Latest news with #Cleansing
Scroll.in
25-07-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
Translated dystopian fiction: A young woman registers her ancestry as she enters adulthood
I sit uncomfortably on the chair in a behemoth room. Lights like neon rain flood the walls and the furniture beneath them. It speaks of riches beyond my grasp. The place looks like a private aristocratic hotel, rather than like a government office. I moisten my lips and wait for my turn. Many share the room with me – girls and boys of my age – all tensed and agitated. From time to time, the receptionist echoes a number through his monotone voice, 'L21, please report to chamber eight.' I glance at a small printed paper, my token. My sweat fades the letters. 'How long will it take to call M14?' I mutter. Though I am not a person accustomed to waiting, now I do not want my session to start. The small, spherical lights hanging from the false ceiling resemble a starry night. I stare at them, and they take me back to that place near the Radcliffe Line where I was born. Maybe, the skies are like that: beautiful, transient – like a passionate one-night stand lover. They bring back memories until they fade away like mists of a late-winter morning. I wish my memories were more like the smog that engulfs this city in its persistent choking embrace at this time of the year. But parts of my memories are like pieces of fabric, loosely hanging in the balance by delicate strings of unwoven threads. Most of them are gone, or lost so deep within me that I fail to uncover them. The attempts result in seizures. But what flashes between the seizures creates conflict with the 'history lessons' I was taught in school, with the chapter on the Cleansing that began before my time. It started in India's east and northeast frontiers more than two decades ago, just when the tapered Meghna basin of Bangladesh began to sink under the ocean's rising hungry tides. I barely recall the shadowy nights I spent looking at the stars, the only sky available for us in that place. Until my mother jumped in the Ichamati and the river's cold, dark green water brought me to India, I didn't know what the sky was like. I now know the sky is a dome; it's a prison. 'M14… M14, please report to chamber two.' The receptionist's voice brings me back. How long was I spaced out? I quickly fumble my unkempt hair, wipe the drool off my lips, and clear my voice before standing near the chamber's door. 'Please place your hand on the plate,' an electronic voice says. I do, and a minuscule needle pierces my thumb and draws a drop of blood. Ouch! The blood quickly saturates a piece of fibre that weirdly looks like a crossbreed of circuit dye and a checkerboard – a Heritage Scanner. The voice again states, 'Thank you for your cooperation. You are fifty-seven per cent Arya; you may now enter.' What would have happened if I were not? I know about the Citizenship Act and how it is making a new Aryavarta in the eyes of our Neta, the great leader. If this were Germany of the 1940s, I would have called him the Führer. Instead, I gulp that thought and step in. They want me to register because I am one of the new millions reaching adulthood. I have to register because I want to remember my mother's face for one time, at whatever cost. A man with brilliant eyes enters the room with opaque glass walls. He has broad shoulders and a square jawbone. His eyes are almond brown, and his hair is grey with age. He is nearly a Class-One in the National Citizen Register. As far as I know, I am a Three/Four. 'Ah,' he says, 'Miss Shakuntala Bose, এখাানে আসাার জন্যয ধন্যযবাাদ…' He swiftly changes from my soothing mother tongue to the state's second official language: 'I hope you are familiar with the procedures, as you have already signed the NDA form.' Involuntarily, asshole. 'As my Bengali is a bit off and the bot recording this session faces a hard time translating it into English, I guess we both are bound to use the language of our old colonial masters. I hope you are okay with it. ঠিক আছে তো?' 'Yes,' I nod. 'Good. From the data I have on my screen, I see you are a member of the Kshatriya Varna, and you are fifty-seven per cent of pure descent. I know in the past, our forefathers did not put any restrictions on inter-caste coitus. Still, if you can shed any light on the origin of the impurities in your blood, it will be highly appreciated.' He has rehearsed his lines well. 'No.' I nod again. Differently. A blurry image of someone I vaguely identify as my mother flashes before my eyes. 'I don't know.' 'Thank you. But before we start, let me ask again: are you acquainted with what we do here?' The person who found me crying in my mother's cold hands on the muddy bank of the Ichamati, Dr. Nirmalya Bose, is one of the last generations of liberals. He put me in a good school and taught me the secular ways of life. I was the only girl in the whole class. I learned a lot about the world that had ceased to exist before I was born. For a brief moment in human history, we created a paradise before it descended to purgatory. I finally occupy the operating couch in the chamber and sit with my spine erect. 'According to Article 5A, 51B, any person born after 26 November 2024, either or both of whose parents or grandparents are a lawfully registered or by-birth citizen of Bharat, shall perform as a fundamental duty to the state by enlisting his or her biometric, genetic and anatomical credentials for the betterment of the state and its people as a reference to create, amend and moderate the binding list of citizens thereof.' I enjoy the gradual widening of his eyes. 