We today live in the era of misplaced health consciousness and absurd societal values. Just two generations ago compared to those whose constitute the generation today and of tomorrow, there is a complete change in the mindset and the way of life and living. Why is it that Dayanand Bandodkar our first Chief Minister, died while playing cricket but the Goan politicians of today have to visit hospitals day in and day out. Not only at home but in big cities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and even abroad, be it in the US, London or even Singapore.
The purpose of this article is not to detail out the names of Goan politicians or the business class in Goa who seek the intervention of foreign doctors in countries across the seven seas for ailments such as diabetes, heart and kidney ailments and numerous other lifestyle ailments and diseases centred around pollution of our environment: air, water and soil. But to focus on misplaced understanding of our health value system and societal empowerment.
I, living in one of the most polluted areas in central Panjim, where urination, defecation, littering of garbage and traffic chaos are challenges on a day to day basis due to umpteen number of casinos, cruise boats and other trawlers stationed in river Mandovi, have to use all my training and research in environmental sciences and medical microbiology to try and beef up myself against the onslaught of infectious diseases. It isn’t easy to ward away germs and beef oneself free of physiological ailments in the midst of free flowing pollutants in the air, water, soils and even forests. Let alone fruits, meats, vegetables, today our fish too is laced with carcinogenic formalin.
It is amusing to see our youth coming to Panjim every morning, with a bicycle attached to their car. From clean and green Dona Paula, Taleigao, Altinho hill or the salubrity of Santa Cruz these youth visit gymnasiums in central Panjim or pedal on the cycle by removing it from the car in the dusty, stinky environments of polluted central Panjim. They then go together in and around the precincts of Garcia de Orta, which today stands degraded through thoughtless carnival festivities centred around cooking serving meats, hard liquor and littered with empty cans of beer and paper plates, napkins and rich in live rodents, cockroaches and other pests.
The reason why these youth converge in central Panjim is that soon after their symbolic cycle jaunts and freeing of arms in the garden, they all visit an eatery or two in the heart of the city and gobble up puri-bhaji and mirchi pau. Once done, they all get back into their cars load their bicycle, and head home.
Should they by chance get a cough or a stomach ailment these health enthusiasts seek doctors for consultation. During this period, all exercises or training are abruptly stopped and they blame the government for the degraded Panjim environment. Sadly these youth do precious nothing for the up gradation of the environment except complaining over the coffee table.
However, life goes on for these new health conscious youth but they seem to achieve nothing concrete in health terms but a psychological satisfaction.
A few days ago I had an interactive session with professors, scientists, learned doctors and researchers, I was pleasantly surprised that Prof. Sarita Nazareth amongst others, who have done work on food sciences, medical microbiology and biochemical physiology had independently studied the hollowness of the gymnasium-based health orientation in the youth of today who specialise only in going to fitness club, sport complexes but avoiding daily home routines. Modern youth have forgotten that carrying out strenuous physical activities to keep the environment around one’s homes clean is a fitness ordeal by itself.
What is the use of going to fitness complexes if one does not wash one’s clothes, go to the market on foot and help the family in the chores, do some gardening if possible or even swab the floor of the house or wash the car instead of giving it out for washing? By and large the scientists present agreed that the modern Goan mindset is wayward. Spend money on gyms but don’t attend to daily home routines. Buy newspapers, but do not read them. Burn some calories on static exercises but more than calories lost, gather weight consuming junk food.
Professors at Goa University, doctors at hospitals in Goa are worried youth have forgotten the richness of the traditional lifestyles whilst becoming gymnasium savvy.
Goan youth today are penny-wise and pound foolish. No doubt, Panjim is particular is seized with a sickly society spending their time between gymnasiums, restaurants, and regular visits to medical practitioners. Sadly Goa’s governance would be conducted soon from the portals of our hospitals as we have allowed casinos, cruise boats, festivals of liquor, dance and drugs to take upon as our life styles of today driving us into hospitals.
It was the labour in the fields which kept our grandparents fit and fine. We specialize today to dance to the tune of Carnival and die young due to the taste to drugs and drinks laced with toxic chemicals affording a momentary kick to our shortened life.
