In this essay Water: The Elixir of Life C. V. Raman praises the importance of water. Water is the true elixir of life.

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Water: The Elixir of Life
By. C. V. Raman
C.V. Raman was the Nobel Prize winner in 1930, in physics for his work on ‘the
scattering of light’ and for the discovery of the Raman Effect. Raman spectroscopy is
based on this phenomenon. Raman also worked on the acoustics of musical
instruments. He was the first to investigate the harmonic nature of the sound of the
Indian drums such as the tabla and mridangam. In 1934, Raman becomes the director
of the newly established Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. In 1947, he was
appointed as the first National Professor by the new government of independent India.
Summary:
In the essay ‘Water – The Elixir of Life’, C. V. Raman praises the importance of water,
which is the life-giving force to all. Raman says that man attempted to seek an
imaginary elixir of life, the divine Amrita, but it ended in vain. According to him, water
is the true elixir of life.
He draws an example of the Nile Valley civilization to show how one side is the
most fertile land on the earth while the other is a sea of billowing sand without a
speck of green. Nile river is the life-giving water that has created and sustained
the whole country of Egypt.
Water adds beauty to the countryside. The rain-fed tanks are a common sight in
South India. These tanks store the silt-laden which is precious to the crops. Much
of the rice is grown under them. But they are often neglected and not properly
maintained. Swiftly flowing water carries fairly large and heavy particles while
the finer particles which are more in number are carried to great distances.
India, an agriculture-based country, depends on seasonal rainfall/snowfall.
Conservation of rainwater becomes a huge responsibility when soil erosion is not
checked. The problem of soil erosion is of major significance. It occurs in step by
step. The cutting up and washing away of the earth will make agriculture
impossible. The sudden burst of excessively heavy rain resulting in a large run of

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surplus water is the principal factor in causing soil erosion. Soil erosion is
dangerous to agriculture. Some measures can be taken to check soil erosion. They
are terracing of the land, construction of bunds to check the flow of water, the
practice of contour cultivation and the planting of appropriate plants.
The author also brings other water benefits like using boats for a cheaper transport
system and hydroelectric power, which can uplift rural areas of India. Water is
the basis of all life. Every animals and plant contain water in its body. No activity
is possible without water. Water is necessary for animal life. The moisture in the
soil is necessary for the growth of plants and trees. So, the conservation and
utilization of water is important for human welfare.
Indian agriculture depends on rainfall. The problems of soil erosion and irregular
rainfall are closely connected with each other. By preventing soil erosion, we can
conserve and keep the water where it is wanted. So, the collection and utilization
of rainwater is very important. Much of the water flows down the streams and
rivers and thus a large quantity of water is lost.
The systematic planting of suitable trees is an urgent need in India. Such
plantations would prove a source of wealth to the country. They would check soil
erosion and conserve the rainfall of the country. Water is the commonest of
liquids, but it is also the most uncommon of liquids with amazing properties.
These properties are responsible for their unique power of maintaining animal
and plant life. The investigation of the nature and properties of water is, therefore,
of the highest scientific interest.
साराांश:
‘वॉटर – द इलिक्सिर ऑफ िाईफ’ या लिबांधात सी.व्ही. रमण याांिी पाण्याच्या महत्त्वाची
प्रशांसा क
े िी आहे, जी सवाांिा जीवि देणारी शक्ती आहे. रमण म्हणतात की मिुष्यािे
जीविाचे एक काल्पलिक अमृत, दैवी अमृत शोधण्याचा प्रयत्न क
े िा, परांतु तो व्यर्थ ठरिा.
त्ाांच्या मते पाणी हे जीविाचे खरे अमृत आहे.
एका बाजूिा पृथ्वीवरीि सवाथत सुपीक जमीि कशी आहे हे दाखवण्यासाठी त्ाांिी िाईि
व्हॅिी सभ्यतेचे उदाहरण रेखाटिे आहे तर दुसरी बाजू लहरवळ िसिेिा वाळू चा समुद्र
आहे. िाईि िदी हे जीवि देणारे पाणी आहे ज्यािे सांपूणथ इलजप्त देश तयार क
े िा आलण
लटकवूि ठे विा आहे.
पाणी ग्रामीण भागात स ांदयथ वाढवते. दलिण भारतात पावसािे भरिेल्या टाक्या हे एक
सामान्य दृश्य आहे. या टाक्या लपकाांसाठी म ल्यवाि असिेल्या गाळाचा साठा करतात.

