peace

In Wales and England peace
With Scots and Ireland peace
Near and far, in islands peace
In assemblies across the lands peace

Yes she passes in peace
A separation that ties
A parting that unites
And life in death to possess

A somber show but so solemn
And pride in this submission
Young n' old in discipline
Cherishing a moment in memoriam

In state she lies
And behind her the state lies
Putting an end to all lies
In peace her soul flies

Peace peace peace!

 

Sep. 29, 2022 
Turning 2 minus sixty
I still much feel like thirty
Though my legs tend acting thrifty
My heart still pumps blood mighty 

A new year in the desert
Tho Left deserted almost 
I feel equipped to assert
To make life green in desert

Built-in Thermometer
I observe a thermometer 
It works within my body
When change knocks d' door of weather
It turns a note in throat so sour.

I do sense the thermometer
It works all around me
And when on me fall sprays of shower
It alerts me, boy it's summer!

I get alerted by a thermometer
It is coiled inside me
And churns my tummy in torture
And boy, I know its colder, winter!

Oh great this solid matter
A gift of great creator
Who blesses us with senses
To play in tune with nature!

THE BRAVE NEW GREEN WORLD - AS THE FIRE BLAZES BY 
As the fire of the pyre
Consumes the green fighter
In that small patch all clear
In her forest ever so dear*

As the guzzlers go aroar 
In the urban concrete grown  crude
As boom-zoom goes the fire
When guns and tanks groan rude^ 

A blazing fiery summer
In Spain, n' plains Californian n' Ryazan 
Amazonian evergreens afire
And France n' England can only complain

And yet that white fat west 
In tonnes CO2 breathes out
And in the assemblies wealthiest 
Breathes fire of pending dooms out**

And in gratuitous floods^^  of their piling wealth
A Bangla, Pak or Lanka, bereft of their health
A Philippinas,Venezuela, Sudan or Somalia in embrace of death
Providentially  submerging the scum of the earth

Thumbs up for a sustainable and clean, white planet 
With no more South and East
But only North and West
And Pax Occidens, with still lots to eat!+
Ah, a brave new world, indeed!++

(*Meena Menon the Solo Eco Warrior of Kerala, whose pyre was lit in the clearance of her homestead converted into a forest
^ Wars all around, especially Ukraine; ^^ floods of 2022
**Shared global responsibility
+Sustainability with the easily expendable global south
++Aldous Huxley)


TICK TICK TICK THE WATER BOMB TICKS
Tick tick tick does 
the water bomb tick
But busy world runs
as booming bombs click


Kick kick kick the leaders gone sick
With pointing fingers
And acrimonious accusations
It's just noise sans sense 

When Putin is busy 
And Biden is fussy
The world goes to dogs
And lives go to hogs!

പൂവെന്തിന് പറിക്കണം? 



No . No . തലയിളക്കികൊണ്ട്  ഞാൻ പറഞ്ഞു 
മുള്ളിനെ മുള്ളുകൊണ്ട് എടുത്തോളൂ!!
പക്ഷെ, പൂവെന്തിന് പറിക്കണം അതവിടെ നിൽക്കട്ടെ!
കൊഴിയട്ടെ! വീണ്ടും മണ്ണിലൂടെ, വേരിലൂടെ, മൊട്ടായി, പൂവായി വിരിയട്ടെ!
ഒപ്പം മണ്ണിരകൾക്കും ശലഭങ്ങൾക്കും ജീവൻ  നൽകട്ടെ!

(Response to Shaji's haiku: ഇലകൾ ഇളക്കിക്കൊണ്ട് ചെടി പറഞ്ഞു: മുള്ളുകൊണ്ട് ഒരു വിരൽ എങ്കിലും മുറിയാതെ ഒറ്റ പൂവും പറിച്ചെടുക്കരുത്, അപ്പോൾ അതിന് വില ഉണ്ടാവില്ല.)


