Deepabali or Diwali is a festival of lights and is observed by the Indians not only in India but wherever the Indians are found across the globe.
The festival falls on November 11 this year. The festival is observed in the month of Kartik, particularly on the New Moon day, which is known as Purnima. The philosophical meaning of Diwali is the removal of darkness or ignorance of the man for well-being of human society. It also includes the wellbeing of the entire animal planet. If the planet is well and healthy, then the human race can remain healthy and prosperous.
So, earthen lamps are generally lit during evening hours on the day with a promise not to allow the devil to have a spell. The candles are lit to forget the remorse of the past and celebrate with the new. The festival is observed during the period of autumn, when the paddy with other crops are harvested from the field and stored by the peasants for the next crop year and for smooth sailing of family responsibilities. Usually, bumper crops are harvested during the period. The general climate of the autumn is very smooth. The economic as well as social welfare of the people are ensured by good harvests.
However, this year the crops have failed and despondency rules the roost with the poor agriculturists committing suicides albeit every day. These hapless farmers are dying out of frustration and fear as they are heavily indebted.
For such crop failure, partly the climate and partly the mismanagement of water are responsible. We have plenty of water resources for agricultural purpose. So water management should be done scientifically taking the local water resources in view. Where there is no canal irrigation provisions, the local water resources should be utilised properly. There should also be proper rain water harvesting.
The rural people know how the rain water has to be harvested and preserved and the crop pattern can be changed according to the need of water requirement. The lift and bore well irrigation, ponds, natural and artificial reservoirs should be used efficiently for cultivation of alternate crops, including economic species, to ease the financial strains on poor peasants, who have no other means of financial gain.
The other aspect of Dewali is to bring control over the population of various insects and mosquitoes through use of crackers and other fireworks. The gun powders made from various chemical products produce smoke, smell and sound when burnt and kill the harmful insects. The rainy reason is the breeding season of all kinds of insects. After end of rainy season, unless the population of such harmful insects is reduced and brought under control, the people would suffer from various diseases borne by these insects. But everything has a limit.
If the limit exceeds, it causes the harm to the entire biodiversity. Now, various types of new inventions of fireworks are used which poison the air, water and soil. Tons of carbon dioxides, including other obnoxious gases, are discharged into the atmosphere, which alters the normal behaviours of the local as well as the general climate. Such obnoxious gases, including various suspended harmful particles, come down to earth by the rain and wind and spoil the natural quality of the water bodies and soil. Mostly, the aquatic animals as well as the micro flora and fauna of the land body and water body suffer most due to the effect of harmful chemicals used in the fireworks. The air pollution due to presence of carbon particles causes cancer, asthma, apart from skin diseases and pimples etc.
Similarly, the water pollution also gives rise to several types of water borne diseases. Not only do the humans suffer for air and water pollution, animals also have to suffer for the misdeeds of man.
Severe sound pollution occurs during the bursting of crackers, which goes beyond the tolerable limit of all creatures. 20 to 40 decibels is within tolerable limit but beyond it, the sound damages the human organs and systems. Any sound beyond tolerable limit causes sleeplessness, blood pressure, heart ailments, mental tension and some people even lose hearing power. So, the Supreme Court has put restrictions on high decibel sounds.
There are several High Courts banning fire crackers explosion after 10 pm in night. It becomes very common in ritualistic functions and marriages that fireworks are displayed. Melodies and light arrangements spoil the atmospheric sanctity and rob people of peace. Pregnant women, babies, old men and women are very vulnerable. No judicial or administrative instructions can bring in improvement in the situation as bursting crackers has been a fashion with the youngsters.
The school and college going students should be compulsorily taught the advantages and disadvantages of cracker bursting. In every moment, we work against the ecological balance of nature, either directly or indirectly which collectively invites climatic hazards.
The erratic monsoon is a fallout of the climate change effect. Climatic failure, rising population and fragmentation of agricultural holdings and faulty land use pattern are to be blamed for the present crisis in the farm sector.
If we sincerely and most faithfully analyze our present land use pattern it will be seen that even after seventy years of independence, we very foolishly utilise our land resources. The present land use pattern is not up to date and needs immediate restructuring and fine-tuning.
All distressed peasants should be given moral supports to meet the situation bravely. Under the present situation, community farming is the best way of handling the crisis. The community farming or cooperative farming should be ideally taken up in every panchayat with active participation of Governmental agencies.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)