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Ecological Wisdom I Social Justice I Holistic Thinking I Positive Action BANGALORE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1, January - March, 2017 Rs 80/-

Local Solutions

Eco Spirituality can Revive a Lake Anupam Mishra: ’s Water Hero Seetha Ananthasivan Nivedita Khandekar

We Can Cure Our Water Woes A Path Towards Wholeness & Sanity Philip Franses Helena Noberg Hodge

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 1 It is sad and ironic that as we go to print, Shri Anupam Mishra, perhaps India’s foremost water conservationist passed away on the 19th of December 2016. Anupamji was known for his lifelong work to promote local and indigenous ways of . We affirm our deep gratitude to this gentle soul as we bid him Rest in Peace.

Thousands have lived without love, not one without water - W.H.Auden

If we pollute the air, water and that keep us alive and well, and destroy the that allows our natural systems to function, no amount of money will save us. - David Suzuki

Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth... these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between , , solutions, global health, security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all. - Ban Ki-moon

This magazine has been printed on free paper using soy based inks.

2 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Photograph by flickr cc /USAID

We need: Local Water Solutions

Typically today, we expect our Governments to ensure stress and water wars is what will surely follow in the years that our water and other basic needs are looked after. So to come. Clearly, while big projects may be needed in some Governments around the world run huge organisations with areas, the centralised mega scale management of water is centralised control for procuring and storing grains, putting not working today. up , managing water and energy systems Localising part of the water - and many other solutions and so on. And we, as individuals and local communities have - seem to be an ecologically wise way forward. In this issue forgotten to take charge of basic essentials for ourselves. of Bhoomi we present stories from different parts of the The water solutions that Governments have focussed on country, where individuals and communities have decided since the 19th century are mammoth projects likes dams to take charge of being water prudent. We begin with the and often ecologically sad ones like the interlinking of rivers tireless work of Shri Anupam Mishra, whose untimely project. Huge treatment plants by big businesses demise we just got to know of. He was truly one of India’s foremost water heroes who worked to promote ancient and in some cases have been launched. All of these are high water conservation methods. carbonlooking solutions for their and own can profits be unpredictably are also being dangerous talked about- like It is deeply heartening to see the gradual revival of the the dams in the Himalayas that are now seen as contributing water wisdom of the country - from the story of Rajendra factors to the escalated seismic activity that led to devastating Singh who helped revive 4000 in to Piyush earth quakes in 2014. Manush who mobilised the people of Salem to bring back But there is an alternative narrative that seems to have to its polluted lakes in the name of Maariamman - the been erased from our collective memory. The large scale popular goddess of the region; also the arrival of new centralised water management systems are only 150 years technologies that mimic Nature such as based sewage old. There were some dams built between 1400BC and 1500 treatment plants to promoting new inventions like the nano AD, but they were few are far betweeen. But largely, all over spray tap that can reduce water consumption by 98%. the world, communities took ownership and responsibility for their water needs, and hence took care of their water for them which create yet other problems. When we have bodies. communitiesIn multiple taking ways up welocal create projects problems, to solve their find problems, solutions India did not have a huge number of natural lakes and working for their own wellbeing, we are moving towards ponds. Those we see today are tanks and lakes that were real Swaraj, towards being anchored in ourselves with our created by people to harvest and preserve the water available in the region. In Karnataka alone, 38,000 lakes Will Governments wake up and actively promote local and tanks had been created, beautifully connected and feet firmly on the ground. water solutions? Can we mobilise local communities as our solutions provider and also to campaign for our basic needs? Centralised control of water unfortunately led to many of suchnetworked lakes to to be manage neglected, overflows converted with for minimum use by buildings wastage. and other infrastructure. Today, climate change is making monsoons more erratic, bad policies are depleting ground water and our cities and industries are using and polluting water like there Seetha Ananthasivan is no tomorrow. In such a scenario, water scarcity, water ([email protected])

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 3 EternalBhoomi Issue No.29 January - March Eternal Bhoomi is committed to bringing you holistic perspectives on Nature and ecological livng from re- nowned writers and thinkers as well as practical ideas and examples of earth conscious living from people around the world. Local Water Solutions Countries around the world have adopted political systems that have been centralising control of basics like food and water . But where governments have failed we find projects that have localised control and responsibility have succeeded. In this issue we present information on innovative water solutions as well as stories where people have taken charge of their water needs. Vantage Point

6 A Path Towards Wholeness and Sanity On the growing localisa- tion movement Helena Norberg-Hodge

8 Anupam Mishra: India’s Foremost Water Hero Nivedita Khandekar

Local Water Solutions

10 Eco-Spirituality can Revive a Lake Seetha Ananthasivan 20 Inspiring Water Tales Expressions Bhim Singh Rawat 12 We Can Cure Our Water 30 Water, River, Earth, Woes 24 Cauvery Row: when Being Philip Franses source is the Cause Manohar Prabhu Manu Moudgil

15 Traditional Water 32 Just Another Wake Up Conservation Methods in 26 Connecting Beyond Call India Boundaries: Nadi Dr. Murali Sivaramakrishnan Shikha Shah Festival Ajay Nayak Book Review New Technology for 18 Barefoot Hydrogeolgist: Water Solutions 28 34 The Book The Next Generation Cole Lehman Chicu Lokgariwar

4 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Editor Seetha Ananthasivan

Assistant Editor Adil Basha

Associate Editor Rema Kumar Production Support Ananth Somaiah Design Consultants Chinmay Dholakia Ishita Bose Sarkar

