Purest Form of Water
“Hey Mom, you know what there was a camp in our village in the community hall. There were some teachers, who came from city to show us movie. One of the madams told us that the purest form of water is rain water and formula is H2O. It means 2 parts of Hydrogen when mixed with One part of Oxygen, it forms a liquid known as water, which is lifeline of all living beings of this planet.”
Neer kept elaborating, “Mom, they also mentioned that even for all the space excursions their primary objective is to look for water in other planets. It was a very interesting session and they said they will come often to share more knowledge with us. All the children were joyous to see that movie. Mom, next time I will take you along. “Mom, are you listening to me? You don’t seem interested? You are just going around for one work or the other. Please, listen to me.”
Neer is a young 8-year-old child and lived in a remote village near Punjab-Rajasthan Border. There was only one school in 20 villages, which was twenty two kilometers away from his home. As Neer’s father was ill , her mother Neeru used to work in other households to earn her living. She has to work from dawn till late midnight to make both ends meet. There was no one to drop Neer to School and the financial constraint also blocked his study aspirations.
Neer was a sharp and inquisitive child and often goes very deep while discussing any subject with his mother. Neer’s father used to stay in bed most of the time due to his illness. He gets up only for his medicine and nature’s call. Under Home Teaching Scheme of Government, a few teachers had arrived with their visual techniques in Village today and Neer was enthusiastic about that. He was overwhelmed while seeing movie and was eager to share the same with his Mom.
“Mom, they also told us that water is used in all the beverages. It is used to quench thirst and our body comprises 70% of water. Mom, isn’t it interesting? Mom, I told them that they should come again soon and I will also go every time they come.” Neer kept speaking about his session.
After a while he felt neglected as his mother wasn’t replying him. “Mom, why are not paying attention to me? What happened? You are behaving different today. Sadness welled in the eyes of Neer. Neeru replied sternly, “stop behaving like a small kid. Eat your lunch quickly and help me picking some dry sticks to heat some water”.
Neer has turned adamant till now. “I am not eating any lunch today. Don’t talk to me and also pick your dry sticks yourself”. Angry Neeru she turned and slapped twice on Neer’s face. Tears rolled down and with sobbed lips, Neer with difficulty said, “You also don’t want my knowledge to increase”. Neeru was awed by the mature statement and turned around.
He felt that his mother was also weeping and couldn’t hold back her tears. Neeru sat on the floor near Neer and took his face her lap and started saying, “My love, Neer, I am not angry at you or ignoring you. I am just disturbed and your water theory has disturbed me further. Do you know meaning of Neer. It is Water. You are so close to heart, how can we ignore you dear, but what you have learnt today is only half truth. Don’t grasp the teaching for your life. There is far more truth behind it.”
She was now determined to disclose everything to Neer, “Your father was a brilliant teacher. His dream was to open a school in our village, where he can give wings to every child’s dream. However, due to polluted water that comes in the stream near our village, he fell ill, and damaged his internal organs and that made him bedridden for life.”
Neeru further added, “water in the stream is not only composed of Hydrogen and Oxygen as taught to you. It also has Cadmium, Mercury, Sulphur, Arsenic and many harmful elements, which are fatal for human body. The human race is finding water on other planets because we have polluted our planet’s water by not caring to conserve it.”
We wasted it! [Neeru sighed]
She continues, “In our case, the dyeing Units in Ludhiana, a big industrial town in Punjab, dispose their untreated water in Sutlej, which is source of our stream, which has become unfit for usage. The only source of somewhat safe water for us is the tanker that comes every week. Even that is not healthy and I have to heat it before you and our family consume. The sticks picked by you are used in heating. After your father’s illness began, I have been working sixteen hours a day to earn a living to pay for your father’s medicines.”
She was sadly expressing, “I don’t have time to swipe my sweat sometimes, but this is life and we have to live the same. Boy, how can I vouch your statements about water, when we are subjected to this misery due to human greed, blind bureaucracy and uneducated political people? There are always two sides of coin and how can I hide the real side from you.”
While wiping his tears with his shirt, Neer acted maturely and said, “I understood Mom. Let me go and pick up the sticks. Today, I learnt that it is not rainfall, tears and sweat are the purest form of Water. Love you Mom.”
About the Author
The author, Gagnish Singh Khurana is a Climate Reality Leader, TCPI. He has done PGD in Environment Law and Policy. He is also a member of Environmental and Sustainability Panel — CII Ludhiana.
E: gagnishkhurana@gmail.com
