29-Does environment affect a child’s temperament?

Today, 29 August 2011 was a Government declared holiday for educational institutions in Kerala State. I was planning to clear up some piled up work when I received a call to attend a function at Chempazanthy, the birth place of the saint Sree Narayana Guru who preached about one Caste, one Religion and one God for mankind.

I got the programme timing completely wrong and had arrived at the place as early as 9.30 AM for a function originally scheduled for 12.00 noon. On reaching the spot, now considered holy, I visited the thatched hut in which the Guru was born. This took hardly fifteen minutes and I had over two hours with nothing to do. I could have easily rushed home and returned after two hours. But something about the place made me linger. As I sat under an old tree taking a deep breath and relaxing in the gentle breeze, I noticed something unusual.

Though afflicted with asthma, I felt a lightness of being…The tall trees that surrounded the thatched hut were swaying in rhythm and the plants in the temple nearby was in full blossom spreading a faint fragrance. I gazed around… some ants were scrambling over me not once venturing to prick me. They were apparently whispering to each other and appeared forging an union with Nature. For a moment I recalled Emerson :“The greatest delight which the fields and woods minister is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable…” 

I saw some children oblivious of adults in the vicinity engaged in games of their invention. The pleasure they gained from it appeared contagious. One child particularly drew my attention. It was playing in the sand and was engrossed in building a tiny ‘shrine’ with twigs and leaves. The child didn’t notice my attempt to capture the ‘structure’ using my Cell Phone Camera.

Returning home and gazing at the images I captured in the morning, thoughts about the nature of the environment of some leading schools in Thiruvananthapuram crossed my mind. An International school in the suburbs of Thiurvananthapuram city boasts of air conditioned high-tech classrooms and campuses with swimming pools. There are many schools in the city with three/four storey buildings and Smart Classrooms. And what do these kids play …? Video games and Cricket!! After all which modern-day parent would encourage his/her child to play in the sand?

Does environment really affect a child’s temperament??