Let Us Awaken To A Cleaner Environment And Pledge To Reduce Reuse & Recycle

I often indulge in daydreaming to visualize India to be a pollution free clean country. Then I question to myself, is it possible or is it just a mere fantasy? We all are aware of the benefits of keeping our environment clean, but do we stretch ourselves a bit or try to find out ways to make it actually possible. 

Recently I was very much inspired and impressed by my neighbour Gunita Dewan who actually reuses non-biodegradable waste to make beautiful, attractive objects like pots, pen stand, card holder. She is reusing plastic waste to lessen the burden of pollution from the environment. 

Non-biodegradable waste is an environmental concern as it threatens to overwhelm landfills and produce disposal problems, unlike biodegradable waste such as food and other organic waste non-biodegradable waste remains stable indefinitely. It offers items like rubber, plastic, fibre-glass, metals. When Swatch Bharat Abhiyan was launched there was a sensational drive all over the country. Such movement should be strengthened more so that a clean India emerges. 

If we keenly observe we will find some trees on the main road that connect CR park with Kalkaji, plastic packets containing flowers are hung there. It is very important to find out alternative solutions instead of dirtying our motherland. Let us all interrogate ourself and question do we really want to live in an impure, infected, poisonous surrounding? The answer will be no! never. Then let us all strive to change our habit and make our motherland a more beautiful, habitable place to live and to ensure a bright future for our next generation.

By Sumita Hore (K 1/74, CR Park) EcoHabitat.Times@gmail.com

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C.R Park H-Block Plastic Clean-Up Drive

As part of our month-long plastic clean-up drive from South Delhi’s public parks, it was time to extend this initiative closer home. With the support of a few close friends and acquaintances, I created a Facebook event titled ‘C.R Park H-Block Clean Up’ on May 6, Sunday. Through the event, we mobilised a few Chittaranjan Park residents to take part in this community-led plastic clean-up initiative and drive home the point that keeping our neighbourhoods clean is not limited to only sweepers and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). It was a call to action for C.R Park residents to take collective responsibility for their surroundings and environment.

Most importantly, the central idea behind the clean-up drive was to raise awareness about the hazard of single-use disposable plastics like straws, water bottles, cellophane bags, food packaging etc., which are used for only minutes before being discarded. Due to lack of viable recycling centres in Delhi, this waste then goes into our ever-increasing landfills, which poses serious health and environmental issues. The point of the clean-up drive was to inform and educate people about sustainable ‘alternatives’ to disposable plastic.

It was encouraging to see a 4-year-old and a 70-year-old participating in the drive together, setting an example for many to shed their inhibitions about picking trash. The biggest source of motivation was to hear some residents assure us of their participation next time around. Some also joined us along the way!

Although only a few participated in the event, it was a success right from the moment we decided to organise the clean-up. Going forward, we plan to hold such clean-ups on weekends so more residents can participate and educate others on the problems related to single-use disposable plastic.

Beat Plastic Pollution

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National Museum Delhi, Connecting Indian & World History

Invitation To A Special Walk-through  Of The Exhibition Led By Chitra Sarkar..

We have studied Indian History. We have studied World History. But how many times have we had a chance to connect the two, to discover how India was impacted by its contemporary world in the course of human evolution?

I’m just back from a preview of an amazing exhibition which opens on 5^th May at the National Museum in New Delhi. It is a collaborative effort between the British Museum and Mumbai’s CSVS Museum, featuring artifacts lent by museums all over the world.

The oldest object is a hand axe, discovered in 1863 near Chennai and could be one million years old. It comes from one of the first stone age sites discovered anywhere in the world. Next to it lie similar axes, found in Europe and Africa, which demonstrate the common history that all human beings share. All the axes have a similar shape. It is an important marker in the evolution of human thought itself.

Next come the fired pots discovered in the Northwest of India, Egypt, Turkey and Mesopotamia. In this exhibition we get a chance to compare them side by side. Urbanisation is explored next. The most famous object which represents the Harappan Civilization is the Dancing Girl. Now you can meet her contemporaries – a lady from Mesopotamia and a Pharoah from Egypt among others.

