GUWAHATI: Amid an intense heatwave sweeping across India, Jyotiraditya Scindia has drawn attention with an unusual suggestion rooted in traditional practices. The Union Communications Minister, currently on a three-day visit to Shivpuri, advised people to carry an onion as a way to cope with extreme temperatures.
The remark came during the inauguration of a new tehsil building in Pichhore, where Scindia shared his personal approach to dealing with the summer heat. “I look a little young, but my soul is very old. Keep an onion in your pocket.”
Highlighting his reliance on age-old methods, he added, “Nothing will happen to you. And in today's times, everyone is carrying boxes. The communication minister is carrying onions. These are old things. And as Ayurveda progresses, we shouldn't forget these things.”
आधुनिक युग में सब ‘डब्बे’ लेकर घूम रहे हैं और संचार मंत्री… pic.twitter.com/K41QYKlDeq
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) April 26, 2026
His comments arrive at a time when large parts of the country are struggling with a prolonged and severe heatwave, prompting both curiosity and debate over the effectiveness of such traditional remedies.
Scindia also spoke about his resistance to modern cooling methods, attributing his endurance to what he described as “Chambal skin.” “I don't use air conditioning in my car, nor do I sit in an air-conditioned environment. And when people ask me, even in the 51-degree heat of May and June, I say, 'This is Chambal skin.' And let me tell you something else: I look a little young, but my soul is very old. Keep an onion in your pocket. Nothing will happen to you,” he said.
Reinforcing his point, the minister underscored the importance of preserving traditional knowledge even as lifestyles become increasingly modern, suggesting that such practices still hold value in coping with extreme conditions.
