By: P.V. Laxmiprasad
“Back to Nature” was a poetic reference by the English Romantic Poet William Wordsworth. This reference originally takes us back to the age-old practices adopted and practised in the womb of Nature. For readers, it is a fresh breeze coming into their lives. For serious practitioners, it is like going back to the Natural world to experience the fruits of bountiful nature. In the increasingly mechanized world, people lose their age-old practices. In the modern century, when people follow practices against Nature, they withdraw from Nature and bear the brunt. Healthy lifestyles are back in practice. What was once lost is making a comeback now. Eating different foodstuffs and lacking the necessary skills are the main causes of health issues. As a result, people adopt corrective strategies to maintain lifestyles which are reversed now. ‘Fewer carbohydrates and more proteins’ become the strong buzzwords. Old practices forgotten until now have been taken away by Western society. Indian way of Yoga, meditation and Surya Namaskars has made a comeback. Chronic disorders like diabetes, blood pressure levels and thyroid have already impacted Indian society irrespective of age and gender. Medical research has attributed these disorders to many bad practices. Consumption of Junk foods, red meat, irregular timings of meals and recycled oil are responsible for continuous health disorders. Millions are affected every day. Lifestyles go against the set standards of life. The subject of Free radicals and Anti-oxidants is much discussed. While free radicals cause cell damage to other molecules, Anti-oxidants can prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. This is particularly observed among the patients when they suffer from unusual fatigue levels and other associated symptoms. A nutrient-supplementary food that contains leafy vegetables, fruits and vitamins that carry E-Vitamins and minerals like Zinc, Selenium, etc can fill the gap and remove free radicals. What we are taking as food has been deficient in the basic immune system. Adulterated foodstuff brings about adverse blows Even the waking hours and sleeping hours of a man are crucial for maintaining good health. A sound sleep is but a reflection of good health. Yet people complain of insomnia. Some people hardly walk for half a kilometre. They become impatient. They lose their physique and stamina to accomplish other tasks. Another risk is that the youth of the present generation are putting on more weight as against the proportionate balance levels of body weight with age. Obesity takes away their life span. Is it a disorder or disease? A disease has a cure but a disorder is meant to be controlled. It is an indication of a carefree life. A disorder is to control the body against unhealthy practices. In the world, silence always makes a pregnant pause. All these speak of silent, sudden and time-bound attacks in assorted routes and times. For me, a morning phone call is all the way frightening. I take the call anticipating bad news like the death of a near and dear one. Indeed, these calls are most common in Indian situations.
Having experienced such problems at an early age, people consult the doctors. They are advised to follow the basic tenets of life as commandments. They come back to Nature’s sanctum and sanctorum. Dietary regulations have become mandatory now amid challenging times. We have to inevitably follow what our forefathers have followed. Time is a ruthless reminder that bad things can be nurtured easily but good things take a lot of time for cultivation. The journey here takes a rough path and imposes tough practices on those who lose them. Nature is back. We go back to those ancient times and follow our forefathers what they had followed as part of rituals, practices and habits. The generation of forefathers and their grandchildren have witnessed unprecedented health issues. The gap in each generation produces new challenges. Shockingly lifestyles changed and with them, the food habits too changed. A damaged part takes time to get back to normalcy. The death whistles its blows cruelly and remains in eternal memories. The human body continues to be victimized without proper healthy practices. People are the worst sufferers. Huge sums of money is sent on hospitalization. Is it necessary? A drug can save them but the human body is impaired forever. Emergency health issues warrant them to follow Nature. They re-practice what they had once lost them. “Back to Nature” is vibrantly alive with victims practising and reviving the age-old glories of a healthy lifestyle. Is there a way out? Yes. It is Nature. Take recluse in Nature. Needless to say, the poetic reference as advocated by William Wordsworth has come to remind people in the 21 century when they are on the wrong way of life.
P.V.Laxmiprasad, Associate Professor of English, Anurag University, Hyderabad is a writer, editor and literary critic