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त्ाांच्या हाताखािी बहुतेक भात पीक घेतिे जाते. परांतु त्ाांच्याकडे अिेकदा दुिथि होते
आलण त्ाांची योग्य देखभाि क
े िी जात िाही. वेगािे वाहणारे पाणी बऱ्यापैकी मोठे आलण
जड कण वाहूि िेतात तर बारीक कण जे जास्त सांख्येिे असतात ते मोठ्या अांतरापयांत
वाहूि िेिे जातात.
भारत हा क
ृ षी-आधाररत देश आहे, जो मोसमी पाऊस/बफ
थ वृष्टीवर अविांबूि आहे. जेव्हा
मातीची धूप रोखिी जात िाही तेव्हा पावसाच्या पाण्याचे सांवधथि ही एक मोठी जबाबदारी
बिते. मातीची धूप ही समस्या महत्त्वाची आहे. हे टप्प्याटप्प्यािे घडते. पृथ्वी कापूि वाहूि
गेल्यािे शेती अशक्य होईि. अलत मुसळधार पावसाचा अचािक स्फोट होऊि मोठ्या
प्रमाणात पाणी वाहूि जाणे हे जलमिीची धूप होण्याचे प्रमुख घटक आहे. मातीची धूप
शेतीसाठी धोकादायक आहे. मातीची धूप रोखण्यासाठी काही उपाययोजिा करता येतीि.
ते जलमिीचे टेरेलसांग, पाण्याचा प्रवाह तपासण्यासाठी बांधारे बाांधणे, समोच्च िागवडीचा
सराव आलण योग्य रोपाांची िागवड.
स्वस्त वाहतूक व्यवस्र्ा आलण जिलवद् युत उजेसाठी बोटी वापरण्यासारखे इतर जि
फायदे देखीि िेखकािे आणिे आहेत, ज्यामुळे भारताच्या ग्रामीण भागाची उन्नती होऊ
शकते. पाणी हा सवथ जीविाचा आधार आहे. प्रत्ेक प्राणी आलण विस्पतीच्या शरीरात
पाणी असते. पाण्यालशवाय कोणतेही काम शक्य िाही. प्राण्याांच्या जीविासाठी पाणी
आवश्यक आहे. झाडे आलण झाडाांच्या वाढीसाठी जलमिीतीि ओिावा आवश्यक आहे.
त्ामुळे पाण्याचे सांवधथि आलण वापर मािवी कल्याणासाठी महत्त्वाचे आहे.
भारतीय शेती पावसावर अविांबूि आहे. मातीची धूप आलण अलियलमत पजथन्यमाि या
समस्या एकमेकाांशी घट्ट जोडिेल्या आहेत. मातीची धूप रोखूि, आपण पाणी जपूि ठे वू
शकतो आलण हवे लतर्े ठे वू शकतो. त्ामुळे पावसाच्या पाण्याचे सांकिि आलण वापर करणे
अत्ांत महत्त्वाचे आहे. बरेच पाणी िािे आलण िद्ाांमधूि वाहूि जाते आलण त्ामुळे मोठ्या
प्रमाणात पाणी वाया जाते.
योग्य झाडाांची पद्धतशीर िागवड ही भारतातीि लिकडीची गरज आहे. असे वृिारोपण
देशासाठी सांपत्तीचे स्रोत ठरेि. ते मातीची धूप तपासतीि आलण देशातीि पावसाचे सांरिण
करतीि. पाणी हे द्रवपदार्ाांमध्ये सवाथत सामान्य आहे, परांतु आश्चयथकारक गुणधमथ
असिेल्या द्रवाांमध्ये ते सवाथत असामान्य आहे. हे गुणधमथ प्राणी आलण विस्पतीांचे जीवि
राखण्याच्या त्ाांच्या अलितीय सामर्थ्ाथसाठी जबाबदार आहेत. त्ामुळे पाण्याचे स्वरूप
आलण गुणधमथ तपासणे हा सवाथत जास्त वैज्ञालिक लवषय आहे.

