A nation wide bandh has been thrust upon India today. Ostensibly to protest against rising prices. But , really an opportunity for opposition parties to assume few days of spot light. A bandh of this type seldom accomplishes anything . Establishments close – not because they support this form of protest – but because they fear violence. People are against rising prices . But they do not necessarily support protest in this form since :
- it accomplishes very little
- comes at enormous inconvenience and cost
The rising prices affect different sections of society differently . There is a large section on whom the impact of rising prices is very severe – affecting nutrition , education , health care ( even their interests are not served by this 1 day drama ). The impact varies at different levels of the socio economic ladder.
Possibly the time has arrived for everyone to do a bandh of their own – ongoingly.
Reduce non-essentials :
Most of us can relate with the ‘ why did I buy that ? ‘ feeling at sometime or the other. It could be after a heavy meal at a restaurant or after opening the latest product you purchased . Take a few mins to list the stuff you purchased that you wished you had refrained from . Carry that list around with you esp when you go shopping.
An even more radical exercise : visualize that you have a brand new house . What from your existing possessions would you like to put into it ? This exercise can be scaled to any level – kitchen , living room , bed room , study , cupboard..
Reduce intake of processed foods :
Or as Michael Pollan would say ‘industrial novelties’ . We’ll be healthier and richer for having done so.
Grow your own food :
To the extent possible grow herbs , prices , veggies , fruits n your home and community . Besides the cost savings joy it brings is immense . We need to recreate our relationship with food.
Repair / reuse / recycle :
Repair , reuse , recycle the stuff you have. Throwing out stuff that can be repaired adds to the environmental waste and to your cost (of purchasing a new item ).
No , you do not need the mixer with the sole feature of a new blade and fancy shape . Your existing mobile looks great , has more features than you use.
Gratitude outlook :
We notice and mull over stuff that’s amiss . In the process ignoring all the things that are so wonderfully right . Family , friends , joy , opportunity , beauty…Gratitude is more about an attitude rather than an occasional response. Thankfulness can enhance our satisfaction with lives in ways that the next consumer product never will.
If this sounds like the recipe for an ascetic life – it’s not . It’s about reclaiming your life in a consumerist world.
This is not an exhaustive list . Make your own list . Live it .
Try it .
(via SoulQuest )
