N.U. ABDUL RAZZAK UDAYAR
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has been in deep trouble as the masses of this nation undergo untold difficulties and hardships finding it utterly difficult to keep the home fires burning.
The fuel for transport and other essential needs such as petrol, diesel, kerosene not only keep going up in prices but also remain in short supply thus adversely affecting the normal life of every Tom, Dick and Harry.
Interestingly, the idiomatic expression-to keep the home fires burning is referred to maintaining a daily routine and providing the necessities of life in a home or community. Truly and sadly the whole Sri Lanka finds it extremely difficult to keep the home fires burning due to the unprecedented economic meltdown of this beloved isle.
This write-up is focused on the literal meaning of this colloquial expression as one of the primary agents of the natural fuel, wood or firewood presently plays a key role, in keeping the masses, man in the street, the wealthy and the poor out of the woods at this hour of massive crisis.
“Remarkable, what a value is still put-upon wood even in this age and this country…the prince and the peasant, the scholar and the savage, equally require still a few sticks from the forest to warm them and cook their food”
Thoreau
Instant Subtitute for Gas
What is wood or firewood? It is any wooden material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form, compared to other forms of wood fuel like pellets or chip.
There are two types of firewood. They are hardwood and softwood. Before the coal of the Industrial Revolution, firewood was the main source of energy for cooking and other essential needs. Then coal along with electricity made a big revolution as they became convenient agents of fuel.
Today the economic crisis in Sri Lanka compels a large number of dwellers, both in the villages and town largely depend on firewood for their needs for cooking meals, boiling water heating and so on. Especially, it is mainly used in the villages, small towns and cities to a certain extent.
However, it cannot be used in apartments and flats in skyscrapers or tall buildings in metropolis such as Colombo. Firewood that was once frowned upon by a big slice of the population for cooking purpose is today readily bought as gas is as scarce as hen’s teeth.
With the acute shortage of gas and kerosene a new industry has boomed up. It is the sale of small, medium and big bundles of firewood that are sold in groceries and shops. Firewood that was solely sold by the woodcutter in bullock carts or hand carts has become a precious display in different styles under different sized bundles that can easily be carried by the consumers.In fact, firewood has taken the box seat showing its real worth to the masses.
Renewable Resource
Firewood is a renewable fuel that is cheaper compared other types of fuel like electricity or kerosene though its price has drastically gone up since of late. Today trees are cut down in large numbers to meet the demand. It is glad to note there is a good number of people who are engaged in this latest industry to earn their livelihood. Essentially, trees are our bosom friends that help keep the environment intact. Therefore, when a tree is cut, more trees should be planted so that greenery of this nation will not fade away bringing disaster after disaster. Charity begins at home. Let us plant more trees at our premises to keep the supply of firewood uninterruptedly made to the market to ease the inconvenience caused by the shortage of fuel such as gas, kerosene etc. Taking interest in agriculture for a Green Revolution in Sri Lanka will surely save all of us from this present unwanted crisis.
