Morarji Desai, independence activist and former Indian Prime Minister led India’s first non-Congress Government. Prior to being India’s Prime Minister, he held many important posts in the ministry including Home Minister, Deputy Prime Minister of India and Finance Minister. On the international front, Desai maintained a peaceful relationship with neighbouring countries including China and Pakistan. He was felicitated with Pakistan’s highest civilian award Nishan-e-Pakistan. Besides all these responsibilities and achievements, Desai was also a long time practitioner of ‘Urophagia’, also known as Urine therapy, the practice of drinking one’s own urine.
It is a popular fact that Desai used to practice urine therapy and would also recommend the same to others. In an interview to Dan Rather, American Journalist, he spoke on the therapy for about 60 minutes. He stated that drinking urine is the perfect medical treatment for those who cannot afford medical treatment. He also believed that if an individual washes eyes with urine, the person can never get cataract. Many scientists who had researched on the aspect claim that drinking a small amount of urine, at your own risk, is not much harmful. But there are certain risks associated with it including bacterial contamination, potential drug exposure and high mineral content in it can put stress on kidneys. Scientists, however, advise to avoid drinking urine when you are dehydrated and there is no water around as it may relieve the sensation of thirst but the sodium and minerals in it may make you more dehydrated. In a worst case scenario, individuals can use urine as a source of water by distilling it. KR IRS 2324 On Fri, 1 Mar 2024 at 17:45, Chittanandam V R <[email protected]> wrote: > > *Received from Shri Sitendra Kumar* > > Born on the 29th of February > > *Sumit Paul* > > *ONE of the reasons why former Prime Minister Morarji Desai is remembered > is that he was born on February 29. People who arrive in the world on this > date get to celebrate their birthday only once in four years. Such persons, > like left-handers, are few. They tend to make the most of their special > occasion because it is not a routine annual affair.* > > *The odds of being born on a leap day are one in 1,461. There are only > about five million ‘leaplings’ in the world. James Milne Wilson (1812-80), > a former Premier of Tasmania, was born on a leap day. As chance would have > it, he breathed his last on a leap day as well. Though ‘leapers’ don’t get > gifts every year, the world is not completely indifferent to ‘nature’s > freak children’, as Sir Bertrand Russell would call them.* > *In Spain, schools celebrate the birthdays of such children on March 1, > and they get a surprise gift from the Roman Catholic Church on February 29. > In Ireland, such kids receive a surprise gift, lots of chocolates and a > teddy bear on March 1, besides a two-day break. And is there anything more > fun than enjoying a special holiday while your classmates are in school? A > little ‘leapling’ does not even have to lie about having a bellyache to > avoid going to school on these days.* > > *In Myanmar (Burma), ‘leaplings’ working with government or private > organisations get paid leave a day before February 29. But they are > expected to turn up at the workplace on March 1 so that the organisation > can celebrate their birthday. In Hong Kong, March 1 is recognised as the > legal birthday of a ‘leapling’ in the common years, while February 28 is > celebrated as the birthday in New Zealand.* > > *In South America, especially in Bolivia and Chile, people born on > February 29 are considered to be fortunate and blessed with longevity. In > Argentina, ‘leapers’ are deemed to be lucky charms and mascots. In Cuba and > Corsica (the place where French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was born), such > children are thought to become eternal flirts when they grow up!* > *February 29 is generally believed to be a lucky day. However, one in > every five engaged couples in Greece avoids tying the knot in a leap year > because they believe it brings bad luck. Russians fear that a leap year is > likely to bring more weather disturbances and a greater risk of death than > usual. Scottish farmers believe that leap years do not bode well for crops > or livestock, thanks to the old proverb, ‘Leap year was ne’er a good sheep > year.’ In China, those born on February 29 are said to be lucky in life, > especially in matters of love. * > *No wonder our beloved Morarji Desai (1896-1995) drank life to the lees > and almost completed a century.* > *- Sumit Paul* > ************************************* > *Chittanandam* > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZoq5orqfDv-1V7K%2BF1GMs%2B8Rgvkym4xLXBbxf3ZNQASoXA%40mail.gmail.com.
