Lessons for sustainable living from my Grandma

Having seen the recent finding of the overuse (or even abuse) of Calpol in the UK for treating young children, I too find myself guilty for having overindulged in it on occasions. And talking about illnesses, last year when my son started at nursery (and I joined back work) I was positive that it couldn’t get any worse. How naive of me! This year we have already played host to one infection too many and have had to deal with viral rashes, eye infections, sinusitis, Aussie flu, normal flu, high-fever, low-fever and so on. You get the idea! And looking after a poorly toddler stuck at home whilst being sick yourself for days and weeks together isn't fun, it is the definition of misery itself. I felt weak, frustrated, and even questioned our reasons for living so far away from family.  Growing up in Delhi, I had my fair share of sore throats, viral infections and allergic reactions caused by exhaust fumes and pollution. Amongst my cousins, I was teased for being the ‘delicate d...

Reading about a new initiative in the UK to install machines to promote bottle recycling in return for cash, had me thinking about the age-old practice of selling junk for cash in India.  In the era of fast fashion, prepacked convenience food, and bulk discounts we buy, switch and throw without discretion. As consumers we have benefitted from mass-scale commercialization, however, we now face a new problem of plenty. As a result, our generation uses a lot but values little. While our wardrobes are full of unworn clothes from boxing day sales and kitchen cupboards with half-eaten boxes of exotic snacks and teas, it is hard for us to truly appreciate value. No doubt then that for those of us who were born at the cusp of the last millennium, recycling for saving resources is not a natural instinct. In contrast, for Amma and Babaji everything was dear. We had designated space in our backyard where any empty plastic bottles, tin cans, metal scrap, or old newspapers were sto...