No water means no life. As water availability becomes scarcer, each drop counts.
Some divine law stipulates, and history repeatedly attests that the materials and entities valued most and held in high esteem come to our rescue in routine and tough times. On the contrary, the very persons and entities disdained, neglected or underrated obstruct our progression in life, natural resources like water and air not excluded. The present global water crunch can be construed as divine vengeance of human disregard for elixir of life. “Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans” said the French conservationist Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
Not only a sustaining base and lifeline of all fauna and flora, water is also a great cleanser ridding us of several physical, moral and other impurities, reason enough for adherents of all faiths using water before conducting, and during any ritual. The Hindu worships begin with holding Achaman, the sacred water, to set the mind in receptive mode and usher in a congenial ambience. Dip in Holy waters during mammoth Kumbh, or in Ganga Sagar (near Kolkata) in (Hindu) Paush month or other festive occasions consecrate the devotees through this building block of life. The holy water of Ganga and other rivers imbues sanctity to all ceremonies. Those who cannot make it to take dip, sprinkle water and stay blessed, In Islam, physical and ritual purity i.e. tahara is essential before worship (salat). Among Christians no initiation is possible without applying water, which is as essential to survive physically as God to survive spiritually. The Sikhs call holy water Amrit, those having consumed this Prasada at holy Golden Temple are supposed to lead a virtuous and immaculate life.
“After the passion of love, water rights have caused more trouble than anything else to the human species” said Pulitzer winner Alice Steinbach. With its becoming a scarce commodity – over 1.8 billion already without access to safe drinking water and half the world population to suffer acute water crisis by 2025, the wars of future shall be for ‘water’ and not ‘oil’ as at present. In this scenario, it shall be unethical and inhuman to monopolise water sources or its supply. It is Nature’s gift that must not be denied to our fellow beings, struggling for its each drop.
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Marginally abridged version of this article was published in Hindustan Times in the edit page column, ‘Inner Voice’ on 20 May 2016 with the heading, ‘Water Is Nature’s Gift Meant for Sharing, Do Not Monopolise It’. Link:
http://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-bathinda/20160520/282218010022551
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