The geographic basis of life is the agricultural village. Kerala's cultural growth is ingrained in rice cultivation. It is the rice related economic powers that determined the human bonds and the life system of the people of Kerala in ancient times. The analysis of these relationships will lead to the historicity of a region where the changes initially took place. Paddy cultivation sustains in the midst of the several socio-cultural changes that occurred in Kerala. Rice and the social relations become a harmonious whole and a biological system emerges in this environment. Rice which is an indispensable factor in the Kerala community has deeply influenced language, rituals, myths, folkloristics, arts and science. Dr Sankara Nair attempts a hair- splitting analysis on these multifaceted phenomena. The impact of rice cultivation among the tribal people across the globe is a significant subject of enquiry which deserves appreciation. The author provides numerous examples to convince his contention that urban civilization has developed along with the growth of agricultural produce. This is a cogent contribution to the study of the cultural history of our country.
The development of agriculture necessitated the making of tools which are different from those required for the food gathering community. The improvement of agriculture necessitated the refinement of tools also. Making of tools made man more wise and this led to the making of tools for further refined tools. In fact culture emanated from tool making and cultivation of crops. Really man is a tool making animal.
The cultivation of rice is quite different from other types of crops being cultivated by mankind. It required constant vigil and attention. This prompted man to observe the rhythm of nature such as the blowing wind, flowing water, chirping birds, whistling bamboo reeds etc. Thus culture enriched itself.
The book 'History: Straight from The Horse's Mouth' by Dr. V. Sankaran Nair is revealing the intricacies of rice cultivation in Kerala. It is analyzed in such a manner as to how the astrological calculations decided the course of paddy cultivation. The various festivals and rituals associated with this crop are also perused.
The ancient cultures started to settle using agriculture as a primary food source, and these anthropogenic activities have caused massive demographic growth, followed by geographic population expansion of rice farming. It featured in the agriculture of South and East Asia since prehistoric times. It supported early urban cultures in the Ganges valley (India) and the Yangtze valley (China). Today, while China and India together produce more than half of the world's rice crop, Asia produces about 330 million tons."
One of the most important economic/political commodities on earth, rice plays a crucial role in the economy of developing countries. The rural populations find in a bowl of rice their main source of food, income and employment. This sensitive commodity, the basis of social order and livelihood, occupies a primordial place in civilization.
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Hindu (875)
Agriculture (85)
Ancient (995)
Archaeology (567)
Architecture (526)
Art & Culture (848)
Biography (585)
Buddhist (540)
Cookery (160)
Emperor & Queen (489)
Islam (233)
Jainism (272)
Literary (868)
Mahatma Gandhi (377)
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