By now, you may feel immersed in many philosophical thoughts about the oneness of humankind…and there are still many more stories that will unfold before you. In addition to the displays there will be special programmes and curator walks. It is a collaborative effort between the various museums, to celebrate 70 years of our Independence. Do go see it for yourself.

A Editor’s Note : A walk through of this exhibition has been arranged for the readers of Habitat Times.

Please email us at ecohabitat.times@gmail.com your 'interest to attend' with name and mobile number for receiving your e-invite.

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Hello Summers...

Ahhhh summer !!!..what power you have …to make us suffer and like it …..

A permission slip to be lazy… it’s the summers … the most trying … yet the most entertaining and interesting season …it’s the summers …. the summers  which is approaching  at a galloping speed.. 

Although different people would sum up the summer season and its experiences in myriads of  different manners  for example its fun time, no school - holiday time for children , it’s a pain in the neck for mothers of such fun loving children. The sultry heat takes its toll on the office goers and people tend to fall sick with heat stroke, dehydration etc…but nonetheless everyone would agree that our body needs to be pampered the most in this season. … well..lets have a demo on how we should protect ourselves from the scorching  heat  of the Indian summers.

1)Hydrate yourself-

The most important thing to be done in summers is drink plenty of  liquids to replenish our body fluids. You can choose according to your wish but water is no doubt the best. Apart from water one can gorge on tender coconut water , fresh fruit juices like watermelon, orange etc, lassi (namken or sweet), buttermilk etc… these tend to hydrate the body as well as keep the stomach cool .Sattu ka ghol (a bihari speciality ) which is ground gram flour to be mixed with water , salt , lemon and spices is the biggest hit in the sultry summers for its soothing properties. But please… a big no to processed and packaged juices and a very big no to cold drinks although I do understand that cold drinks tend to catch our eyes only too much .

2)Skin care –

Our face is our identity and warrants a special care routine .During summers  it tends to become  sweaty and dark and oily depending upon the skin type. Face should be kept clean of dust and sweat. Lemon and tomato are good to keep face clean. Too much sun is bad for the skin as more melanin gets produced which often tans the skin . Use a good sun screen before going out into the sun and it must be applied 10 minutes before you step out in the sun. Exfoliate you skin at least once a week to keep away the dust , oil, grime that has accumulated in the skin . Aloe vera gel , curd , rose water etc. works wonders to cool  our skin during the summers .

But you need not fear the sun too much  because it helps to produce more serotonin which is a mood enhancer.

3)Maintain hygiene-

Taking bath twice a day would keep you fresh and help combat lethargy. Make sure you bathe after a swim to take off the chlorine from your body .Soaking  hands and feet in salt water also enhances blood circulation and thereafter apply a vitamin C rich cream.

4)Wear breatheable  clothes –

Light fabrics like cotton should be used more and more . It helps our skin to breathe. Tight and synthetic clothes can cause itching and produce rashes.

5)Eating habits-

With the mercury rising higher and higher we often feel totally drained out . The power packed foods to be eaten in summers to stabilize our energy levels are as follows:

Curd is a delicious coolant. It can be had in various forms.Coconut water, lime water , cucumber , watermelon, mint , green veggies should be included to combat the decreasing energy levels. Mangoes and lichis in limited amount is good for health.Onion provides protection against sunstroke.

Last but not the least you can have icecreams to combat the heat . To make it less sinful add some fresh fruits or dry fruits to the icecream so that you do not feel guilty after having it.

Happy summers …one and all….

by  Dr Suranjana Ghosh

EcoHabitat.times@gmail.com

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The Season Of Mangoes Is Here

We bring to you 2 easy recipes from 'Aromas Of My Kitchen' by Anuradha Haldar Mukherjee, a home cook par excellence ...

1. Mango Mastani

This is a pure Maharashtrian delight, known for its vibrant colour, creamy texture and its amazing taste. This is usually made with Alphonso mangoes which is summer’s bounty in Maharashtra. People travel all the way to Pune to taste this drink. The name Mastani is coined to remember Peshwa Baji Rao’s beautiful second wife, Mastani.


