Water - The Elixir of Life
C.V. Raman
Introduction
Water is a vital ingredient for survival of all living beings. Imagine a day without water no water to drink, wash, or to cook! People can survive without food for days but not without water. About 70% of earth’s surface is covered with water. Of this 97% is saline and 2% is fresh which is present in the form of ice caps, glaciers, icebergs or in the atmosphere. Only 1% can be used for drinking. We are heading towards a freshwater crisis that is leading to poor access to safe water for millions of people. Hence, conserving water has become the need of the hour, along with an efficient management system, to ensure a steady supply for the future.
C.V. Raman was the Nobel Prize winner in 1930, in physics for his work on ‘the scattering of light’ and for the discovery of the Raman Effect. He was the first to investigate the harmonic nature of the sound of the Indian drums such the table and mridingam. In 1934, Raman becomes the director of the newly established Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. In 1947, he was appointed as the first National Professor by the new government of independent India.
Water, an elixir of life
Humankind has always searched in vain for an imaginary elixir of life, the divine amrita. A draught of this elixir was thought to confer immortality. But Raman feels that the true elixir of life is water. This single liquid can change the entire scene. He remembers that he was standing on the line which separates the Libyan Desert from the valley of the Nile in Egypt. On one side was a vast area covered with sand and without a speck of green or a single living thing. On the other side was one of the greatest, most fertile and densely populated areas. It was teeming with life and vegetation. The only thing which made the difference was water. It was the water of the river Nile. Geologist tells that the entire soil of river, Nile is the creation of the river itself. Its ancient civilization was created and sustained by the life-giving water of the Nile.
We take granted this common substance in everyday life. But we forget that water is the most potent and wonderful thing on the earth. It has played a very important role in shaping the course of earth’s history. It continues to play the leading role in the drama of life on earth. Nothing can add so much to the beauty of the countryside as water.
In south India, the rain-fed tanks are very common. They are shallow but the bottom of the tank is not visible due to silt-laden water. These tanks play a vital role in south India agriculture. Much of rice is grown under them. One of the most remarkable facts about water is its power to carry silt in suspension. This suspension is the reason for the different colors of the water in a rain-fed tank. Swiftly flowing water can carry fairly large and heavy particles. The finest particles remain with the water and are carried to a large distance. When silt-laden water mixes with the saltwater of the sea, there is rapid precipitation of the suspended matter. The colour of the water changes successively from the muddy red or brown of silt through varying shades of yellow and green finally to the blue of the deep sea. A large land is formed by silt thus deposited. Such land is very fertile. The flow of water plays a great part in this process; sometimes it can be
destructive also.
The problem of soil erosion is of major significance. It occurs in step by step. The cutting up and washing away of the earth will make agriculture impossible. The sudden burst of excessively heavy rain resulting in a large run of surplus water is the principal factor in causing soil erosion. Soil erosion is dangerous to agriculture. Some measures can be taken to check soil erosion. They are terracing of the land, construction of bunds to check the flow of water, the practice of contour cultivation and the planting of appropriate plants. Water is the basis of all life. Every animals and plant contain water in this body. No activity is possible without water. Water is necessary for animal life. The moist in the soil is necessary for the growth of plants and trees. So, the conservation and utilization of water is most important for human welfare. Indian agriculture depends on rainfall. The problems of soil erosion and irregular rainfall are closely connected with each other. By preventing soil erosion we can conserve and keep the water where it is wanted. So, the collection and utilization of rainwater is very important. Much of the water flows down the streams and rivers and thus a large quantity of water is lost.
A vast area of land could be turned into a fertile and prosperous country by courageous and well-planned action. The systematic planting of suitable trees is the urgent need of India. Such plantation would, directly and indirectly, prove a source of wealth to the country. They would check soil erosion and conserve the rainfall of the country. Water is the commonest of liquid, but it is also the most uncommon of liquid with amazing properties. These properties are responsible for its unique power of maintaining animal and plant life. The investigation of the nature and properties of water is, therefore, of the highest scientific interest.