Robin is new to this place. He is studying B,Sc 4th semester. He has come to this sub-urban with his parents. He was astonished when he came to know the name of this locality ‘Dirty Land’. The peculiarity lies in its name itself. When he first arrived here, he found that the whole locality was dirty. Though the approximate population of this place is seven to eight hundred, but everyone is indifferent about the cleanliness of the place. Not only cleanliness, people are indifferent of each other, everyone seems to be annoyed, angry and irritated.
Lily is a student of class XII of this Dirty Land. She came to this place one year ago with her parents.
Although every house has pond, well or tube-well for day to day water requirement, but for drinking-water there is only one supply water tap in the conjunction of three roads. So, for collection of drinking water, someone of each family has to come to the tap with bucket, water gallon etc. One day Robin met Lily in this water tap at noon for the first time.
-What is your name?
-Lily. What is yours?
-Robin. Are you from this Dirty Land?
-We have been here for one year. What about you?
-We came here few days back. Why is this place called ‘Dirty Land’?
-As you can see scattered mud, papers, polythenes, soiled leaves, plants, pebbles, stones etc all-around; non cleanliness, all dirt, so this place is called Dirty Land.
-Why are these things not cleaned?
-No one takes interest. When we came here last year, my father started cleaning some portions. But, suddenly he got some stomach problem. For that he discontinued and the matter ended up.
-What type of stomach problem?
-Constipation, I mean difficulty in passing stool. It led to loss of appetite, gas formation, headache, irritation etc. Still he is suffering from it.
-What about medicine?
-He takes medicine. But I have heard, it is a common problem of this locality. Almost all adult people above the age of thirty or so suffer from this problem here.
Their buckets were filled up they left the place.
After two-three days they met again near the water tap.
-Lily, that day you were talking about constipation problem of adults here. How much true it is?
– I have seen my father. My mother also suffers from the same. Five months ago my uncle and aunty came here for two weeks, they also suffered. And as I look around, I find all adults with irritated face. Same thing is with my father. He had charming face, but now it is changed to irritating one.
-Now I understand. Constipation is a physical problem. For non clearance of bowel, gas is formed in stomach. It creates uneasiness in the body and mind. It diminishes hunger. It causes vertigo and headache. People lose interest in doing work. After a few days people become irritated.
-What can be the remedy of it Robin?
-Medicine can cure it if it is a temporary problem. But if it is a problem of the whole locality something else has to be done.
After a few days, they met again at the water tap. Lily asked, ‘Robin, have you thought of any remedy? ‘
-Yes, I thought of it but process is lengthy and I alone can’t do it, I want someone’s help.
-What is it? Can I help you?
-Yes, you can. I thought and thought and found the root cause of Dirty Land. It is a disease called constipation. This problem can be tackled by changing food habit. This change of food habit can be done in natural or herbal way. Consumption of Gooseberry which we commonly call Amla or Amlaki can give a good result.
-How?
– Gooseberry or Amlaki is an easily available fruit. In autumn season nature gives abundant supply of it in every branch of the tree. We have to convince people of this locality about the usefulness of amla. Two amlas per day will cure this stomach problem of all affected people. Once constipation problem is solved, people will get relief from everyday’s anxiety. This will keep their mind cool. This cool mind will motivate them to work and this desire for work will start from cleanliness.
-Then how to start it?
-We have to plant Amla sapling and nurture it. Everyday we have to water it as long as it is small. Later on it will grow on its own.
-Then what is the first step? I have seen one sapling on the turning point of the road lying in a weak and pitiable condition. Can we start with it?
-Really! Thank God, I was thinking of getting one. You have given me a good news. It will reduce our time for our mission. Where is that? Can you show me?
– Yes, of course. Lily escorted Robin to a place after walking some distance. It is a Amla sapling lying in a measurable condition. It is lying unattended and has just two branches. Robin said, ‘Lily, we have to start with it. It is not so far from the water tap. Every day we have to pour some water in its root. I have to go to college, you too the same. So, whoever comes to water tap will have to pour water regularly. That’s why I told I alone couldn’t do it, you please help me.’
-Ok Robin. Whenever I come to the water tap, I will pour a bucket of water here.
-Nice. We will nurture this sapling and it will grow into a big tree. Later, it will make this ‘Dirty Land’ a ‘Happy Land’.
