The mouth, the belly and living

by Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Nayaka Maha Thera

Today hotels and eating houses, supplying tasty dishes, have begun to spring-up, at a fast pace, not only in Colombo and other big cities, but, even in remote villages.

It is quite satisfying that such air-conditioned luxury hotels and restaurants have begun to appear in various parts of our country.

Halls, where weddings, birthday parties and other social events take place, with high-level catering, have become a common sight, in most parts of our country. Those less privileged people who enjoy a meal in such luxury go back home, with a slight sense of envy. Whatever that may be as everybody knows, some useful vegetable, a good fruit or even a green-leaf for a simple preparation cannot be had even if one were to travel long miles. It is a well-known fact that, sometime ago, India was quite weak in the production of food. Most people are not aware, that, even today, there are some areas in India, that do not receive any rain for years and years.

In such a context, today, India has been made self-sufficient in food by those who cultivate under the most trying of circumstances.

In those former times, India exported food, to earn foreign exchange. But, today, the foreign exchange India receives from a variety of technological achievements, is enormous.

India does not obtain loans from the World Bank. A State, an individual, being indebted, is contrary to the teachings of the Buddha. This way India is free from the burden of debt. Both India and Sri Lanka gained Independence, more or less simultaneously. Many are not aware, that, at that time, Burma and Sri Lanka had a more stable economy. Today, India has placed a ban on the export of food-items. This policy is dictated by the need to save food for the people of their own country.

Wherever the Indians live in the world, they remit money regularly to their mother country. Indians living abroad, import Indian products to the countries they live in, market them and earn an income.

This wary, avenues of self-employment have been created for the Indians living abroad. The food items and spices we import from India, are not of Number One quality. The Indians are now becoming conscious of the need to reserve the food items of the lower grade, for the consumption of their own underprivileged people, rather than exporting them to our country. An example could be cited. A quantity of rice, that had been readied to be exported to Sri Lanka, was not allowed to be sent here, by the Government of India.

It was possible to import this quantity of rice to Sri Lanka, through the efforts of our President, who convinced the Government of India, about our plight.

Under this state of affairs, it will be extremely difficult for us to import such items as chilly, spices and dhal from India, in the future.

In terms of the prices prevailing in the world market, the cost of food items of good quality, has invariably escalated. This is worsened by another development, some countries utilise various grams and other food items to produce bio-fuel.

Since fuel is a priestly item, they will convert food items into bio-fuels. This too will contribute substantially to the escalation of food prices in the world market. If this is the situation, and if we have only foods of pepper and some cinnamon, in our country, all the other food items will have to be imported. Given this context from where will food-producing institutions, hotels, restaurants and catering houses etc. obtain the essential spices and other items in the future?

Though some years ago, Sri Lanka was self-sufficient in rice, today, the production of paddy has declined, due to the intensive use of agro-chemicals and fertiliser, overlooking human labour. The affluent, may eat and drink. But, what is going to be fate of the poor, underprivileged masses?

Today we cannot hire labour. No one to pluck a nut. The wages that have to be paid for such labour, keep on escalating fast.

It is high time, the rich, the poor and the middle classes took mammoties and started waging a "Cultivation War".

If this does not happen, envy and jealousy will begin to dominate society, and there will come a time when no one will be able to live.

The primary cause for this is Hunger.

The wealthy, can invest part of their resources, in cultivation. Various business enterprises and commercial Institutions can initiate cultivation projects.

The State can give tax holidays and tax concessions, to those who launch cultivation projects. The State can extend other forms of assistance as well.

Though tsunami came no one had to suffer hunger. This was because of the good fortune we inherited from the past.

But, we will not be able to enjoy this good fortune for ever. We all must initiate cultivation work, to acquire the food fortune today too and to satisfy our mouth and belly.

All of us, the bhikkhus and priests, the rulers of the country, the opposition, the entrepreneurs, land-owners, the landless, must give some thought to this, in peace in unity and collectively.

Irrespective of one's status, everyone should cultivate something, even in a small way, to compensate for the food one takes. Or else they must help those others who cultivate. Everyone must contribute to this process.

Laws should be enacted to force people to cultivate all uncultivated land, from five perches above. Penalties should be levied in respect of uncultivated lands.

The masses should be given an incentive to produce organic fertiliser here in our country itself, by imposing high taxes on imported agro-chemicals and fertiliser. Even the few drops of rain that fall on the roof, should be conserved. Minor anicuts, sluices and minor tanks should be constructed to preserve river water.

Naturally occurring drains and canals can be made to take water to desired places. An example can be cited. These natural 'drains' can be constructed out of the trunks of Kitul, Coconut and arecanut palms. Water should be conserved through such measures. The example of the Thai people is very appropriate here. The masses of this country are not aware of the production of seed varieties. Grotesque shows should not be exhibited through mass media.

Instead people should be shown how people in other countries cultivate various crops. This will give our people an awareness.

Please think again of the days, when we could not wear attractive costumes, when we could not travel in a vehicle or we could not prepare food that gave forth a pleasant aroma.

Time has come now. The price of a cup of milk tea in the shanty-kiosk has risen to Rs. 35. The underprivileged people demand higher wages.

Cost of living has begun to escalate.

All irrespective of whether they are rich or poor - should give serious thought to this, impartially. There are some, who are today to leave the country, all the others must live in this country. For all to live together happily, food is essential.

When deprived of food animals become crazy. Human beings too will suffer that fate. The insurgencies of 1971 and of 1989, arose due to lack of employment, and the consequent inability to satisfy the Mouth and the Belly.

Let us all dedicate ourselves to cultivation, forgetting such differences as race and creed. Those who cannot cultivate, should honestly support those who cultivate, with labour or with financial assistance.

Everyone has a mouth. Everyone has a belly. We cannot insert stones and sand into these. Even the price of sand has highly escalated.

Everyone must think about this. Everyone must take to action.

The time is now. Today there is no shortage of jobs. But there are no people to take those jobs. The wages and salaries earned through employment are not sufficient for food and clothing.

Given the escalation of food prices in the world market, we will never be able to consume imported food, due to the nature of salaries and wages we receive. Hunger cannot be satisfied with such deceptions like Andare's action, who ate sugar. When the mouths and bellies get agitated with the inflation - envy, jealousy and anger begin to escalate.

When that happens, no one will be able to live.

Man will get transformed into the animal lifestyle, in which one eats the other.

In whatever way, people earn money, the main function is to keep the mouth and the belly alive. Religious priests must become alert to the need to prepare people to cultivate.

Since the bhikkhus receive alms from the devotees, many have no awareness of this situation. If every inch of land in the villages, is utilised to grow one's food, all the poor Sri Lankans, will be able to face the World Food Problem.

Political speeches are of no use for hunger.

Refrain from picketing, strikes and demonstrations. Instead, resolve to struggle with the earth. Vietnam, a nation that was devastated some time ago, is self-sufficient in food today. Industries are beginning to flourish in that country now.

We in our country possess such natural resources as the sun, rain and wind. But the present suffering has reached us, because of our lethargy and classiness.

Those days the rural household, purchased only salt. Today they have to buy even the water. Even the King of Gods, Sakra, cannot prevent the rising of the price of a loaf of bread to Rs. 100 and the price of a kilo of rice to Rs. 100.

Before such a crisis occurs, may the eyes of everyone open to the need to cultivate our food in our country itself, just as the Indians and other nations do.