Water: The Elixir of Life

-C. V. Raman

Summary:

Man has been searching imaginary elixir in life, amrita, for ages. It was thought to make their life immortal with a drop of it. But it lies near our hands which is the commonest of all liquids i.e. water.  One day the writer stood in between the Libyan Desert and the Valley of Nile River. Towards Libyan side there was a vast sea of sand without a speck of greenness till it is visible. Towards Nile Valley he could see the most fertile and densely populated areas with life and vegetation. He questioned himself how there was such difference. The water of Nile makes the valley so graceful which has been flowing from a couple of thousand miles away. Geologists proved that the valley is made with the finest silt carried by the flood of the river from Abyssinia and Central Africa. The mud was laid down by the river from ages through which Nile flows into the sea. Egypt was made by the river which is possible only with the life-giving water.

This substance is the most potent and wonderful substance on the face of our earth. However we have taken it for granted ignoring the most important value or we have taken it for granted. It also helped to shape the course of the history. Thus it has played a leading role in the drama of our life in this planet.

It is the most valuable substance that adds much more to the beauty of the countryside. Either it may be a little stream or a little pond in which cattle may drink water at evening time, it seems nice. The rainfed tanks of South India are also seem well when they are full. But they haven’t been maintained. Such water is silt-laden so that we can’t see the bottom of it rather we can get the reflection of sunrays. These tanks help in farming in South Indian states. Much of the rice is produced in Mysore by such water. In some large tanks we can see beautiful scene of the sun rise and set. We can compare water in the land with our eyes. It reflects the mood of the hour, if it is daytime, it is bright and gay; dark and gloomy at night time or the sky is full of cloud.

One of the good qualities of water is that it can carry silt or finely divided soil from thousands of mile away. The color of water matches with the color of the land or soil it has been carrying. It is also reflected in those rainfed reserved tanks. The color of the water varies according to the nature of the mud or land of such area. Rapidly flowing water can carry large and heavy particles. The finest particle is of greater density and carried from a long distance. These are extremely small particles that can be transported in a huge amount. When silt-laden water mixes with the sea there is rapid precipitation. We can easily observe if we go through the river to the sea. Red, brown, yellow and green water is seen blue when it reaches to the deep sea. A great tract of land is formed with the same time of silt which is known as alluvial soil. Such land is usually very fertile.

The flow of water determines the geological process of the crust of the earth. The same water can play the destructive role on agriculture washing away the soil. If it remains unchecked it will put us in disastrous problem. The problem of soil erosion is a serious problem in the world particularly in India. The conditions and measures have been analyzed and set by a closest study. The soil erosion has been happening whereas some old incidents are unnoticed. These days agriculture seems impossible with the formation of gullies and ravines. The burst of excessively heavy rain is one of the causes of soil erosion. Other factors are: slope of the land, destruction of vegetation, existence of ruts, no check bars against the flow of water. As a result, a large quantity of water is washed away irreparably.

In many parts of India, soil erosion is a continuous menace for successful agriculture. It needs urgent attention and preventive action. Some suggested measures are: terracing the land, building bunds, border farming, and planting vegetation. The first and foremost aim of those activities is to resist the flow of water so that the destruction of soil can be stopped on time.

Water is a basis of our life. All the animals and plants contain either more or less amount of water in their body. Fluid plays a vital role in every kind of physiological activity. Thus water is most important in human life. On the other hand, plants also need it though it varies with the species. We need to conserve and utilize water properly for human welfare. The sources of water are artesian, rainfall and snowfall. Most of the Indian agriculture depends on seasonal rainfall; if irregular, it will create great problem. The problem of soil erosion and irregular rainfall are closely connected. In the same way, the techniques of preventing soil erosion would serve double purpose: that helps in conservation of land from destruction and keeping water in it.

Where there is seasonal rainfall only, a huge quantity of water would run off the ground. We need to collect and utilize such water well. Much of the water would go down into streams and rivers to find way to the sea. A large quantity of precious fluid is lost from country sides. The exploitation and waste of water must be considered and dealt on time. Vast areas of land can be turned into fertile land if we have courageous and better planning.

There is a problem in afforestation for the conservation of water. India needs systematic planting of suitable trees according to the need of the locality. They can even tame modern civilized forest in contrast to wild and untamed forest. It also contributes to the wealth of the nation directly or indirectly. It would help in different ways like checking soil erosion, conserving rainfall, supply of cheap fuel, and conservation of farmyard manure.  

The measures applied to conserve and control the water help to promote the value of country life. We can run cheapest water transport inside the country by boats and barges through canals and rivers. We listened more about road and rail transportation unlike waterways. It also helps to generate hydroelectricity power. Hydroelectricity would enable the rural people from various sides. We can also pull the underground water to fulfill our daily needs for drinking and irrigating.

In a sense, water is the commonest liquids. In another sense, it is the uncommon liquids with unique qualities of maintaining animal and plant life. It needs highest scientific interest and continuous research regarding its properties.

A.    Read the given text carefully and answer the following questions briefly.

1.      Why is water considered the true elixir of life?

Water makes our life possible so it is the true elixir of life.

2.      C. V. Raman says that water in a landscape may be compared to the eyes in a human face. Why?

Water puts value for the landscape like eyes in human body; it is also an important part of nature.

3.      How does soil erosion occur and what are the chief factors that cause it?

Soil erosion occurs due to heavy rain. Some chief factors are barren land, no terracing, no contour and so on.

4.      What are the usual measures used to check soil erosion?

They are: growing trees, making terrace, contour, bunds and so on.

5.      What is the measure suggested by C. V. Raman to control the movement of water in order to harness it for useful purposes?

We can conserve water applying different measures of anti-soil erosion methods so that we can fulfil double purpose like conservation of water and soil erosion.

6.      Why is the study of the nature and properties of water of the highest scientific interest?

The water is the most commonest and the most uncommonest substance of the nature. It is the true elixir of like so we need to conduct more research to solve the mystery of it.

B.     Choose from a, b and c the correct endings to the following sentences:

1.      The commonest substance which we call water is the most potent and most wonderful thing on the face of the earth.

2.      When silt-laden water mixes with the salt water of the sea there is rapid precipitation of the suspended matter leading to fertile soil in such areas.

3.      India, being a country which has only seasonal rainfall has the problem of an immense quantity of rain water running off the ground.

4.      The most advantageous result of having availability of electric power is that it helps underground water to be tapped to a greater extent than at present.

C.    Mark the right meanings or symptoms of the words in the sets given below:

1.      Stagnate = vegetate

2.      Vacillation = indecisiveness

3.      Enervation = exhaustion

4.      Negate = deny

5.      Abnegate =  sacrifice

6.      Easily tricked = gullible

7.      Inexperienced = naive

8.      Noble = morally good

9.      Frank = ingenuous

10.  Ennui = boredom

D.    Write the parts of speech and stress to the following words.

Draught = /’dra:ft/ noun                           Potent = /ˈpəʊt(ə)nt/ adjective

Apparent = /əˈpar(ə)nt/     adjective          import = /ɪmˈpɔːt/ verb

Appreciable = /əˈpriːʃəb(ə)l/ adjective       harnessing = ˈhɑːnəsng/ adjective

                                                                                          -By Prem Prasad Sigdel