Design & Layout Support Aditi Somaiah

Holistic Thinking Movie Review Marketing and Distribution Shyamala Madhavan 35 The Real Reason Behind 48 Before the Murtuza Khetty Why Delhi is Choking Rob Hopkins Issue: January - March 2017 Pallava Bagla Pages 56: Including Cover Food Positive Action Printed and Published by 50 The Health Benefits of Seetha Ananthasivan (Editor) Intermittent Fasting On behalf of The Bhoomi Network 38 When Every Step taken is for a New Discovery Joseph Michael Mercola P.B. No. 23, Carmelaram Post, Gagana N.V. Off Sarjapura Road, Recipes Bangalore – 560 035 [email protected] Perspectives 52 Drink Recipes Printed at: I.M. Pushpa 40 Fear of a Living Planet Colours Imprint Charles Eisenstein 150/9, 1st Cross, 8th Block, Announcements Koramangala, Bangalore - 560095. Ph: +91-9945640004 Education Website: www.coloursimprint.com 53 A Himalayan Project Published at: 43 How to Raise an Bhoomi Network for Sustainable Environmentalist 54 Bhoomi Green Schools Living Jill Suttie Programmes c/o Prakriya Green Wisdom School Campus, 70, Chikkanayakanahalli 46 Education for Real Life Road, Off Doddakanehalli, Rema Kumar Carmelaram Post, Off Sarjapura Road, Bangalore – 560 035 Ph: 080 28441173 [email protected] We wish all our readers a warm, Editor: Seetha Ananthasivan happy and meaningful New Year! /bhoomicollege

Eternal Bhoomi is published by Bhoomi - The Bhoomi Team Network, /channel/bhoomicollegea unit of K.N.A.Foundation for Education, a Public Charitable Trust registered/ inBhoomiNetwork 1995.

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 5 A Path Towards Wholeness and Sanity VANTAGE POINT

Helena Norberg Hodge believes that a rapidly growing localisation movement which revitalizes the local can resist the corporate rule that is impoverishing people worldwide.

Donald Trump’s candidacy – with corporatized and globalized economic that local economies in those countries its simplistic policy positions and its system that is devastating not only once provided. With locally-adapted undercurrent of racism and sexism planetary ecosystems, but the of ways of life systematically undermined – left most of us believing he couldn’t hundreds of millions of people. Over the by economic policies geared towards possibly win. Now his victory is a last three decades, governments have the big and the global, millions of visceral shock from which many unquestioningly embraced “free trade” have still not recovered. To better treaties that have enriched global themselves with just two options: to understand what happened – and why corporations while impoverishing their acceptdesperate minimal people wages in the and South appalling find – we need to broaden our horizons. If own citizens. By allowing corporations working conditions in industrial we zoom out a bit, it becomes clear that to move unfettered around the globe metropolises, or to migrate. So the Trump is not an isolated phenomenon; in search of the lowest wages, these loss of jobs in the US and the migrant the forces that put him in the White treaties have put workers throughout crisis in the South are two sides of the House have been growing throughout the industrialized world in competition same coin. But instead of looking at the the Western world for some time. with workers in the global South who Earlier this year, the Brexit vote in will accept a fraction of a dollar per are behind both problems, people have the UK was also based on fear and hour. This is not a contest that workers flawed rules of the global economy that narrow-minded nationalism, not on a in the North can win. at the cultural “other”. As worldwide sophisticated critique of EU economic competitionbeen encouraged for increasingly to point the scarce finger policy. Right-wing extremism is on the jobs has increased, so have divisiveness, of big business throughout the global rise in many other parts of Europe; fundamentalism and racism. SouthAt – the most same often time, with the the infiltrationsupport of even in my native country of Sweden, national governments and backed by Until recently, corporate-funded where racism was all but absent during media and think tanks have steered my younger years. has eliminated many of the livelihoods both grassroots activism and high-level If we zoom out even further, international financial institutions – policy-making away from consideration a broader pattern emerges. Almost everywhere in the of the economic root cause of our social Almost everywhere in the world, and ecological problems. The global unemployment is increasing, the gap world, unemployment is economy was treated as “evolutionary” between rich and poor is widening, increasing, the gap between or inevitable, and the policies environmental devastation is rich and poor is widening, promoting it went unquestioned; the worsening, and a spiritual crisis – crises escalated, and the only ‘solution’ revealed in substance abuse, domestic environmental devastation is offered was to double down on more assaults, and teenage suicide – is worsening, and a spiritual crisis of the same: more economic growth, deepening. By looking from a global – revealed in substance abuse, more development, more deregulation. perspective it becomes apparent that As people’s lives and the natural these many crises – including the rise domestic assaults, and teenage world deteriorated, it’s no surprise of right-wing sentiments – share a suicide – is deepening. that disenchantment with the political common root cause: an increasingly process became widespread.

