We are going back to basics. And it is helpful for us, human being, the society and the ecosystem. You might have noticed the fashion of pastel colour clothes is becoming popular. You might have noticed people turning vegan and avoiding animal products. Even many people are now tired of too much technology and are turning to simple living - back to basics. The popularity of yoga and naturopathy is proof that we want to go back to our roots.
It feels like a traveller who after globe galloping returns home and feels that home is the best place on the planet. After eating all delicacies and cuisines in the best of the restaurants for a week or two, one asks for simple dal and roti at home and relishes the test. Such a tendency, nostalgic feeling and everlasting love for the simple things is what we can call the basic way of living life. One can go too far in any field, but the beginning and base always remain important.
This back to basics has become even more important in our lives when we are passing through the pandemic situation. What we are missing the most is our simple way of living life. We are not able to walk out freely, without fear. We had always promoted and appreciated human touch, in a literal sense. All cultures and societies had traditions where a human being would touch another to express and convey love and emotions. It may be a simple handshake or a warm hug. But now, those basics are missing in our society. Grandparents cannot hold in hugging their grandchildren. Two lovers cannot hold in hands. Unless living under a roof, or living in the safest zone where the pandemic has not affected lives, a simple expression of love is not possible.
In this situation, we are missing and yet wanting to go to the basic way of living our lives. Some people may remember the Back to Basics campaign launched by former British Prime Minister John Major. He had made a nostalgic appeal to traditional values such as "neighbourliness, decency, courtesy". He had, in his speech, emphasised that it is time to return to those old core values, time to get back to basics, to self-discipline and respect for the law, to consideration for others, to accepting responsibility for yourself and your family and not shuffling off on other people and the state.
Even the current British prime minister has appealed people to walk to work or ride a bicycle instead of taking a cab or driving a car. Simple living and healthy living is promoted vigorously.
So, are we up to embrace the basics in our lives? Have we realised and accepted that we don't need much to be contended in life, except for two or three simple meals, a shelter and very minimum facilities. It is not only about survival but also for satisfaction and sustainability that we need to go back to basics. The earlier we realise, the better it will be.
