Inhaling Impure Air

People that pass much time in the open air and particularly in pure air are said to have the most brilliant complexions and are among the healthiest of people. Hence fresh pure air is the best cosmetic. The high flying birds and birds that pass their time in pure atmosphere are more brilliantly colored than the marsh birds which never fly high nor seek the sunlight and the higher atmosphere.

The color acquired by outdoor life gives vigor to the blood due to the large quantity of oxygen and electricity inhaled from the air. As the blood passes through lungs the purified blood is carried to all parts of the organism. In the process the tissues of the body get built up on a more healthful and sound basis than pale or colorless blood. Fishes have less color relatively than birds, beasts or man. The reason is that they inhale less oxygen. The deep sea fishes have less color than those that live nearer the surface where more air is inhaled.

Fresh pure air is the main reliance for the removal of all disproportions of form and functions. Because it induces activity of the lungs and heart, this causes a demand for more blood. Perhaps because people live in the poorly ventilated houses in the metros and other large cities of the hot, humid and of course the polluted plains, they have grown small or weak lungs. This is why they are always in search of the serenity of hills and mountains to inhale pure air. As use increases the capacity of these persons (with weak lungs) they feel benefited and almost renewed by early change from low to higher altitudes. As the appetite under the stimulus of this atmosphere calls for more food, the digestive processes derive more nourishment from food and the ailment consumed so much so that the entire system becomes invigorated by the improved quantity and quality of the air while lungs are compelled to greater activity.

 

Surprisingly while visitors from outside die to visit Kashmir to inhale pure air in the context of its Himalayan heights, the people living in the region tuned to and surrounded by the towering mountainous for centuries do not show the character of a people, that is, symbolic of those that live in such like places. The atmosphere being purer and more attenuated, the lungs of an average Kashmiri ought to respire more in order to get the same quantity of air. In principle men and animals living here must be in possession of large thoracic systems than those who dwell in the plains and must have the most brilliant complexions and be among the healthiest of people. Even fishes that inhabit our mountain streams must have larger air vessels than those found in other waters.

 

For any system of theology or ethics which does not include natural law as its ruling principle, will however create no improved types of human family and produce only a class of theocratic sentimentalists without the power to be either pure minded noble or truly religious. We do not have many men and women who are morally upright and truly religious. Even when we live in that part of the world where the fresh air is quite abundant, people who are healthy and pure minded  with qualities like honor, honesty, integrity, morality, thoroughness, the perception of truth, love of justice, sense of duty, gratitude, moral courage, the love of doing for and giving to others and so on are as scarce as hen’s teeth. Reasons being manifold (and debatable), the noble characters can not however thrive and expand in ill smelling, noxious dwellings even if situated in the vast mountainous expanses of our villages and cities. The dingy cells in our slum dwellings in the cities, towns and villages in the vicinity of mountains with out an efficient concept/system of ventilation over centuries have robbed us of our nobility and moral character. We have grown into the most unreliable people on earth. With the characters of a slave we share close affinity with ‘Munafiq”, the hypocrite.  

How many amongst us realize that people come to our place to inhale the atmosphere of our hills with all the benefits on earth. While as we, the inhabitants of mountainous regions fail to reap up the benefits of living in the atmosphere of our hills, we must in the first instance start working on the reasons of our failures.  This will include amendment of our systems of drainage sewerage, ventilation and water supply before results are secured in our favour. Fresh air, pure water, bathing hygiene, diet and self control used according to law contain all the fundamental principles of true religion and will advance civilization to grander heights of purity morality and truth than all the dogmatic theories of centuries. People can live longer and be healthier on very indifferent food indeed if the air which they inhale is pure and plentiful and the water drunk of good quality. Stodgy meals invite trouble.

For us Kashmiris the inhabitants of the mountainous terrains, meadows and vales, pure water and pure air must be the first necessities of life if a fine development of the thoracic is desired.