Reviving Traditional Wisdom

Reviving Traditional Wisdom

By Dr Arvind Kumar

Environmental consciousness was preached by our ancestors preached, our parents taught it to us, the West is adopting it and are we abandoning it. Conserving water, switching off light when not required, patiently folding used wrapping paper and storing it under their mattress for reuse etc. were some steps the undertook by older generation as part of environmental consciousness. There was hardly any waste generated in a typical household. Everything was used and reused until it fell apart.

The new generation is disinterested in reusing paper bags anymore. They don't even want to be seen conserving. They now have the power to waste, and want to flaunt it. As India's economic boom has transformed it from a global laggard into one of the world's key emerging powers, the new generation of Indians finally arrived — in business, science, and politics. Indian diasporas in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Southeast Asia are among the richest communities in these countries. The new generation has perhaps lost touch with the traditional wisdom.

By 2050, Earth's population will be more than nine billion, and more than two-thirds will live in urban areas. We cannot survive the lifestyle that we desire. There is need for a renaissance of mindset as climate change has become common knowledge. The traditional wisdom needs to be revived. Whether it is through low-energy housing, planting trees, teaching children to respect the environment, boycotting incandescent light bulbs, or wrapping gifts in old newspapers, we have the opportunity to lead by example.