6 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Moving towards the local requires more than simply working on and small businesses – rather than in a handful of corporate monopolies the ground within our own communities: we also need to do the – localization also has the potential hard work of pushing for change at the national and global levels. to revitalize the democratic process. Political power is no longer some Nonetheless, the trade treaties – our own communities. We can start to distant impersonal force, but is instead bring the economy home – to localize – rooted in community. (TPP) – were a hot topic during the by reweaving the social and economic Localization is sometimes painted notably the Trans-Pacific Partnership recent American elections. First and fabric at the local level. as elitist – another plum for the foremost, this represents an important In many areas of the world, from already privileged peoples of the victory for the people – for the the USA to India, from China to global North, but offering little for the Australia, people are beginning to less prosperous South. Nothing could heard. While the mainstream media do just that: they are forming local be further from the truth. In fact, it hasgrassroots propped – whose up Donald voice isTrump finally as being the business alliances, starting local is only by weaning themselves from dependence on an exploitative global treaties, we need to keep in mind that market while increasing national and figurehead of opposition to the trade based education and energy schemes, and,finance most initiatives, centrally, exploringbuilding locally-a local regional self-reliance that countries against the TPP in the United States the first cross-sector demonstration food movement. All of these efforts are based on the principle of connection lasting prosperity. Trump announced his candidacy. and the celebration of diversity. in the global South will be able to find Resistancewas in June to2010 the —trade five yearstreaties before has Moving towards the local requires come from diverse people’s movements In communities around the more than simply working on the from around the world, and is growing world, the profound environmental, ground within our own communities: stronger day by day. economic, social and even spiritual we also need to do the hard work of pushing for change at the national Corporate rule is not only becoming clear for all to see. As the and global levels. Treaties need to impoverishing people worldwide, it scalebenefits and ofpace reconnecting of economic locallyactivity are be re-written, regulations amended, is fuelling climate change, destroying reduced, anonymity gives way to face- taxes and subsidies reassigned, diverse ecosystems and cultures, to-face relationships, and to a closer environmental and human rights undermining community and connection to Nature. The bonds of local strengthened. Unlike the narrow accelerating the spread of consumerism. interdependence are strengthened, isolationism sought by Donald Trump, These are undoubtedly scary times. Yet and a more secure sense of personal opposition to globalization requires the very fact that the seemingly distinct cross-border cooperation, while crises we face are linked can be the People feel connected to others, rather revitalizing local economies demands source of genuine empowerment. Once thanand cultural in competition identity withbegins them. to flourish. At the collaboration and a willingness to learn we understand the systemic nature same time, localized economies are from others. The American people have of our problems, the path towards good for the environment: they increase made it perfectly clear that they want solving them – together, rather than the number of jobs not by increasing fundamental change. Trump may offer one by one – becomes clear. And that’s consumption, but by relying more on the illusion of such change, but little why the anti - trade treaty movement human labor and creativity and less on more. Our task now is to show that has been dubbed “the movement of energy-intensive technological systems there is a genuinely different way: a movements”. By targeting the trade – thereby reducing use and path towards wholeness and sanity. treaties and campaigning for the re- pollution. And shifting from global to The rapidly-growing localization regulation of global businesses and local promotes “re-wilding” and the movement is an unstoppable force. It banks, we not only resist the increasing restoration of biodiversity. is still in its early days, but it is already corporatization of our planet, but providing hope and sustenance to actively begin to reverse the negative By spreading economic and political millions of people around the world. effects of economic globalization in power among millions of individuals Together, we will keep that hope alive.

Helena Norberg-Hodge is a pioneer of the localization movement, and the Founder- Director of the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC), a non-profit organization concerned with the protection of both biological and cultural diversity. She is also a member of Bhoomi’s panel of advisors. All images courtesy creative /flickr

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 7 Anupam Mishra: India s Foremost Water Hero

'The Lakes Are Still Alive' by Anupam Mishra is helping villagers rediscover ancient water-conservation methods, writes Nivedita Khandekar. VANTAGE POINT This year, in the parched district of Mahoba in water storage systems such as baolis (step wells), kuis (wells Bundelkhand, in southern Uttar Pradesh, where persistent with small diameters), chaals (very small water body along a drought has led to large-scale migration over the past decade, slope, typical of ), johads (tanks that are fed by several ponds were full of water even before the monsoon earthen check dams), ponds, tanks, wells and lakes can help began. communities withstand drought. These are ponds that farmers began building in March Traditional Methods 2013 as part of the Apna Talaab Abhiyaan (Build Your Own Pond Campaign), which was started by local non- Traditionally, farmers who depended entirely on rainfall could grow only one crop a year. Only those who had their district administration, with the aim of making farmers less own water source, such as large wells or water bodies nearby, dependentprofits and onactivists the vagaries from New of the Delhi, monsoon. and supported by the could plant another crop. In time, access to dams and canal networks, as well as tube wells that drew from , enabled many farmers to plant two to three crops a year. monsoon, retained water until March, while the larger ones hadMost water of even these until ponds, it began which raining filled again up during this year. last By year's July, But in many places, the drawbacks of these these almost 400 ponds in the district had been constructed. systems became apparent. Villages sometimes constructed so many bore wells that the water table sank too "Anupamji and his book inspired us," said Kesar Singh, a low to make it economic to extract. In other instances, the Delhi-based activist working in the district, when asked why water was contaminated. Dams and canal networks, for their farmers began this project. He was referring to Aaj Bhi Khare part, came with enormous construction costs and displaced Hain Talaab (The Lakes Are Still Alive), written by Anupam thousands of people. Mishra, an environmentalist associated with the , who edits Gandhi Marg, a Hindi magazine Rather than inundating large areas, displacing people and published once in two months that propagates Gandhian then spending on transporting water from far away, Mishra thought. realised that de-centralised methods work better in the long run. The simple but more effective method, he felt, ought to Twenty years after it was published, the slim copyright- be: catch rain where it falls. free volume, written in lucid Hindi, has inspired scores In his book, Mishra describes traditional methods that country to use a variety of simple methods to make their communities across India used to take care of their water communitiesof farmers, government self-reliant in officials water. and activists across the . “The British introduced piped water systems and dams, and then the government took over water Published in July 1993, the book is a useful compendium bodies, cutting communities off,” Mishra writes in his book. of traditional practices across India. “Unfortunately, after Independence, our planners did not The book, accessible online, has described how decentralised rectify the situation.”