അപ്പോൾ താനെന്തെടുക്കുകായാണ്?
ഞാനും കൊഴിയുകയാണ് 
ഒപ്പം സടയും ജാടകളും 
മരുഭൂമിയിലെ ഈ തണലിൽ തണുപ്പിൽ 


Heart
When 'He' gets out of heart it becomes art
And when 'art' gets out He becomes artless
Rather, He becomes quite artificial
So in heart, we ought to treat Him with art

And when you 'r' out, it's just heat and no heart!
And heart indeed has an 'ear' which can 'hear'
And it can bring about heal!

What does heart eat; It's nothing but heat




June 8, 2023

Om agni devaya namah

Fire Oh the nature's power

Clear in its trail of terror

Fair to all  men in fear

Fare not does any in 


Fire to lead path to progress

Flavour to food when  it rings

Favour to gods too it brings

For it does away with wrongs


Fire the power of divine

Far not to turn 


And what about that fire my belly


Fire in my heart

Oh how I would 

That I be consued by that fire

That there may no longer remain I

But just FIRE - ever aflame, ever lighted, ever warm

And all purifying! 

Let me be that! 

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

JEEVAN RAKSHA - ജീവൻ രക്ഷ - CHARITABLE SOCIETY

I don't know why Adv. M.L.  George  decided to invite me as the chief guest for the 115th medicine distribution function of Jeevan Raksha Charitable Society. Anyhow, I accepted the invite, and promised to be there, refused (as usual) their offer to send a vehicle.  Reached there on dot. 

I was impressed. 
Living in Kochi, and being in kind of a furnace in the past couple of weeks, I am reminded of 'qayamat' again - we are closing in on the judgement day! However, remembering the great father Abraham (of blessings!), how he pleaded for sparing  the town of Ninevah from God's wrath, and he didn't succeed, because not even five just people could be found, I feel consoled.  That Kochi is being spared everyday, because there is an assured 450 people (and even more) who are just by their activities of Jeevan Raksha.  It fits so well within my frame as a Catholic priest, with a mandate given by Christ 'to give life, and that in abundance' (Jn.10:10). 

It is a great work that is being done, there is no doubt. 
However, as individuals and collective, we ought to go beyond. 

We have the live examples of Vijayan maash and Mr. Parameswaran the secretary. .  (Now as I complete this note after almost 4 years, I realise that Vijayan maash, is no longer there amidst us, but for his persevering spirit.  Zindabad - in fullness of life!). 

We recall Gandhiji's indictment of the modern medicine (also law and railway). That medicines seek patients; so in the heart of hearts, medical companies desire people to be ill (unhealthy) so that their medicines might sell and they derive profit. (So too with the lawyer profession - who seek disputes and fights between people, so that they might survive.  It is unethical in its very existence as a profession as it seeks sustained problems of the people for its own sustenance.  I am yet to get the clear logic behind his opposition to the railways - unnecessary travels, polluting land and minds? The railways have divided the land and its resources, affecting the life-lines (water channels) of the land quite adversely.  It has also made the entire country a litter bin, by the thousands travelling the length and breadth of the country and littering the land indiscriminately.)

But the issue to be tackled by Jeevan Raksha is life itself - it has to focus on health, rather than healing after illness.  We may not be able to neglect that aspect, but stress should be for healthy living - implying healthy air and water and healthy food. The first two demand that we keep the planet pollution and waste free; that we tread the planet softly, leaving no adverse effect, no heavy footprint - almost like the old dictum: kaavu teendaruthu!

The last one demands our engaging with our common home in producing healthy food.  That we become responsible for producing food. And that we honour and hold in esteem those who are in that profession. Our solution is organic farming, by families, even if you can access just one cent of land - that too in pieces, where sun shine falls, you can be an effective producer. 

For after all, we are dependent on the earth!
manne nampi naamirikke  - we are dependent on the earth
namme nampi mannirikke! -  and the earth (soil) is dependent on us!! (Yes and no! So long as we are there, it is made to be dependent.  But if we are not there, I trust it is much better off).