The SOCIAL Trap

In Environmental Studies, Ecological Trap is a situation when organisms tend to spend more time in less favourable atmosphere rather than the one more favourable to them. Ecological traps are thought to occur when the attractiveness of a habitat increases disproportionately in relation to its value for survival and reproduction. The result is preference of falsely attractive habitat and a general avoidance of highly productive atmosphere. For eg. Recent survey has found that around 30 percent of tiger population in India are living outside their comfortable habitable zone which is the major cause of human animal conflict.

Now the question arises why are we discussing such technical ecological term here? The answer is simple..one can't ignore the messages from our environment. Every natural factor relates to some other parallel feature of life and survival. Even our day to day life is somehow influenced by environmental regime. The ecological trap we talked about in the beginning throws light on something very similar in our social life..something which I call as "The Lifestyles Trap" or "The Social Trap". Just like the tiger which gets attracted to less favourable habitat, we the most intelligent species on earth get attracted to the many artificial charms. 

JUNK YARD IN STOMACH

Preference of junk food overrides the benefit of healthy green veggies. India witnessed a wave of junk food arrivals with the incoming of Mac Donald's in 1996. It gave the first taste of American style cuisine which slowly attracted many international fast food chains. Junk food is a store house of trans fat which is the most harmful of all fats. If you are a 90s kid you must be aware of  "Popoye, the Sailor Man". His only source of energy was Spinach. Despite being fully aware of the benefits, Spinach is something many of us love to see in cartoons rather than our plate. The rising risk of diseases, high mortality rates, anemia in women and Hidden Hunger highlight the need to learn from these characters of past.

RESTAURANT CULTURE ON RISE

While India has always been a food heritage with diverse cullinery, today the culture has reversed. India has 53000 hotels and 70 lakh restaurants in organised sector alone.  Restaurants have beaten the typical Indian style kitchen and "Dhaba Culture". If you are a road trip lover, you would have tried the highway side tea ("Kulhad Chai") and the desi Indian daal fry. The kulhad chai soothen you from inside with it's smell besides providing minerals from soil in measurable quantities. The daal fry undoubtedly gives protein which is the most necessary ingredient to override India's malnutrition. Besides all, nothing can replace Mom's Kitchen for its taste, flavour, health benefits and simplicity along with sophistication it carries. 

FLIPFLOPS -THE GANDHIAN STYLE

The rate of Indian customers opting for foreign brand and fashionable style is on rise. We believe in their durability, comfort and reliability. If you have spend your childhood in India, your parents would have forced you to wear shoes from the brand name "Bata", for atleast once in life. Trust me they were the most comfortable and elegant footwear in the world. Even today they are preferred by people like me. The rising popularity of high heels among women attracts many ill-effects. "High heels create a shock wave though your body, starting at your feet and traveling up into your spine,” Dr. Baskin says. “They can throw off your posture and gait, and even cause arthritis in the spine.” Long-term use of high heels can lead to another problem: a shortened Achilles tendon.

2013 news- "A pair of Gandhi's flip flops are going up for auction for 15,000 pounds." Reading this, one would wonder about the auction price. But the point of discussion is much deeper than this material truth. Having travelled abroad and being a renowned lawyer Gandhiji could have easily worn boots or shoes with a formal attire. But his flip flops reminded Indians to be grounded in the times of crisis. The crux here is, even Gandhiji preferred to be simple and healthy because only a healthy mind can create a healthy society.

DHOOM OVER JO JEETA WAHI SIKANDAR

Riding a stylish bike just like "Dhoom" movie gives a sense of swag among today's youth. Believe it or not the scooters were more durable and long lasting than any vehicle. You might feel nostalgic thinking about your scooter ride as a kid. You stood in front of your father facing the wind just like the "Super Man" of your imagination. Although the new modes of transportation are attractive and stylish with necessary features but with rising advancement  rises the uncertainties. Rate of road accidents on Indian highway has increased and is still on rise.

Let's look it from a different perspective. Diesel and petrol vehicles have jam packed the roads. The ignored little Bicycle is the most environment friendly transport ever. Recall the cycle race which was the best game you played when you went to school. Even today when you see a group of children riding bicycle you feel drifted. Despite attachment we all have ignored its usefulness. As there is a rise in Global Warming, Urban Heat Island Effect, thawing of polar ice, floods, Coral Bleaching and 6th Mass Extinction..there is no doubt we will have to switch to older modes of transportation in order to become a "Sikandar" like Amir Khan. 

After all such pondering.. you might ask, Should we not move forward in life and adopt, cherish, flourish and learn?? Yes the thought is absolutely right..one must evolve with time else time will run ahead of us. But in this race one must not forget -"All that glitters is not gold". We all need to work together to avoid the "Thucydides trap". The term describes a situation when a great power's position as a hegemon is threatened by an emerging power. The emerging power is just like a trap. We must not get in trap of any alluring biome that keeps us apart from the one necessary.