New Delhi, July 20: COVID-19 or any future pandemic like it does not occur merely due to bacteria and viruses, but is actually a result of our own biological mistake. To deal with such a nightmare, we must reconnect with nature. This information has been shared by internationally renowned marine biologist and microbial intelligence researcher, Padma Shri Dr. Ajai Kumar Sonkar.
Dr. Sonkar, who has conducted in-depth research for years on microbiology and aquatic biology in India and abroad, has unveiled the hidden mystery behind pandemics, which modern science has so far overlooked. In an exclusive conversation with PTI, he said, “Modern humans have become so ‘sterilized’ (equipped with artificial and chemical cleanliness shields) that now their bodily immune system is unable to even recognize environmental pathogens.”
He explained that as long as humans were in contact with soil, rivers, and natural air, their immune system continuously received information about bacteria and their evolving forms (microbial updates) – just like how mobile phones receive regular software updates.
Dr. Sonkar stated that today’s ‘hyper-clean’ culture has distanced us from this natural protective shield.
He said, “We have not only sterilized our homes but have also separated our bodies from the microbes that protect us from diseases.”
Revealing a particularly startling fact from his research, he said, “The Ganges is a living microbial network.” When a person physically enters the waters of the Ganges, it not only records the microbial data of their body in its memory but also responds in the form of bacteriophages to maintain balance.
Mentioning his years of research, he explained that the Ganges is not just an ordinary water stream but an active biological network.
Clarifying further, he said that when people bathe in the river, they introduce the state of their body’s microbes to the Ganges, and in return, the Ganges protects them by destroying pathogens through bacteriophages – these are viruses that destroy harmful bacteria.
Dr. Sonkar said, “This phage network of the Ganges gives natural training to the human body’s immune system. This is the reason why people who come in contact with it are more resistant to new diseases.”
When asked why COVID-19 severely affected clean societies or the so-called developed countries, Dr. Sonkar gave a startling response. He said, “Societies like Europe and America have been victims of ‘microbial amnesia’ for decades.”
He said, “People there live in such clean and sterilized environments that no new ‘data’ reaches their immune systems. Meaning, they are cut off from the changing forms of bacteria/viruses. As a result, whenever a new bacterium arrives, the body takes time to recognize it – and the death rate increases.”
Recently honored with the Padma Shri, Dr. Ajai Kumar Sonkar is considered among the world’s leading scientists on the microbiome and bacteriophages of the Ganges River. His discoveries have been recognized not only in India but also by European research institutions.
When asked about solutions or the way forward for the world, which is still frightened by the outbreak of COVID-19 and potential future pandemics, Dr. Sonkar’s answer was very clear.
He said, “We must reconnect with nature. We must see the Ganges not just as a sacred river but as a teacher.”
He suggested that reactivating the biological systems of soil, rivers, and air could be the real strategy to prevent pandemics. We must give importance to the role of nature’s contact in developmental plans.
He said, “Vaccination is only an insufficient response. In a constantly changing climate environment, vaccination can never replace natural microbial intelligence. Living with the natural ability to fight bacteria and their new forms is the real prevention of any pandemic.”
He said that the Ganges is the only river where, due to large numbers of people bathing simultaneously during events like the Kumbh Mela and numerous rituals throughout the year, various bacteria/viruses from different climatic zones and all their variants enter the Ganges water, and the bacteriophages in the Ganges train themselves to deal with them and continuously prepare new variants of bacteriophages.
He said, “The Ganges remembers – now is the time that we too remember her.” This statement is not only significant from a scientific perspective but also serves as a deep warning.
Dr. Sonkar said, “Our existence is biological; we cannot survive disconnected from nature. The Ganges still retains our biological information – the question is, are we willing to read it again?”
This research-based warning from Dr. Sonkar can certainly define a new direction for global health policy in the coming years. Currently, Dr. Sonkar has been invited to present his research at a scientific conference in Spain. Apart from this, several other countries have invited him to present on this new research.