'Ah… you are very well-versed.' 'But I don't know the procedure, doctor. Please let me understand that. I hope I have cleared any doubts you were facing.' 'Yes, I'm not accustomed to someone so… erudite.' 'By someone, you do mean a girl.' 'Yes.' His face reddens. He shakes his head and points to the helmet at the head of the couch. 'When the government removed the right to education of women from the fundamental rights list, many girls left schools. The parents felt that it was a necessary reaction…' 'And yet, you, a government employee, find that hard to agree with.' 'Doesn't matter. I'm here to perform a simple surgery on your brain. That and that only.' He takes a vial containing a glimmering grey liquid from an adjoining tray. 'These are neuronal nanobots. They search for some special proteins found in our brain's hippocampus, neocortex, and amygdala. I'm going to inject this inside you – so that we can see and then cleave out any unnecessary episodic memory.' To create a state where no dissent is expressed. I try to remember those three names in the back of my head and fail. They were not a part of my discipline. 'Okay.' I lay down on the couch, thinking of how necessary the whole thing is for me. In a state where even breathable air is up for sale in those online markets, this is the only supposedly free thing. 'Free is an ambiguous concept to provoke discernment,' Nirmalya often said. A thing made accessible by the state is a thing prepaid by its citizens. 'Ms Bose, you may feel a slight pinch,' the doctor says. He injects the vial into my neck. 'The nanobots will find any area lighting up with the questions I'm going to ask you and extricate memories and limit that area's neuronal actions, if necessary.' He puts the helmet over my head and starts to assemble the parts to connect it to the mainframe. 'Am I going to be a vegetable after this?' I ask, seeing the complex mechanism. Sweats immediately form on my forehead. 'No. God! No.' For the first time, I watch a smile cracking on his face, a genuine one. 'India… Bharat has performed around a billion surgeries like this over the past ten years. Let me assure you, no such thing will happen. You are as safe as a rock on the ocean floor. You will remember only the events you are suitable for.' Excerpted with permission from ' Children Between Lines' in Fractal Dreams That Unmake, Soham Guha,
Health Line
18-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
10 Benefits of Burning Sage, How to Get Started, and More
Burning sage — also known as cleansing — is an ancient spiritual ritual. Certain types of sage have antimicrobial properties and may provide additional benefits. Where did the practice originate? Distinct from cleansing, smudging has been well established as a Native American cultural or tribal practice, although not all groups practice it. We have the traditions of many Native American peoples, including the Lakota, Chumash, and Cahuilla, to thank for its use. Many other cultures around the world share similar rituals. Read on to learn more about the benefits of burning sage and how you can use it to improve your overall well-being. It may be purifying The most commonly used types of sage have antimicrobial properties, which means they may keep infectious bacteria, viruses, and fungi at bay. White prairie sage (technically a mugwort species, Artemisia ludoviciana) is both antimicrobial and antibacterial. White sage (an actual sage, Salvia apiana) is also antimicrobial. And both have been shown to repel insects. It may help relieve the symptoms of some conditions It turns out that sage may help clear the air of lots more than bugs and bacteria. Though scientifically unproven, burning sage is thought to release negative ions, which are said to help neutralize positive ions. Common positive ions are allergens like: pet dander pollution dust mold If this is the case, burning sage may be a blessing for those with asthma, allergies, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. However, inhaling the smoke during the cleansing process can aggravate any respiratory condition. Wait until the smoke clears before going into the room. It can be a spiritual tool Burning sage has long been used to connect to the spiritual realm or enhance intuition. In traditional cultures, burning sage is used by healers and laypeople to achieve a healing state or to solve or reflect upon spiritual dilemmas. This may also have some scientific basis. Certain types of sage, including salvia sages and white prairie sage, contain thujone. It may help dispel negative energy Burning sage may also be used as a ritual tool to rid yourself or your space of negativity. This includes past traumas, bad experiences, or negative energies from others. This may help you establish a positive environment for meditation or another ritual. Choosing to sit and let go of negative thoughts in a ritual like this sets your intention and dedication to self-improvement. Choosing to engage in ritual can be the beginning of your change in mindset. It can cleanse or empower specific objects Burning sage creates fragrant smoke, which is central to its benefits. You can use this incense to cleanse yourself or specific spaces. Or, according