In today’s modern world, nearly 84 per cent of energy comes from carbon fuels, the ‘wrong energy’. As a result, we are pumping nearly 14,00,000 kg of CO2 every second into the atmosphere. Every action per second is adding to global warming and climate change. We are experiencing the climate change becoming catastrophic with each passing year.
Amidst this climate crisis, we yearn for solutions, often drawn to scientific breakthroughs and technological feats. While technology plays a pivotal role, the most potent weapon lies not in labs and factories, but within ourselves. In the realm of human behaviour, in the choices we make every day, lie the seeds of a sustainable future.
And who better to guide us than Bhagwan Rama, the Maryada Purushottam – the ideal human who lived within the boundaries of righteousness and conscious action? His story, echoing through generations, transcends epic battles and divine interventions to offer profound lessons on living in harmony with our world.
So, what does a “Ram Pursuit” look like in the 21st century? How do we translate the ethical principles of Maryada Purushottam into everyday practices that combat climate change? It begins with the most fundamental resource – energy.
Ram is omnipresent, and so is energy. We all are users of energy and contributors to climate change. Greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4 are released into the atmosphere as a result of the use of carbon energy, whether it be directly or indirectly through the usage of items like clothing, furniture, cars, cement, etc. For around 200 to 300 years after they are released into the atmosphere, greenhouse gases will contribute to climate change and global warming.
Our use of carbon-based energy is going to harm others, including our children, for centuries. It’s time to shift from wrong energy usage (carbon-based) to right energy usage (solar-based), but it has to be done in the ‘right way’, in the Ram Rajya way, and at the ‘right time’.
In our ideal imagination of Ram Rajya from an energy perspective, everyone should get access to energy and no energy use should cause any negative impact on others or on the environment. A man following this would be a real Maryada Purush in today’s modern world.
A Maryada Purush will take the pain on himself but ‘avoid’ the suffering of others. The use of refrigerators, geysers, air conditioners, and other electrical appliances results in harmful carbon emissions. Their manufacturing requires heavy mining and uses chemicals, which pollute our air and rivers. Just 3 to 4 decades back all these items were not part of our households and we still lived happily without damaging and degrading our environment. Considering their catastrophic impact on the environment, ‘avoid’ these gadgets, if possible.
If not avoidable, a Maryada Purush will at least ‘minimise’ doing anything that harm others. Leaving lights, fans, and ACs running in empty spaces mirrors Ravana’s wasteful behavior. Similarly, indulging in excessive shopping, and acquiring more than necessary, reflects the demon in us.
Remember every use of material is a contribution to climate change. In particular, using anything of single-use is a disaster of the highest order. The use of single-use paper napkins, paper cups, plastic bags, gift packs, and food packages mirrors the Ravana in us. A Maryada Purush must kill these Ravanas within us.
As much as possible, a Maryada Purush should try to ‘generate’ things or use things that are produced in nearby areas. Buying materials or food, which has to be transported hundreds and thousands of kilometers adds to the environmental degradation.
An ideal Ram Pursuit would adhere to the AMG strategy (Avoid-Minimise-Generate) where “avoid” the usage of material and energy first, “minimise” at least, and “generate” the residual demands as a last resort, if avoidable.
But, climate change is an emergency. We are running out of time. There is an urgent need to act now as we are at a critical junction. According to the IPCC, we have just five to six years left before we surpass the 1.5°C global warming limit. In contrast to the five centuries it took to dedicate Shri Ram, let us act today.
The principles of Maryada Purushottam are not mere pronouncements from distant legends. They are a practical guide for everyday living, a compass that can lead us away from environmental degradation. It’s not about achieving sant-hood, but about making conscious choices, one step at a time. Turning off lights, using public transport, planting trees, supporting local farmers, refusing single-use plastics – these seemingly small actions, when multiplied by millions, become a tidal wave of change.
Prime Minister Modi’s “Mission LiFE” (Lifestyle for Environment) can be extended to the realm of environmental responsibility. Each individual, empowered with knowledge and guided by the principles of Ram Rajya, can become a steward of their environment.
The journey towards a climate-resilient future is not a technological sprint, but a marathon of mindful living. And at the forefront of this marathon stands Shri Ram, not as a divine being, but as a model human, reminding us that the greatest power lies not in weapons or technology, but in the choices we make, the values we live by, and the impact we leave on this fragile planet. Let us take inspiration from his life, embrace the Maryada Purushottam within us, and embark on the Ram Pursuit for a sustainable future.