Across India, it is estimated that more than 40,000 water bodies have been built spurred by this book.

8 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 For instance, in Rajasthan, a state with very little rainfall, communities always had kuis, baolis and johads but have have atrophied over the years. Mishra and others like him stepped in to remind people to rediscover traditional practices. Decentralised water storage systems can also be built in cities. “But Delhi and Mumbai do not care because these cities know they can bully resource-rich areas and get their water,” said Mishra. “Yet they will also have to learn, sooner or later.” Experiments with Water Mahoba is only of the more recent examples of a community becoming self-reliant in water after using the traditional methods mentioned in Mishra’s book. Dewas in Madhya Pradesh and Lapodia in Rajasthan are two other, older examples. Twenty years after it was published, the slim In 2004, Lapodia and its environs in Rajasthan’s Alwar copyright-free volume by Shri Anupam Mishra, district were facing drought for the sixth consecutive year. written in lucid Hindi, has inspired scores of While there was large-scale migration from most villages, farmers, government officials and activists across Lapodia was spared because it had for more than a decade been working to revive two of its large tanks and developed the country to use a variety of simple methods to pastures for its livestock near the water bodies. make their communities It had done so with the help of Tarun Bharat Sangh, a non- The comparison set him thinking, travelling, meeting people and trying to understand what different communities communities in . The group was founded by were doing with water. In 1991, he started writing the book. Rajendraprofit working Singh, for who water won conservation the Magsaysay and award empowerment in 2001, for of his work on water conservation. He is all praise for Mishra’s Free Distribution book. From day one, Mishra decided that the book would be “The book has an important place in today’s India when free of copyright. Over the years, as more people discovered it comes to community-based water management,” said the book’s value, they printed it themselves, some selling it Singh. “It offers insights into technical, social and cultural aspects, all three of which combined to spur the fabulous art of lake-building.” for Soa profit, far, theothers book for ahas cause. been translated into a dozen Indian languages. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Prakashan, a Delhi- Other examples abound. Across India, more than 40,000 based publication house, brought out 25,000 copies in water bodies have been built spurred by the book, estimates 1995, followed by publishers from Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Mishra. There are almost 2,500 lakes in the Thar desert Pradesh, whose government also printed 25,000 copies, and area, Mishra says. Inspired by the book, four large tanks . were repaired near Chennai, while the Karnataka Jal Sanghe renovated and constructed several ponds and lakes. Two years ago, Farhad Contractor, the founder of

Mishra’s Inspiration based rainwater harvesting in the Thar desert area for the pastSambhaav 25 years, , a non-profit printed it thatand thatgave has several promoted hundred community- copies to Mishra started thinking about self-reliance in water in Mishra for distribution. the early 1980s, when he was travelling through Rajasthan. He was impressed by the several kunds, tanks and lakes in “We need to understand that not everything can be some places that he came across that were fully functional bought,” Contractor said. “This book is basically communities’ even in the scorching summer. knowledge that we want to share. It has inspired and mobilised scores of people. We thought that it would be good Soon afterwards, he travelled through Goa. There, he if those who actually work on ground read it.” saw that the lush green paradise was slowly turning into a concrete jungle with resorts, hotels and private homes coming up in places that were catchment areas for water. There, he noticed that after the monsoon, water stocks decreased drastically. Tankers were needed to supply water to many villages as the groundwater had depleted rapidly after monsoon. “I was impressed by the fact that a place such as Rajasthan that had such little rainfall had immense respect for every Nivedita Khandekars an independent journalist based in Delhi. She drop of water,” Mishra said. “In contrast, Goa, where the rain writes on environmental, developmental and social issues. god was sending a bountiful monsoon, was suffering due to This article first appeared in Scroll.in faulty practices.” All images courtesy amarujala.com

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 9 Eco-Spirituality can Revive a Lake

Piyush Manush from the city of Salem in the heart of Tamil Nadu, does not just talk or write about eco-spirituality, but has demonstrated that it can mobilise support for amazing ecological work.