Then both of them went to the water tap, brought a bucket of water and poured it on the sapling. Robin said, ‘Our mission starts right from now.’
As they have to attend classes and other activities like exam, sports, project work etc, their timing does not match always. But, they used to pour a bucket of water on the sapling. Within a month the sapling started showing its growth. Robin cleaned the place around the root and put some cow-dung to make the land fertile.
In the month of March, the small weak sapling started showing new branches, branch-lets and leaves. Small green leaves in new branches were new hopes of life.
Again they met after almost one month. Lily told Robin, ‘Our plant is with new leaves. It seems to give us fruits also. Can you tell me about its value?’
-Ok listen. In traditional Indian medicine, dried and fresh fruits of the plant are used. All parts of the plant are used in various Ayurvedic/Unani medicine (Jawarish amla) herbal preparations, including the fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers. According to Ayurveda, amla fruit is sour (amla) and astringent (kashaya) in taste (rasa), with sweet (madhura), bitter (tikta) and pungent (katu) secondary tastes (anurasas). Its qualities (gunas) are light (laghu) and dry (ruksha), the post-digestive effect (vipaka) is sweet (madhura) and its energy (virya) is cooling (shita).
-So many advantages? Is there anything more?
-Of course. According to Ayurveda, amla balances all three doshas. While amla is unusual in that it contains five out of the six tastes recognized by Ayurveda, it is most important to recognize the effects of the “virya”, or potency, and “vipaka”, or post-digestive effect. Considered in this light, amla is particularly helpful in reducing pitta due to its cooling energy. It also balances both Pitta and vata by virtue of its sweet taste. The kapha is balanced primarily due to its drying action. It may be used as a rasayana (rejuvenative) to promote longevity, and traditionally to enhance digestion (dipanapachana), treat constipation (anuloma), reduce fever (jvaraghna), purify the blood (raktaprasadana), reduce cough (kasahara), alleviate asthma (svasahara), strengthen the heart (hrdaya), benefit the eyes (chakshushya), stimulate hair growth (romasanjana), enliven the body (jivaniya), and enhance intellect (medhya).
-Oh my God!! So-so much usefulness? I never knew it.
-That’s why I have chosen amla for changing this Dirty Land to Happy Land.
-Please explain.
-This tree will start giving fruit this season itself. Whatever medicinal use I told you now, I will write it in a board and hang it near the tree. People will read it and will feel to get cured. So, they will start taking amla for cure. Only two amlas per day will reduce their stomach problem. Once stomach problem is cured, they will feel energetic, their mind will be fresh and they will feel to work.
-And with that spirit they will feel to clean surroundings. I learnt a lot from you.
-Yes, but you helped me a lot by watering the plant. Ok, bye now, wait for the fruits to come up.
After two months they met again. Before that Lily saw the new leaves which became matured, plant’s branch-lets covered with greenish-yellow small flowers. And later the fruits nearly spherical, light greenish-yellow in colour. She was happy, very happy. As she heard earlier from Robin, she saw a Notice Board near the plant describing its medicinal values. When she saw Robin she could not keep her emotion under control, ‘Robin, you have done a great job. You have not only successfully given life to a measurable sapling, but you have changed the health and mentality of whole locality.’
-Lily, listen some more facts of Amla. The tree is considered sacred by Hindus as the Vishnu is believed to dwell in the plant. The tree is worshipped on Amalaki Ekadashi. In other Hindu myths, amla is said to have originated from the drops of Amrit which spilled on earth accidentally, due to the fight of Gods and Demons after ksheera sagar manthan. And hence also this religious belief claims that it almost cures every disease and is also good in extending the longevity of life.
After one year: The ‘Dirty Land’ is no more dirty now. It is clean; it is well managed and healthy land now. People got rid of stomach problem; no constipation, no irritation. Each and everybody bother for other. So many new amla trees started growing in an arranged manner. Everyone cares for watering the plants. Needless to say that name of the place is changed to ‘Happy Land.’
After five years: By this time Robin completed his M.Sc and joined in good job. Lily also completed her Master degree. All being happy in Happy Land decided to tie them in wed lock. So, they took their own initiative and approached to their parents, narrated their desire and happily got the permission.
Robin and Lily got married. With all others, they are happy couple now.