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Questions and Answers
Ques. 1.
Why do you think water is the true Elixir of life? How has the water been a
powerful influence in the life of humankind and in the rise of civilization?
Ans. In the essay ‘Water: The Elixir of Life’, C. V. Raman praises the importance of
water, which is the life-giving force to all. Water is the true elixir of life. This is a
common substance. So, we take it for granted in our everyday life. It is the most
wonderful thing on Earth. It continues to play a leading role in the drama of life on
Earth. Water is the basis of all life. Every animal and every plant contains a
large proportion of water in its body. The moisture of the soil is equally important for
plants and trees.
The conservation and utilization of water are fundamental to human welfare. One of the
most remarkable facts about water is its power to carry silt suspension. Our agriculture
depends on seasonal rainfall. So, the collection and utilization of rainwater are very
important. Water is the commonest of the liquids. These uncommon properties are
responsible for their unique power of maintaining animal and plant life.
Ques. 2. Write about the power and beauty of the element, water.
Ans. In the essay ‘Water: The Elixir of Life’, C. V. Raman praises the importance of
water, which is the life-giving force to all. Water is the true elixir of life. It is the basis
of life on Earth. Every animal and plant contains water. It is necessary for their life. Our
agriculture depends on water. To explain the power of water C.V. Raman has given an
example. One day he was standing on the line which separates the Libyan Desert from
the valley of the Nile in Egypt. One side was having a sea of sand without a speck of
green or a single living thing. On the other side was one of the greatest, most fertile,
and densely populated areas on the Earth. It was full of life and vegetation. Water has
changed the scene.
One of the most remarkable facts about water is its power to carry silt in suspension.
The flow of water plays a great role in the geographical process. It can sometimes play
a destructive role and wash away the soil. Great tracts of land have been formed by silt
deposited by water. The problem of soil erosion is caused by water. Vast areas of land
could be turned into fertile or infertile. This is the power and beauty of water.

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Ques 3. How does soil erosion occur and what are the chief factors that cause it?
Ans. The problem of soil erosion is very important, in many countries and specially in
many parts of India. Soil erosion occurs in steps; the earliest may easily pass unnoticed.
In the later stages the cutting up and washing away of the soil results into the formation
of deep gullies and narrow rallies. This makes agriculture impossible.
The sudden burst of excessively heavy rain results into a large run of surplus water
which causes soil erosion. The slope of land, removal of the natural protective coat of
vegetation, ruts for flow of water with speed and no check to such flow are also the
causes for soil erosion.
Question.4. What are the usual measures used to check soil erosion?
Ans. The measures that can be used to check soil erosion are terracing of the land,
construction of bunds to check the flow of water, the practice of contour (outline)
cultivation and the planting of proper plants. The prevention of soil erosion would help
to save water and keep the water where it is wanted.
Vast areas of land could be turned into a fertile and prosperous country by well-planned
action. The systematic planting of suitable trees in every possible place is most urgent
in India. They would check soil erosion and conserve the rainfall of the country.
Ques.5. What is C.V. Raman’s suggestion regarding controlling the movement of
water in order to harness it for a useful purpose?
Ans. In the essay ‘Water: The Elixir of Life’, C. V. Raman praises the importance of
water, which is the life-giving force to all. C.V. Raman gives the example of rain-fed
tanks which play a very vital role in south Indian agriculture. In Mysore, much of the
rice is grown under them. The colour of the water in rain-fed tanks changes according
to the land from which the water comes. Swiftly flowing water can carry large and
heavy particles. The finest particles remain floating in the water. Large areas of land
can be converted into fertile land due to silt-laden water.
The collection and utilization of rainwater are very important because our Indian
agriculture depends on rainfall. Much of the rainwater flows down into the river and the
sea. So a large quantity of water is lost. The proper use of this flowing water is a great
national problem. Planting trees is an urgent need in India. They would help to save the
rainwater of the country from flowing away to waste.

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Common Answer (Short Summary)
In the essay ‘Water: The Elixir of Life’, C. V. Raman praises the importance of water,
which is the life-giving force to all. Raman says that man attempted to seek an
imaginary elixir of life, the divine Amrita, but it ended in vain. According to him,
water is the true elixir of life.
He draws an example of the Nile River in Egypt. The river Nile has created a
fertile valley rich with life and vegetation. Egypt’s ancient civilization was
created and maintained by the life-giving waters of the Nile. Thus water has
shaped the course of the earth’s history and continues to do so.
Raman says the rain-fed tanks play a very vital role in south Indian agriculture. These
tanks store the silt-laden which is precious to the crops. Much of the rice is
grown under them. But they are often neglected and not properly maintained.
He says Indian agriculture depends on rainfall. The problems of soil erosion and
irregular rainfall are closely connected with each other. By preventing soil
erosion, we can conserve and keep the water where it is wanted. So, the
collection and utilization of rainwater are very important. Soil erosion is
dangerous to agriculture. Some measures can be taken to check soil erosion.
They are terracing of the land, construction of bunds to check the flow of water,
the practice of contour cultivation, and the planting of appropriate plants.
The author also brings other water benefits like using boats for a cheaper
transport system and hydroelectric power, which can uplift rural areas of India.
Every animals and plant contain water in its body. No activity is possible without
water. So, the conservation and utilization of water are important for human
welfare.
Raman says systematic planting of suitable trees is an urgent need in India. Such
plantations would prove a source of wealth to the country. They would check
soil erosion and conserve the rainfall of the country.
Notes Prepared by
Dr G.N. Khamankar,
Head, Dept. of English,
Vivekanand Mahavidyalaya, Bhadrawati