brings rain was eroded from cultural memory. LOCAL WATER SOLUTIONS ‘Maari’ as rain and water was all that PiyushBringing banked back on to thebeckon significance to hundreds of of people to revive the Mookaneri lake in Salem and most importantly to maintain it as a sacred space. And he could do what governments could not do, perhaps because he deeply and unwaveringly believes that Nature is sacred and everything that Nature has given us is sacred. He also leads from the front – he was there to remove the muck from the lake, and over 500 people gradually joined him. In a world where we constantly that amazing heartwarming work can This lake had became a stinking hear of ecological destruction as well as be done to awaken not just a city but an increasing poverty of wellbeing, we perhaps the whole state by evoking also have innumerable organisations, the sacred beliefs of people. He has it. The fill deadeningof sorts with effect sewage of thewater hectic and groups, leaders and ideas emerging to spearheaded a movement to clean up moderneffluents life from we factoriesare caught flowing in merely into provide solutions to help reverse the and revive several lakes in Salem and made people hold their noses and rush trend. One such solution is that of eco- the idea has caught on in other cities past the roads around the lake. When spirituality. It is not at all a new theme like Dharmapuri, Madurai and Tiruchi Piyush began the clean up process with - all religions and spiritual traditions in Tamil Nadu. a small group, over 150 people joined have to a greater or lesser extent talked him early morning, every weekend for of reverence for Nature, and how Maariamman – the Goddess of about 7 months for this mammoth task. humans beings need to live in harmony Rain and Water Along with a group he formed the with Nature. The central idea that Piyush brought Salem Citizens’ Forum in 2010. The But today, in a world dominated by in was that Maariamman, the most collector of Salem gave formal approval the rationalising ruthless exploitation popular Goddess in Tamil Nadu, in to this forum to adopt the 58 acre of Nature brought in by mindless whose name thousands of temples exist Mookineri lake, which completed the science, technology and materialistic in the state, was actually the Goddess task of desilting the lake with earth economic growth, we have several of rain. ‘Maari’ meant ‘rain’, and by moving machines, forming about 45 thinkers who have begun writing extension, water – but this historical islands. They then planted several about the importance of valuing Nature truth had largely been forgotten in species of trees on the islands as well as as sacred, about sacred economics, Tamil Nadu. During the rainy season, around the lake, formed a walking path deep ecology and more. While we or even in the dry scorching summer around it and made it the beautiful and surely need , new without rain, many diseases emerged, serene space for the public that it has approaches to deal with consumerism, including the small pox. The people become today. waste, pollution etc, we cannot deny prayed to Maariamman for relief The Salem Citizens’ Forum then that the crises of ecology and the crises from their suffering, and gradually took up the task of reviving the 36 of the spirit are connected. And hence Maarimman’s meaning as one who acre Ammapettai Lake and other lakes the revival of a belief in eco-spirituality and ponds in the city all of which had as a way out of the mess we are in makes enormous sense, no matter The central idea that lakes were called “Maari Sthalam” – what religion or spiritual tradition we Piyush brought in was that becomemeaning Maari’s stinking sacred landfills. space. All Many these of connect with. Especially in a country Maariamman, the most popular these lakes are already looking like bird like India where a great diversity of sanctuaries and people have begun such traditions are still alive. Goddess in Tamil Nadu, in whose name thousands of taking walks or resting near these Piyush Manush from the city of spaces. In other cities too citizens loved Salem in the heart of Tamil Nadu, temples exist in the state, was this model and revived lakes – and they does not just talk or write about eco- actually the Goddess of rain. have renamed their lakes “Maari Agam” spirituality, but has demonstrated (Maari’s Home) etc.

10 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Spirituality and Afforestation In 2009, Piyush bought a 1.5 acres of dry, degraded land in the neighbouring Dharmapuri, the driest district in the state. Determined to demonstrate that afforestation can become a livelihood, he planted over one lakh bamboo as well as many other species of fruits, timber and medicinal trees. He then decided to make bamboo furniture for a living – and his inventiveness can be seen in his house where almost all the furniture is made of bamboo. He persuaded many of his friends to join him, created a cooperative called Coop Forest which now has afforested The 58 acre Mookaneri Lake in Salem, Tamil Nadu, now about 300 acres. Central to this work is transformed into Maariamman Sthalam, a sacred space of the the creation of about 20 water bodies Goddess Maariamman about 150 pilgrims per day at ‘Ayyappa involved in movements against years of minimal . which still hold water inspite of five Vanam (forest)’. He plans to get pilgrims and also fought against encroachments His latest project is again to to plant trees and value much as leverage spirituality for an ecological the legendary Ayyappan did. “I hope issues earned him many enemies; for cause. He is in the process of creating many other legitimatelyby the land protesting mafia. These against and otherhigh ‘Ayyappan Vanam’ in Coop forest in Ayyappan pilgrim camps will pick handedness and coruuptionhe has been Dharmapuri. The temple of Ayyappan up the idea of worshipping Ayyappan arrested by the authorities in collusion located in the middle of the Sabarimala in a live way through planting and with politicians and corporates. In forest in is considered the preserving trees” says Piyush. “We need July 2016 his arrest and torture for biggest pilgrimage centre in the world, to go beyond symbolism and tokenism protesting against an illegal bridge that attracting an estimated 100 million to the living reality of water and forests a builder was attempting, brought forth pilgrims every year. Ayyappan pilgrims on the ground to be worshipped along a huge amount of support from citizens go on a fast and minimalistic living for around the country. His torture, he says with the dieties”. more than a month and travel long almost destroyed his spirit – but he distances to reach the temple in the The Story of the Activist has snappedback, determined to use midst of a dense forest; most of them this popularity to mobilise support for trek barefoot through rough terrain Piyush began his work soon after more projects. with limited support systems. college as an activist cleaning up plastics and taking up various local Given that income generation is Several million pilgrims traveling and social causes. Friends and his own essential, he invites others to create from Tamil Nadu to Kerala stop over initiative helped him see larger issues, private forests to engage in various at various places and temples en route. particularly of huge factories that activities that can make it economically Piyush is creating a camping ground for polluted water. In Mettur, a small city viable for people. He has set up a in Salem District, he realized that it was factory to make bamboo products and buildings, equipment to make biochar Given that income possibly the most polluted district in the state. Factories such as Chemplast, and also works at processing fruits and generation is essential, Piyush products of the forest. He continues invites others to create private into the Cauvery River. Apart from to work with the Coop forest and EthyleneJindal and dicholoride, Vedanta let theirMercury effluents and AyyappanVana and to encourage and forests to engage in various support others who want to take up activities that can make it Cyanide, he found that more than 20 toxic substances were in the river and similar work. economically viable for people. much of the ground water was polluted with them too. “Almost all women in this town have had a miscarriage or suffer from some gynecological problems”, says Piyush. The helplessness of people who could not oppose these corporates because many of them were their employees was typical of our civilizational crises. Seetha Ananthasivan is the Founder- Director of Prakriya Green Wisdom School Salem is surrounded by the and Bhoomi Network and Editor of the Sheveroy and other hills and has Eternal Bhoomi Magazine. several that makes it a prime candidate for pollution. Piyush got All images courtsey Piyush Manush.