Serves 4

Ingredients

1. 4 good quality ripe alphonso mangoes
2. 250 ml of saffron infused milk
3. 100 ml of fresh cream
4. 4 scoops of good quality mango ice cream
5. Sugar to taste
6. Finely chopped dry fruits and tutti frutti

Procedure

• Peel the mangoes, chop them into chunks and put in the blender.
• Add milk and cream and blend well to get a creamy texture.
• Add mango ice-cream and sugar( if required).
• Blend well.
• Keep it in the fridge to cool for at least an hour.
• To serve, take tall glasses and put two scoops of mango ice-cream in the glass.
• Pour the blended mango over it and decorate with cut dry fruits.
• This is a drink but is usually eaten with a spoon.

2.

Eggless Mango Mousse

This was a request for an Eggless Easter recipe by one of my readers.

This dessert has only two ingredients and can be made in a jiffy. 

Makes 12 shot glasses

Ingredients

200 ml of whipping cream

200 ml of pureed alphonso mangoes

1 tsp of lemon juice

Few mint leaves and mango slices for garnish.

Procedure

• Beat the whipping cream with an electric  hand blender till it forms soft peaks. Keep it the fridge.
• Puree the mangoes after removing the skin and seed.
• Combine the cream and mango puree and mix gently with a spatula.
• Add lemon juice and mix gently .
• Spoon out the mix into your serving glasses.
• Allow them to sit in the fridge for at least six hours.
• Take out just before serving and garnish with sliced mangoes and mint leaves.
• I love the light and fluffy texture of this mousse and that’s why I did not add gelatin.
• You can add 4 tsps of icing sugar to the mango puree if you like it sweeter. I did not add it though.

For more recipes please visit https://aromasofmykitchen.wordpress.com/ 

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Shubho Nobo Barsho!

In the pre-dawn darkness, long before the sun was scheduled to rise – at 5:56 am – devotees had started gathering on the lawns of Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir. Everyone stood in orderly lines facing east. It was Nabo Barsho – 15^th April, Bengali New Year’s Day. We were waiting to catch the first auspicious glimpse of the Sun God, the giver of Life and ruling deity of our oldest scripture, the Rig Veda. We held palm leaf bowls with rose petals, til and Ganga jal, which we would offer the God as soon as he made his appearance through the verdant tree tops that surround the temple. Since there remained a good half hour before sun rise, we listened to a rendition of Tagore’s “Aguner Parashmani”, about the light that touches  our vision and dispels the darkness. 

The Chief functionaries welcomed all devotees who numbered in the hundreds by now. A priest recited verses from the Rig Veda, in praise of that most ancient of worshiped beings – the Sun, who was about to appear before us in its everyday , glorious form. Is there anything more breath-taking than that first sight of the newly risen sun? We raised our flowers to him and prayed for a serene, peaceful and happy New Year.

At the end of the prayers, the palm-leaf bowls were collected for orderly disposal – the lawn remained pristine, except for the thousand or so devotees embracing each other with New Year greetings.

And the Bengali year 1425 had begun.

May it bring happiness, good health and peace to all our neighbours.

By Chitra Sarkar ,J Block CR Park, New Delhi

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Spring and Summer Playing Hide And Seek

The back to back weather progression is getting surprising every year. Seasons seem to merge into each other almost seamlessly, in the same breath. By the time we begin to savor one season, almost immediately, the next bounces in front of us, as if telling us- ah, enough now, look at me, here I come! The exit of winter and the impatience of Spring to arrive and then, the quick exit of spring with the onset of summer, also happened the same way this year.

However, the sweet and cool mornings and the extremely pleasant evenings still tell us that spring is reluctant to leave us! It has not allowed summer to beat down upon Delhi as yet! Summer is restlessly edging its way in, with warm afternoons, giving off warning signs that this time, its going to stay long and become unbearably hot! So beware people!

