If not for water how would we be?
Uvindu Illeperuma
Ours is a civilization based around water resources. That's why we
proudly say ours is a hydro civilization which is second to none.
 No
sooner Aryans led by Vijaya, who is considered to be the first king of
Sri Lanka , as written history records they settled down along the
Malwathu Oya. This shows how the water holds on human civilization.
First they identified eligible lands for cultivation. Cultivation
demanded water. So they settled close to the water. That is how our
civilization had been built up.
With the burgeoning demand for foods with the increase of the
population the farming populace had to cultivate more to meet the
demand. So, more and more arable lands had to be taken under plough. But
without water cultivation in grand scale was impossible. That's how the
foundation was laid to build tanks.
Tank was not an isolated thing; It was surrounded by the dwellings of
people. So the concept of village had been included into the social
cultural lexicon of our country.
Those ancient kings who built tanks for the agricultural development
were held in high esteem. Still those kings are considered to be Gods
who are guarding those Tanks. Minneriya Deviyo is the pseudonym for King
Mahasen. History says how king Parakramabahu the Great advised not to
let any single drop of water to flow into the sea without taking the
maximum use of it. King Dathusena who built the Kala Wewa said this is
the sole wealth he had when his son Kashyapa came to him asking for the
kingship and wealth.
To highlight the importance of water and the our culture which had
given every drop of water a personality to the young and to entertain
the pride of our nation Mihindu Cultural Foundation has launched a book,
Water and Life (Jalaya saha Minisa) recently. This Foundation was
greatly assisted by the leadership of Kalasuri Sathischandra Edirisinghe.
Fliping through the pages of this publication we find that the
framing which was done in an environmental friendly way avoiding those
toxic pesticides and weedicides in ancient times. This is described in a
very lucid way in this book. The book has a fine pictures to understand
ancient farming methods which were the fountains of our culture.
Kalasuri Sathischandra Edirisinghe who always tries his hands at
things which are salutary and advantageous at national level should be
commended.
Now water is in jeopardy due to the mismanagement and the wrong
consumption of it. It should be addressed. In association with this
project the Mihindu Cultural Foundation organized exhibitions throughout
the country to stress the people the importance of the water.
As we are a hydro based civilization what if when the water is
misused, definitely it will be the fatal end of our nation. Having
ascertained this understanding profoundly and thinking it a timely need
to awake the attention of the people the attempt taken by the Foundation
is laudable in every sense.
Delivering the key speech Professor Gamini Senanayake , the Deputy
Vice Chancellor of University of Ruhuna said : 'Although we all don't
know about the proud story behind our history it is we are the nation
that did farming in Horton Plains 17000 years ago.
This fact was proved according to a research done by the post
graduate course unit of University of Kelaniya. It is our nation that
employed rain water harvesting methodology first in the world.
There is a saying the Asia made the Europe. It is true that it is
from our knowledge that they build their nations. |
