Faces of Water: Give water the respect that it deserves

It’s yet another earth day today and I am pondering if “Being Green” is just another fad or are people actually taking it seriously. No, no, please don’t get me wrong. I know a lot of them who do their part sincerely but these days, I just feel jaded with the constant drivel about “Going Green” in every business – corporate scenario, just to appear cool – a marketing gimmick.

In school we had something called “Vanamahotsava” where all of us students were made to plant trees. My dad loved what we did and was inspired to start the same tradition at home. As we grew older, I’ll be honest; I have not really done anything for the earth. Except maybe give a $150 donation to Charity: Water, that too because my cousin was raising money for it.

I’m not exactly proud of myself for losing the Nature Club/WWF activist that I was during my teen years.

The past three years, I notice myself being called out by Water. Every place that I’ve been going to, has been influenced by water someway or the other. I have been utterly mesmerized by water and the transfixing worlds that it creates – be it in the raw power of the waterfall at Chalakudy or shaping of the landscape, eroding the land and leaving behind the colossal experience at Grand Canyon, be it the snow peaked mountains at Mammoth, or be it in the marvelous glaciers in the lands of Alaska. The striking beauty of water belies incredible power!  There is something about water. It cannot be compared to anything and yet everything at some point is dependant on it.

Water is so beautiful even in the morning dew or in gentle streams or in an astounding blast of a hot spring. The gurgling sound of the fountain outside breaks the awkward morning silence. Its rhythm takes me back to the old memories of Palghat, Kerala, where I remember gazing out the French windows – taking glances at the gentle drizzle, cuddling with the book of Jeffrey Archer on my mom’s lap. Why, even this morning, I was left gawking at the magnificence of the clouds hovering over the distant LA downtown. What are clouds really? They are simply massive chunks of sheer water.

Why is water so beautiful and captivating? Is it because it reminds me of something? Or is it me just being a “Cancerian” as per Linda Goodman’s book? Or is it because it is a visual delight? A mere hot bath after a long hard working day, can alter your mood altogether. Water makes your soul peaceful and calm.

The melancholic twist to this whole saga of water and its beauty is “Wastage”. To think of it, Water is the most abused and insulted resource. I wish people think twice about wasting water. As an admirer of water, I speak on it behalf and encourage you to conserve water! Happy Earth Day!