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 11 WE CAN CURE OUR WATER WOES

Rajendra Singh won the last year’s Stockholm Water Prize for his 30 years’ of work in water conservation. Philip Franses presents here the essence of his acceptance speach at Stockholm.

down from the hills. In the olden days this water had been caught in LOCAL WATER SOLUTIONS small check dams called johads. This rainwater in the johads then soaked into the underground , to be accessible to the rivers and wells in the dry season. But 80 years ago, the deforestation, the mining and the promise of water in pipes had meant that these old structures that conserved water had fallen into ruin. The old man gave me a three-day PhD in the wisdom of traditional water management. Then started a different type of education. For four years we worked on building johads in the . Seeing my determination, the community gradually joined me. With nothing to keep us going except our own faith and a memory of the traditional wisdom, we built the structures. And the johads worked! When the rains came, the water collected in the johads, the aquifer levels went up, and the rivers

clean and pure water! Water returned tothat the had wells. been Once dry all now the flowed structures with were in place the rivers became I am addressing you as Stockholm money. Our problem is that there is no perennial. Prosperity returned to the Water Prize Laureate 2015, as water in the landscape.” “But how can region. a representative of the many I help you? I’m only a doctor, not an communities and villages who have engineer,” I replied. The news of this success soon worked with me and my organisation, spread. Young people who had left for “Come with me tomorrow morning, Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS), to revive the cities returned to the villages to bring a spade and I will show you how seven rivers in India. My message is take up agriculture again. The nearby you can help,” he said. both a celebration of what we have national park was re-established achieved in 30 years of water work The old man instructed me in and populated with tigers and other and also a recommendation to adopt the traditional wisdom of building . Water schools were set up. structures to hold water. When the The community took ownership of droughts across the world. the rivers and looked after them by such work as a solution for and setting up river parliaments. A simple monsoonsFor four came, years the we water worked flowed understanding and a lot of action years ago in India, I went to a village on building johads in the turned drought into greenery and made withOn the finishing idea of putting medicine my knowledge school 35 into practice and treating sick people. landscape. Seeing my But after working for a time in a remote determination, the community dryWhat river bedsa journey flow with this water was! again. Slowly village of Rajasthan, I found no one gradually joined me. With thousands of people joined me and wanted my ideas on health. I asked an Tarun Bharat Sangh, and together old man what was wrong – why the nothing to keep us going except we have built over 11,000 such villagers did not accept me. He looked our own faith and a memory of rainwater-harvesting structures. I also at me quite challengingly and said: the traditional wisdom, we built want to acknowledge the help of the “Can you not see? Our problem is not Swedish International Development medicine and food. These are things the structures. And the johads Cooperation Agency (SIDA) in this we can get in the shops if we have the worked! work. TBS paid fees to the community,

12 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 who committed their labour to build the Young people who had left for the cities returned to the villages dams. The seven rivers that had been to take up agriculture again. The nearby national park was re- established and populated with tigers and other wildlife. Water year again and are rejuvenated. Water availabilitydry earlier arein the now villages flowing has the resulted whole schools were set up. The community took ownership of the rivers in abandoned villages becoming and looked after them by setting up river parliaments. resettled, barren earth becoming green, an increase in biodiversity and Recently I have been developing look after water at the source, and a change in the climate of that region, a worldwide strategy with The Flow collect it upstream in the hills where with increased rainfall. Partnership, whom I call affectionately my Flow Family. What if we had in place is restored. Moreover, in times of heavy Now, 30 years later, I feel myself a three-day PhD for the world, so that the rain falls, then the flow in the rivers a representative of that traditional every community had access to the downstream towns and settlements wisdom around water. Much of my rain the rate of flow decreases and the advice to the world at this moment to look after their own ? expertise of holding the water in the would be similar to the advice I Canknowledge, we implement tools, wisdom a strategy and finance that remain clear of floods. The same received as a young man looking for would be applicable to every water- measures have already been trialled something noble to do. At that time stressed region in the world, to give successfullylandscape also around addresses the world. floods! Such the problem in the region was lack of back to the communities the know- In England and Slovakia, my Flow water. The old villager had taught me how and responsibility to restore the Partnership colleagues have been how to resolve that water scarcity by natural water-holding capacity within achieving successes with regard to collaborating with Nature. I am sharing their ? The answer is YES. increasing the capacity within the with you the same simple knowledge In São Paolo and in California, in India landscape to hold the excess water about working with the landscape and in China, in the Middle East and in in times of heavy rainfall. Billions to return water to the . The Africa, we could come tomorrow with upon billions of dollars, along with problem in the world today, as in my a spade and begin work to restore village 35 years ago, is still water. The the untold heartache of dealing with way to resolve this problem is still by regions and reduce their water stress! working in collaboration with Nature. the healthy flow of water in all these consequences, can be avoided by I was trained as an Ayurvedic doctor adoptingthe devastation these simple of flood and and successful drought I know, as everyone knows, that our for people. Ayurveda teaches us that measures. planet is one. But what makes it one is prevention is better than treatment. I have just returned from England, water. My community has made a great People should have the capacity to change to the face of the earth. It has lead healthy lives and not fall ill in the made a barren land green. Displaced Peace Walk from the Holy Island of Lindisfarnewhere I led to thethe firstvillage World of Belford. Water people have come back to their native Prevention is better than treatment. first place! The same is true of Nature. Paul Collins, the vicar of Lindisfarne these types of change everywhere Now, as the World Water Ayurvedic acrossland. The the river planet. is flowing. We can make Doctor, my diagnosis is this: when we with water and blessed both our walk Priory, ceremoniously filled a vessel

