Bhubaneswar, Jan. 24 -- There was a time when summer meant open windows, hand-held fans, shaded courtyards, thick walls, and trees planted with intent. Heat was not something to be defeated mechanically; it was something humanity adapted to through architecture, lifestyle, and coexistence with nature. That balance began to shift quietly with the arrival of ACs or air conditioners.

The air conditioner did not arrive as a villain. It arrived as a saviour. Relief from oppressive heat. Productivity without sweat. Sleep without restlessness. Over time, comfort turned into dependence. Today, the modern household does not own an air conditioner; it owns many. Bedrooms, living rooms, offices, malls, cars, hospitals- cooling has become a default,...