to some sources, you can cleanse specific objects. This can be useful with new purchases, gifts, or secondhand items. However, any item can be cleansed. If you have any concern with negative history or energy attached to a new or unfamiliar object, burning sage may help bring peace of mind and make the object more sacred to you. It may help improve your mood Tradition suggests that burning sage can literally lift one's spirits to banish negativity. Some research supports this. A 2014 study documented white prairie sage (also known as estafiate) as an important traditional remedy for treating anxiety, depression, and mood disorders in certain cultures. It may help soothe stress If burning sage can lift one's mood, it could also be a great ally against stress. A 2016 research project for the University of Mississippi established that white sage (Salvia apiana) is rich in compounds that activate certain receptors in the brain. These receptors are responsible for elevating mood levels, reducing stress, and even alleviating pain. It may improve the quality of your sleep Burning sage has been traditionally used to safeguard against negativity that could interfere with sleep. Some research suggests that sage contains compounds that could help ease insomnia. Classic garden sage (Salvia officinalis) is sometimes burned like white sage. It's also been used to improve sleep and soothe anxiety. It may help boost cognition In addition to dissipating negative energy, improving mood, and strengthening intuition, burning sage might improve your memory and focus. A 2016 review of studies noted that evidence for salvia's cognitive-enhancing benefits is promising, perhaps affecting dementia and Alzheimer's disease. However, most of these studies analyzed salvia being taken internally, not burned. More research is needed. It can create an uplifting fragrance For some, this may be the best of all benefits: Sage is a lovely incense with a divine aroma, pure and simple. It also works great as a chemical-free air freshener or odor controller. How to prepare for a cleanse Before burning sage, some recommend setting intentions if cleansing for spiritual, energetic, and negativity-clearing purposes. Remove animals or people from the room. It's also important to leave a window open before, during, and after cleansing. This allows smoke to escape. Some believe smoke also takes impurities and negative energy with it, so don't skip this step. How to cleanse your living space, an object, and more These steps apply whether you're cleansing yourself, your home, or an object. You can cleanse any of these as often as you'd like. Light the end of a sage bundle with a match. Blow it out quickly if it catches on fire. The tips of the leaves should smolder slowly, releasing thick smoke. With one hand, direct this smoke around your body and space while holding the bundle in the other. Allow the incense to linger on the areas of your body or surroundings you'd like to focus on. Using a fan or a feather can also help direct the smoke, though this is optional. Allow the ash to collect in a ceramic bowl or shell. Cleanse your home or living space In this instance, direct sage smoke over all surfaces and spaces in your home or living area. Be thorough. Some recommend working in a clockwise direction around your home, ending back where you started, especially for spiritual purposes. Others recommend counterclockwise. Do what feels best for your situation and follow your intuition. Cleanse an object Direct smoke around and over the object of your choice. This can be done to a new item, such as jewelry, furniture, or clothing, to protect or dispel it of negative energy. Items related to negative experiences or memories may also be cleansed. Some people burn sage over special objects to acknowledge the object with sacred meaning. Aromatherapy You can also light and burn sage to improve odor, fragrance, and mood. Simply waft sage smoke in and around your home. You can place the bundle in a fireproof bowl or burner and allow it to smoke for a while. What to do after a cleanse Make sure your sage bundle is completely extinguished. You can do this by dabbing the lit end into a small bowl of ash or sand. Avoid using water, since it may be challenging to reignite sage if it is extinguished by water. Check the end closely to make sure there are no more embers burning. Once it's completely put out, store it in a safe, dry place out of the sun. Are there any side effects or risks? When done correctly and respectfully, burning sage is completely safe, and the effects last after the smoke clears. Be careful with sage when it's lit. If you aren't careful, burns and even fire is possible. Have water nearby. Never leave burning sage unattended. Make sure to put your sage bundle out completely after every use. Setting off smoke alarms is common. Consider this if burning sage in a public building. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be more sensitive to the smoke and have adverse reactions. Always leave a window open while burning sage. Inhaling smoke can be hazardous to your health. The bottom line Burning sage has many benefits as a spiritual practice. Some research supports certain health benefits of sage, such as antimicrobial properties and enhanced alertness, but more research is needed. There is very little research on burning sage as a practice beyond the cultural practice of the ritual.