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 13 and our longer journey to replace water wars with water peace, adding By rejuvenating seven rivers in India, we have made that region this prayer: free from floods and droughts. Such work is needed in the whole Lead us from death to life world. To do this, the Flow Family wants to bring everyone From falsehood to truth together. India to Asia to Europe – we are now beginning to meet. From fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love. Lead us from war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe. Peace, peace, peace. Belford is a small village that used local government came together to buildto flood small regularly. structures The communityupstream, andjust like our johads in India. And for the on record around the UK, the village last few years, despite the worst floods eve¬ryone in the village is happy. has remained free from floods, and This Water Walk brought together people from across the world to discuss how we can develop a global strategy to tackle water stress with local action. In the spirit of that Water Walk, I come before you and ask that you join us in our journey towards a world learning to live in harmony and peace with Nature again! We are planning these Earthlinks UK and The Flow Partnership Water Walks in every continent in the Earthlinks UK, a registered charity based in Devon, has been active in many ventures since 2008. It has been the publisher of Holistic Science Journal since 2010, and since nextBy five rejuvenating years. seven rivers in 2012, through its flagship project, The Flow Partnership, it has been resolving global India, we have made that region free water crises through natural catchment management. The Flow Partnership is a global network and collaboration of local partners is needed in the whole world. To do committed to developing healthier river catchments as a way of dealing with the this,from the floods Flow and Family droughts. wants Such to bring work increasing threat of floods, droughts, soil erosion and habitat loss, at their source. everyone together. India to Asia to Europe – we are now beginning to meet. The partnership facilitates cross-platform collaborations between government, In such a way instead of globalisation, business, financiers, scientists, landowners and local communities to implement the whole world is one family. We focus these simple, low-cost landscape interventions as part of an informed, catchment- on a global Nature and human family – based strategy to ease desertification and flooding worldwide. As a part of this this is the work. holistic strategy, The Flow Partnership is also developing financial mechanisms that could help deliver the necessary funds to communities, business and government to Thank you very much for the implement this catchment work. honour you have given in allowing www.earthlinksall.com me to present the experience of my villagers and myself on a global stage. www.theflowpartnership.org We can come together with one vision, [email protected] our landscapes! the global restoration of healthy flow in My 30 years have taken me from digging with a spade, creating a in the landscape, to now looking at creating a johad in the minds and hearts of the decision makers. Now the people I work with, students, teachers and my Written by Philip Franses of the Flow Partnership, after a verbal discussion with . communities, know the planet as one after he was awarded the Stockholm Water Prize in 2015. and respect the need for conservation and a disciplined use of water. This All images courtesy creative commons/flickr action is starting all over the planet. An edited version of this article featured in Resurgence & Ecologist issue 293, November/ Please join us! December 2015. All rights to this article are reserved to The Resurgence Trust. To buy a copy of the magazine, read further articles or find out about the Trust, visit: www.resurgence.org

14 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Traditional and Innovative Water Conservation Methods in India Shikha Shah takes us through various traditional and innovative water conservation methods used in different parts of the country.

Many of us who live in big cities enjoy a carefree lifestyle with 24 hours of running taps, swimming pools and decorative

fountains. Sheltered by this layer of comfort, many of us remain unaware of the impact of these water-intensive activities LOCAL WATER SOLUTIONS on our environment. Rapid urbanization and has widened the supply and demand gap, putting enormous pressure on the quality of surface and groundwater bodies. Clean water is destined to become one of the rarest commodities soon,In ifIndia the generalaround public83% of is availablenot educated fresh about water the is significanceused for agriculture. of storing, Rainfall recycling being and the reusing primary water. source of , the concept behind conserving water is to harvest it when it falls and wherever it falls. The importance of storing rainwater through different techniques can be understood by an example of the desert city of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan which is water world, but still faces water shortage due to lack of water conservation methods. self-sufficient despite experiencing meager rainfall as against Cherrapunji, which is blessed with the highest rainfall in the Water Conservation Practices from Past and Present Since ages, people across different regions of India, have experienced either excess or scarce water due to varied rainfall inand communal land topography. ways. Let’s Yet, learn they abouthave managed a few traditional to irrigate water their conservation agricultural methods fields using in India. localized water harvesting methods. Their traditional ways, though less popular, are still in use and efficient. They are enriched with knowledge to manage water

