Author Note - A more de-personalized version of this story was recently published in a newspaper.
The recent alert by the Met Department of severe heat wave conditions in both the Telugu speaking states with predictions that in the coming years the temperatures may cross 50 degrees have led to an uproar among the environmentalists who are discussing measures to curb global warming and the role of younger generation in this daunting task. This took me down the memory lane where June till about two decades ago was all about visiting your grandparents who then used to reside in large houses situated in small towns and villages surrounded by a variety of flora and fauna. Being a metro kid back then who used to reside in the capital coming to Andhra meant having an adventurous stay in my hometown Tanuku. Skirting the railway lines the train chugged into a landscape of greenery dominated by coconut and palm trees along the canvas of farmers preparing for the harvesting season ahead which provided the much required respite from the concrete jungle of Delhi. Thus began the vacation and some awe-struck moments which today stand out as environmental lessons learnt as a kid.
Grandma and her Garden Fresh Kitchen
After a two day train ride and feeding on the horrible train food, grandma’s piping hot meal was more than a welcome gesture. However it was not just that grandma was a great cook but the fact that she cooked meals after picking out fresh veggies from her kitchen garden added that particular flavour and taste which so often is missing in the urban meals that we cook today. When we raved about the food grandma would explain that having fresh veggies ensures no loss of minerals and vitamins and what more it is finger licking good!
Learning: Cultivate Kitchen Garden to Eat and Stay Healthy!
Plucking Mangoes and Lemons
Now that our little tummies were more than full we needed some exercise and came the house butler to our rescue as he would very patiently let us pluck mangoes and lemons along with him. While plucking was fun we learnt a thing or two about mangoes and lemons. The mangoes if raw were consumed with a pinch of salt and chilli powder and if sweet were savoured after meals! Lemon concentrate was made at home and was used to make refreshing lemonade at evenings for the entire family.
Learning: Mangoes and Lemons are Rich in Vitamin C!
Coconut Trees
Grandma with her culinary skills had already won over our hearts leaving poor little Grandpa sulking and wanting to gain some attention and hence he would call for the guy who would climb the gigantic coconut tree and bring down tender coconut. Watching him climb up the tree and cheering for him would leave him in smiles and make him proud of his skill and he would reward us with rich coconut water and later break the coconut so that we can have the copra which would make us forget the otherwise favourite pepsi and colas. All along this process grandpa would be sharing snippets about coconuts and its plentiful uses.
Learning: Coconut is not just used to manufacture oil in blue bottles!
Flowers for Evening Puja
As we bid goodbye to the coconut guy Grandma would come out with her flower basket to pluck flowers for her evening puja and we would be more than happy to help her. It is on this educational tour that you learn about Hibiscus and its uses and side by side finish your holiday homework of collecting at least 10 flowers and writing about them. Grandma was more knowledgeable about the flowers than any existing encyclopedia. She would keep us mesmerized with facts like how to derive colours out of flowers and veggies to fill your colouring book.
Learning: Flowers are not just adornments; they are of medicinal value too!
A walk down the road to the Rivulet
After the evening puja Grandpa would get dressed in a crisp white shirt and pant ready for his evening stroll and take us along down the road to the Rivulet. There would be days where we would end up going for a swim in the rivulet and on other days he would teach us about the marine life. Once in a while we would spot a rattlesnake and tug at grandpa’s pant and he would scoop us in his arms and gently tell us about the variety of snakes. On other occasions we would spot small fish on the banks of the lake and play with them by trying to obstruct their path. If we were lucky we would collect some pebbles washed ashore and take them back as priced possessions!
Learning: Not all Marine life is Scary!
Night out on the Terrace and learn about Stars
After a day long adventure the family would slowly carry mattresses onto the terrace to settle down and watch stars galore. The beauty and the bright light emitted by stars on a dark night is a breathtaking sight to watch. It is as if a planetarium has come alive! Grandpa would then show us constellations and tell us about the Saptarishi and about the planets and how they are present many spheres above earth and about the galaxy and Milky Way as we slipped into sound sleep!
Learning: Stars are not just pretty objects!
Urbanization has changed the dynamics of such simple pleasures. Confirming this fact many urban kids today believe that milk comes in pouches and not from cows. There is an immediate need for the current generation to step away from their Smart Phones and internet obsession and move away to spend a weekend with Mother Nature. Well this long environment weekend step out of your air conditioned homes and take your family out into the wilderness and woods and camp out to move an inch closer to environment as in the old times! At least on the world environment day take a pledge to plant a tree. Each one plant one! May be the motto for the Hudhud affected regions of North Andhra which would prove to be a gift by the present generation to the future generation for a better environment! Happy Planting!