All around, trees have merrily shed their old and dead leaves and have welcomed with outstretched branches, tender, green and shy leaves which are busy befriending the myriad flowers resplendent in their riot of colours, adding dashes of colors to the trees and the bright sky. Equally bright and colorful butterflies are making the most of this weather and time, to suck in as much nector as possible. Birds of astonishing sizes and colours are sighted all around the green trees, busy making their nests. Evenings see them driving us happily crazy with their incessant and chirpy cacophany, which has so much become a rarity in today’s times. The animal world is busy with “make hay while the sun shines”, creating its store of food and shelter, before the off springs arrive!

Lots of lessons to learn from the animal world and the green world.- to realise how important it is for us - supposedly the more intelligent animal, to conserve and preserve our environment and ecosystem for a secure co-habitation of all species on this planet - and stop the mindless destruction that human beings are doing to nature on a daily basis.

Time to turn the tide with immediate urgency – to save our planet before its too late! Lot of species are becoming extinct due to the immense change in the climate and ecosystem. Time to stop and think!

Lets save our rivers and water bodies, reduce carbon footprint, plant more trees and recycle waste. Lets keep reminding ourselves how critical this time is to restore nature for peaceful co-existences of all species.

Lets recycle, restore and recover!

by Jaya Ray ( ray.jaya72@gmail.com)

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‘NATURAL AND ORGANIC' IS THE BUZZ WORD IN DELHI AND NCR

NCR RESIDENTS  GROWING THEIR OWN ORGANIC VEGETABLES AT BACKYARD OR BALCONIES

The growing awareness about health and wellness ,eating natural and organic food is becoming essential part of our lifestyle. The ‘Organic ‘ has become a buzzword among residents of National Capital Region in last couple of years.

“Despite urban space constraints cultivating a garden for pesticide-free vegetables and fruit may seem like a far-fetched idea. But now  growing and owning an organic kitchen garden is actually utterly becoming achievable and house wives are growing organic vegetables and herbs in back yard, balconies and even bath tubs” said Ms Bella Gupta, Secretary, All India Kitchen Garden Association,(AIKGA)  an all India apex body  having branches all over India .

“The process of growing organic vegetables and herbs is  cost-effective, and low-maintenance. The only requirements are a lot of patience and perseverance. You do not need much space , one can use windowsill to grow some vegetables. One of the biggest requirements to grow fruits and veggies is sunlight, something the city is amply blessed with.” said Ms Gupta.

“Recycle and reuse at the outset, you don’t need to invest in fancy or earthen pots. You can even make use of plastic bottles, buckets and bathtubs to grow vegetables. Take a medium sized bathtub; fill it with soil and home compost to grow cabbages, cauliflowers, capsicums, radish and onions. Start with what you have. There’s no need to buy earthworms or any other stuff. Simply convert your kitchen waste into resource,” said Ms Gupta.

“One can source the seeds for as cheap as Rs 10 from any of the nurseries in the city, Always go for open pollinated seeds, not hybrid. You can start by growing basic vegetables like basil (tulsi), mint leaves (pudina), kadi pata, chillies, lemon grass and different varieties of spinach. “They are one of the simplest to grow. Since they don’t require too much sunlight the plant can be kept in a living room or placed near the window, Once you are well-versed with simple plants, graduate to growing cabbage, cauliflower, capsicum, radish, onions and tomatoes.” She added.

“The demand for organic is huge especially in the younger generation, which means people are taking ownership of what they eat and where their produce comes from and that’s very important. It’s the 25-40 age group that’s driving the change,” Ms Gupta Said.

“Consumer demand for locally produced, natural foods and organic products is no longer just a trend. There is a paradigm shift towards produce that boosts health and wellness”. She added.

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Organic Sarees For The Saree Lovers

Life has taken a decisive turn towards everything organic today- so why should sarees be left behind? Yes, the organic saree has captured the discerning saree lover and wearer globally. A revolution of sorts is fast taking over the global Indian woman.

What is the difference between an Organic Saree and an Inorganic Saree? 

Lets define organic first- Anything that is made through the natural process without using any chemicals, pesticides or any artificial component is called organic.

