| Published on 27-09-2006 In General |
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Written by
Iraianbu IAS |
Colours make the world beautiful and rich. Indiscriminate ill treatment to nature may leave the globe black and white. Creative attempts are mere imitations, as per Aristotle. It is impossible to mimic the innumerable varieties of inimitable nature. No master craftsman can paint the sparkling snow clad peaks in dawn and dusk either with words or with brush. Firmament is a kaleidoscope changing its endless patterns from moment to moment offering infinite varieties to gaze and wonder. Our categorisation of colours is just illustrative and not exhaustive. They comprise just the major heads. Language is inadequate to name the minor divisions and minute shades. We have even invisible colours. Infrared radiation is immense use in medical field. They help both in diagnosis and treatment. Insects like bumblebees could perceive ultraviolet rays invisible to human eyes. Scientists have developed UV index to help people protect themselves from harmful ultraviolet waves. We stumble upon the fact that we should be more cautious with the invisible and hidden dangers. The colours are nothing more than the vibrationary rebound of frequencies, which a particular object has refused to absorb. Hence, the one that appears red is not actually red, as it absorbs all colours except red that is emitted. Colour is abstract and cannot exist on its own. It requires a medium to get manifested. White and black are not colours; one is the agglomeration of all and the other being the absence of any. There are glaring colour truths to be pondered. Colours can be combined together in structured, systematically ordered arrays with a distinctive character. There are general causal truths with regard to materialisation of colours. Different colours have different specific aesthetic effects including principles of harmony, balance contrast etc. They vary in emotional effects. We attribute aspersions to colours. Red signifies anger, blue sadness, black fear, pink happiness, green jealousy and saffron scarifice. People respond to different colours in different ways and these responses take place on a sub-conscious, emotional level. In occidental cultures black denote death and in the oriental, white is associated with mourning. Colours have a purpose. Flowers bloom with captivating colours to attract bees to facilitate pollination. Colour of the victuals activates the appetite. Colours influence us. Coffee served in dark containers is assumed to be strong in composition.
Colours can replace slogans and act as motivating conduits. Red triangle for small family and green triangle for increased agricultural productivity have come to stay as impressive symbols. Traffic signals have substituted verbal regulations and have contributed in saving life and energy. Red is related with rebellion. Green, white and blue revolutions are associated with vistas in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries respectively. Their contribution in feeding the hungry and weak is quite laudable despite the alleged controversies. White collar refers to jobs with more brainwork and blue collar, with physical cumbersome jobs. Our language is filled with colourful phrases and idioms. Men with ‘green thumb’, have talent for gardening. ‘Blue blood’, denotes nobility. In Spain rulers looked at the arms to verify whether the blood was blue. Luxurious life left them with fair skins and blue veins. Murderers should be ‘caught red handed’ with the blood smeared hands. Now, corrupt delinquents are trapped ‘pink handed’. The phenolphthalein powder dusted on the currencies would turn sodium carbonate solution pink. One who ‘gets a pink slip’ will lose the job and we cannot expect him to be ‘in the pink of health’. Blue moon is not seen even ‘once in a blue moon’. Special treatment is ‘red carpet treatment’ and special day is ‘red letter day’. One who changes colours resembles a chameleon. ‘Showing the true colours’, was the phrase derived from the chicanery practiced by the pirate ships which would hoist a colourful flag to entice the other passenger ships to come closer. Brain is referred as gray matter but matters incomprehensible are called, ‘gray areas’. Obscenity is associated with blue movies, yellow magazines and red light areas. We have prejudices about colours. Research indicates that there is a gender difference in response to colour. Our history is the account of hysterical racial aversion. Presumption of the suzerainty of fair skin over the dark has led to the painful pages of slavery and savagery. All colours have a role to play. If leaves are yellow, then the plant must be suffering from a disorder. A balanced food will have the correct combination of all colours. A judicious mix of vegetables in green, orange, red, yellow and white will strike a healthy balance. A colourful food will lead to a colourful life. Similarly, a balanced life is contributed by balancing the mind. Vision should be rich without colour blindness but ‘coloured vision’ is awful. Our failure to appreciate the beauty of each and every creation in the universe has made us grope in a lack lustre world and our colours have been restrained and confined to the television sets we have. More love, attention, empathy and understanding towards everything that we encounter can make us come out with flying colours. |
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