Rupa tells us how we are revisiting the past in the name of trends, health, being green, health conscious and have come almost full circle. An exclusive for Different Truths.

When I was growing up, house helps were economically poorer people. They were our window and exposure to habits, choices, lifestyle closer to earth and simple.

1. They cooked in mud pots or stone vessels – not brass, copper, aluminum, steel, then in demand.
2. They used cheaper unpolished rice over polished white rice.
3. They used unprocessed flour with bran or millet
4. They added jaggery to sweeten tea or food instead of pricey polished sugar
5. They had wood stoves or used coal to cook
6. They walked on ground sans slippers.
7. They slept on ground with a sheet
8. They lived in sparsely furnished cement constructions or mud hut with thatched roof
9. They pumped water with handpump or drew from well
10. They accepted food from households they worked for
11. They were happy to wear used clothes donated by the employer or others
12. They walked, or rode cycles, or took public transport
13. They were part of your household, they continued for generations with the family

14.Water was stored in mud pots (its capillarity keeps water cool)

The then middle-class from past has either catapulted to debt-laden affluent lifestyle or has earned plenty to be the rich and elite.

The then middle-class from past has either catapulted to debt-laden affluent lifestyle or has earned plenty to be the rich and elite. Working people, servants or then household helps – now wield education, mobility, vehicles, clothes that are branded, shoes of latest trend and they have gone places socially, economically and financially.

Once looked down upon ways as “meant for the poor” are now back in vogue and in demand to a point of ridiculousness. In the name of trends, health, being green, health conscious – we are turning to ways from past and have come almost full circle.

Recently a FB post boasted of a picture with pride depicting “stone vessels” in which she cooks rasam, dal, because it tastes great. And others could not stop oohing-aahing, admiring

Recently a FB post boasted of a picture with pride depicting “stone vessels” in which she cooks rasam, dal, because it tastes great. And others could not stop oohing-aahing, admiring, while asking where to acquire these stone containers.

Raagi (Millet), jaggery, brown or wild rice, once the staple of have-nots now are sought after by health-conscious causing prices to go up.

Now “grounding” is confirmed beneficial to rid body of negative or imbalance of charge encouraging walking bare feet or sleeping on ground.

Now “grounding” is confirmed beneficial to rid body of negative or imbalance of charge encouraging walking bare feet or sleeping on ground.

Ways we discarded and looked down upon because they were not “elite” or reflected “poor-ness” are back – in and with a vengeance.

Simplifying food, cookware, walking barefoot, staying closer to earth, reducing processed foods, going green are what our ancestors lived and taught.

Simplifying food, cookware, walking barefoot, staying closer to earth, reducing processed foods, going green are what our ancestors lived and taught. We drifted away in name of “progress”, “modern” and are now crawling back into comfort of those ways which bode well for body, earth and society.

Before we discard wisdom of ancient, prior to aping the west it is worth taking pride in what is ours. Rightfully ours from our ancestors before it traveled west, was repackaged and sold back to us – Neem, turmeric, yoga, chanting, Sanskrit, spices, stoneware, Vedas, spirituality, green lifestyle, fashion, jewelry, etc.

Accepting, learning from others is wonderful provided we are not rejecting treasure of infinite wisdom in our own backyard to balance life and universe organically from our ancestors, scriptures and ways of life.

There is good in every society, any generation, each culture across geography. Accepting, learning from others is wonderful provided we are not rejecting treasure of infinite wisdom in our own backyard to balance life and universe organically from our ancestors, scriptures and ways of life.

There is no place like home, no comfort like your own! Embrace the past, present, culture, and respect heritage with pride.

Photos sourced by the author from the Internet