Hence, an organic saree is a saree that is made using natural raw materials and dyes. These dyes and raw materials are grown using organic production methods and which have a low impact on environment without the use of toxic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers! As a result the saree is 100% naturally woven without any harm done to the environment or to the wearer.

The organic saree is fast becoming a great production option being adopted by weavers. Weavers are being encouraged by designers as well as wearers to churn out more natural fabrics and sarees. Albeit, a tad expensive, these sarees project a different look altogether from their chemically produced cousins. The fabrics also do not cause any skin irritation ang give off a very sophisticated, elegant and stylish look to the wearer!

Organic sarees have garnered a huge international market apart from taking the Indian market by storm. Handloom institutions such as Co- Optex have been holding regular exhibition cum sale events across the country to promote the organic saree as well as encourage more and more weavers to switch to organic weaving.

A wide range from fabrics ranging from cotton, to tussar to silk, this plethora of unique fabrics is a pleasant sight to the eye due to their sombre and earthy toned colours that juxtapose so beautifully with the myriad patterns and designs of the well -made sarees.

This passion of keeping alive the grand old tradition of weaving sarees in the authentic hand - weaving machines, has been upheld by several entrepreneurs who are leaving no stone unturned to revive and continue this precious Indian art.

Another step towards environment and art consciousness! Amen!

Habitat Times is a venture focusing on spreading consciousness about a sustainable , future worthy, livable habitat. Connect with us at EcoHabitat.Times@gmail.com

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Today , 20th March Is World Sparrow Day ..Where Have The Sparrows Gone?

House Sparrow, The State Bird Of Delhi, Has Been Driven Away By Pigeons ?

Has anyone seen a sparrow of late? I have not! And I am not surprised !! 

Our homes and the surrounding environment are infested with rock pigeons! Pigeon feeding is the latest fad which apparently wards off all evils and failures from our lives! How incredulous can we be! Where have our common sense and education gone? Are we now supposed to feed pigeons to make or break our careers and education? No marks are given to efforts or hard work – all credits go to the rock pigeons! Should I laugh or cry or get angry? I am going through all the three emotions now thinking, is this how progressive society functions!

Anyway, coming back to the sparrow- the whole infestation of pigeons has driven the demure, chirpy and cute sparrow away from the neighbourhood and our houses. We had studied in our childhood that sparrows live in the houses- on the balconies, roofs, cornices, hence are called house sparrows. However, I suppose the term has changed or has become extinct since it is no longer used. So, are we a witness to another species going extinct? If so, then it is very sad.

I fondly remember the sparrow coming and sitting on the window sill of my bedroom when I used to study with the window open. The high-pitched chirping would take my attention away from my books and I would look up to see how exactly the sparrow would chirp. I would slowly inch closer to it, in a vain attempt to catch it – but as always it would be faster than me and would immediately fly away as soon as I would reach the window. I would try and look into the trees to find out the sparrow's nest, but alas, could never see it! My wish to make it my pet, always remained a wish!

Summer holidays would mean waking up to the incessant chirping of the sparrows sitting on the big lemon tree in the garden overlooking my bedroom. I would get angry at the birds then – why did they wake me up so soon! I could have slept some more! Waking up would mean going back to morning study, which I would hate – that too in summer holidays! How insensitive can teachers be! I would have preferred chasing the sparrows in my garden, befriending them and bringing them into my room secretly, without my mother knowing what I brought in!

But now, my ears crave to listen to the pleasant chirpings which do not seem audible any more! My son has never seen a sparrow. I tell him stories about our childhood and show him pictures of what a sparrow looked like. He looks at the photos and tells me that these birds look very cute..and listens to my stories with amazement. His generation has never chased birds in the garden - it doesnt know the simple pleasures of seeing a bird stting on the window sill and observing its mannerisms, the swift as lightening movements and quick pecking of food from the grounds.

But I still hope against hope that the sparrow will not die such an early death and will be around for some more time. I still hope I will be able to sight it sometime…and hear the chirp once…before it leaves the face of the earth.

I sincerely hope that, the Delhi Government would take some measures to save its ‘State Bird’ from extinction!!

By Jaya Ray (rayjaya72@gmail.com) 9871718921

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