By: Garima Lohumi
SHIMLA: The physical environment plays a vital role in shaping the distinct characteristics of the people and their culture. The varied topography and the rugged beauty of mountain terrains present a sharp contrast from the largely monotonous landscape of the plains. This is one of the main factors that make inhabitants of mountainous regions much different from those of plains.
The mountain dwellers have some inherent traits like love and respect for nature and they are keen on preservation of natural resources. They have deep respect the Mother Nature and believe in peaceful co existence with other creations of nature. Life is tough in the hills and so are the people who understand and appreciate nature more than others. They are at peace with themselves and the nature.
They are still far removed from the materialistic life of the plains and are quite contended with their simple living. In fact, they enjoy the small pleasures of community living and the daily romance with nature.
The inhospitable conditions pose a big challenge for the mountain the people. They face challenges every day and survive. The hard life makes them tough and they know that every mountain, howsoever towering, can be surmounted. They have the confidence to face difficult situations as it is integral to their lives.
Drawing inspiration from the imposing mountains they become steadfast and grounded like them. They know the meaning and value of peace and tranquillity. It is the stillness and serenity that brought sages to mountains for seeking enlightenment. The common inhabitants are also influenced by the spiritual aura of the mountains and acquire different sensibilities and understanding.
Living in mountains is an elevating experience and it brings out the finer qualities of human beings to the fore. Climbing a mountain instils confidence and higher one climbs more confident one becomes. Living in mountains one learns the virtues and thrill of outdoor life. It said that “you can take a person out of the mountains but you can never take mountains out of him”.
In the stillness of mountains the inhabitants understand and appreciate the value of silence and listening. It needs a calm mind and a blissful heart to hear the silence and the mountain people are a blessed lot in this regard. They find music in flowing rivers, whispering winds, calling of birds and other sounds of nature.
Climbing mountains is a tough calling which requires both mental and physical strength. A strong and robust body is not enough; one needs to have mental attributes like patience and persistence to overcome the mountains. Moving through the steep and often treacherous mountain terrain the inhabitants come to understand the importance of virtues of patience and perseverance in their lives.
There is saying:”every mountain teaching you something”. Those born and brought up amongst the mountains would have learnt the most from the nature.
The imposing mountains have an humbling effect on the people who are ever aware of how small they are. This realisation changes their entire perspective of life and they acknowledge the might of the Mother Nature and their own insignificant existence.
They know that fresh air and crystal clear water are the rewards for preserving the nature and they are ever conscious about protecting the ecologically fragile mountain environment. They respect and worship the water sources and as such the community protects these sources by way tradition. They also worship trees and forests as they know that they provide clean air.
We are fortunate to be living in the lap of the mighty Himalayas. Most mountain ranges are picturesque and peaceful but the spiritual aura that surrounds the tallest mountain range makes it special. The Himalayas are an incredible place to live.
The reward for living in the salubrious hills away from the polluted cities plains is that the inhabitants literally are in the pink of health. Recently, renowned surgeon Dr Trehan while underlining the deleterious impact of high levels of air pollution revealed that the lungs of patients from Delhi were almost black but of those from Himachal were pink and healthy.
