Dehradun, May 26 -- Before there were ACs, coolers and fans, Indians managed to cope with the summer heat by staying in sync with nature. They got up early, bathed in the ponds and rivers, worked in the fields and on other outdoor tasks such as fetching water and firewood, and retreated into shelters and the shade of trees as the day advanced. Houses were designed to withstand the weather by constructing thatched roofs and walls plastered with clay and cow-dung. There were step-wells sheltered from the Sun, and the palaces had depth and the breeze was funneled through thick walls to cool it down. The roofs were high and the walls were thick.
And, as evening approached, people came out again to get on with business, and the bazaars witnesse...