Reconnect With Nature, Shun 'Sterilised Living'

World-renowned scientist urges individuals to reconnect with nature to tackle Covid-like pandemics

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Hunning today's "sterilised" and "hyper-clean" lifestyle and reconnecting with natural elements like soil, rivers, fresh air can strengthen people's immune system and better prepare them to face Covid-like pandemics in future, renowned scientist Ajai Kumar Sonkar has said.

In an exclusive conversation with PTI, Sonkar, whose development of pearl-making techniques through state-of-the-art tissue culture surprised the world, used an analogy comparing the human body to a mobile phone.

"By coming in touch with nature, the human body gets information about bacteria and their evolving forms just like a mobile phone needs regular software updates to function properly," he said.

"Like Covid, any future pandemic will not occur merely due to bacteria and viruses, but because of our own biological mistakes. To deal with such a nightmare, we must reconnect with nature," said Sonkar, who was awarded Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2022.