Katta The sand bore technique has been used in Karnataka since decades. The only drawback is that it can only be practiced in Katta is a temporary structure made by binding mud and coastal areas or in areas with high sand deposits. loose stones available locally. Built across small and Madaks/ Johads/ Pemghara a large amount (depending upon its height) during the dry months.rivers, this The stone collected bund waterslows thegradually flow of seeps water, into and ground stores and increase the water level of nearby wells. In coastal areas, theyIt is aalso cost minimize effective theand flow simple of fresh method, water used into widely the sea. in rural areas. Series of stone bunds built one behind the other have proved to be more effective than modern concrete dams in some villages, as these local structures can be easily repaired by farmers themselves. Although they require many skilled laborers during construction, the cost is mostly shared by all the villagers as it is a common structure. However, with more people opting for personal borewells and handpumps, the water level in open wells has gone down severely, taking a toll on marginal villages. Thus, rejuvenating these community Kattas can go a long way in sustainable water management. These water soak pits called as Madakas in Karnataka, Sand Bores Pemghara in Odisha and Johads in Rajasthan, are one of Sand bores provide a safe alternative for farm irrigation the oldest systems used to conserve and recharge ground without affecting groundwater. This technique uses the water. Constructed on an area with naturally high elevation concept of extracting water retained by sand particles. on three sides, soil is excavated to create a storage area and used to create a wall on fourth side to hold water. Johads content at bottom and gushing pure water out. White sand is collect monsoon water, which slowly seeps in to recharge believedSand particles to yield act water as great clean water enough filters for by drinking retaining too. the Sand salt groundwater and maintain soil moisture. Sometimes, many deposits (as high as 15-30 feet) left along banks of rivers is Johads are interconnected with a gulley or deep channels dug using a manual soil cutter. Casing PVC pipes is inserted with a single outlet in a river or nearby to prevent sweet water out. requires annual maintenance of de-silting and cleaning the to act as filter and an electric or diesel motor is used to pump storagestructural area damage. of weed This growth. cost-efficient and simple structure The entire set-up costs around INR5,000-7,000 and requires Water from Johads is still been widely used by farmers to less maintenance when sand deposits are fine and clean. January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 15 irrigate of Rajasthan has seen a drastic improvement in water system is that it does not pollute like plastic counterparts conservationfields due in many to the parts efforts of India.of Rajendra In fact, Singh the arid of Tarun state andto irrigate is very fieldseconomical and back and simple gardens. to Mainconstruct. advantage of the Bharat Sangh to revive Johads. What needs to be done today is revival of old Johads, many of which have fallen into disrepair Rooftop Rain Water Harvesting due to growth of weed plants and dumping of waste. All of us who directly consume water are the most important Bawdi/Jhalara stakeholders in managing water. While many of us urbanites use or waste a lot of water, we rarely make an effort to conserve it. Fortunately, the rainwater harvesting method has provided a solution that can be practiced easily in every household. It is a simple model where the roof acting as a

directcatchment use orfor recharged rainfall, which into ground after flowing water. Giventhrough below a series is a simpleof filters formula and pipes to calculate is stored the in ground-levelwater that can containers be collected for from your rooftop. Tech Specs Table An area of 1,000 square feet with 1 inch of rainfall is estimated to yield 550 gallons of water. For an existing building, the cost of water harvesting systems can range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000. Designs have been formulated for both pukka and kutcha houses to make it a household activity. In a running model, the stored water has been widely used for irrigation, domestic usage as well as animals. D&D Ecotech services, Jalprapat drillers, water harvesters and NirmalJal are some of the reliable service providers of this technology. For new buildings (with more than 100 sq These step-wells are grand structures of high archaeological meter area), rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory by few state governments like Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh of kings and queens. They are typically square shaped step- and Himachal Pradesh. wellssignificance with beautiful constructed arches, since motifs ancient and times, sometimes mainly rooms in honor on sides. Apart from storing water for basic needs, they at times Ferro-cement Tanks also served for water sports. Located away from residential areas, the in these Bawdis is considered to be good for consumption. The typical lifespan of Jhalaras is around 20-30 years. Built with large investment of money and numerous skilled laborers, society. these magnificent structures today stand discarded by Bamboo Drip Irrigation Innovated by tribes of north eastern states, this technique economically uses water during dry seasons. It is practiced in hilly areas where construction of ground channels is not possible due to sloppy and stony terrain. This arrangement made by bamboo pipes of various diameters (to control taps spring water to irrigate fields. A network of channels flow), allows downward flow of water by gravity. An efficient system can reduce around 20 liters of inflow water running overConstruction kms to 20-80 drops per minute in agricultural fields. available. It is cost effective requiring less maintenance and This is a low cost alternative for expensive water harvesting material such as bamboo and fiber is locally only 1-2 labourers, who use tools to create a network of containers made of masonry, plastic and RCC. It has proved bamboo pipes to irrigate one hectare of land in 15 days. The highly effective in high rainfall regions where large amount system lasts for around three years after which the wood of water need to stored in clean form. These tanks requiring rots and decomposes to become nutrient-rich soil. materials like sand, cement, mild steel bar and galvanized Farmers of Khasi and Jaintia tribes have successfully used iron wire mesh, can be easily constructed by semi skilled labours. It’s light in weight and can be moulded into any etc. It has been replicated in urban areas too, where water shape required. It is believed to last for around 25 years with this unique technique to irrigate fields of black pepper, betel little maintenance. Picture above shows a ferro-cement tank under construction. stored on roof top tanks is flown through bamboo channels 16 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Joy Pumps Xylam water solutions, a Vadodra based company is also designing and selling this innovation. If made applicable in urban areas, this concept can do wonders in making people realize importance of water and lose some calories too. Rain Water Syringe Most of the open wells and tube wells in coastal areas contain salty water due to seepage of sea water. Rainwater harvesting is a viable option for solving the issue of , but construction of rainwater overhead tanks is unaffordable for marginal farmers. Antoji in Kerala has innovated a cost effective method for harvesting rainwater in coastal areas. Rainwater is collected from the roof tops of houses and stored in a pressure tank on the ground and with the help of PVC pipes, water is lowered below sea level (16-24 feet). The water is retained in the underground water column which is then harvested during summer by a simple piston pump or motor by constructing a tube well in the vicinity. It has Ever proved successful in diluting recharging ground water in playing around? This innovation was designed to mitigate coastal areas of Kerela and Antoji has installed 150 tanks in waterimagined scarcity problemsfilling up anin villagesoverhead with tank no by clean just surfacekids different parts of Kerala. water source, no electricity and poor monetary capacity. Attached below a merry-go-round wheel or a see-saw, is Water Wheel an arrangement similar to a conventional hand pump. As children ride on these wheels, groundwater is drawn and be used to pump water from bore wells and large storage tankers.tank (around It can 8-10 be installed meters aboveeven at ground) far off places is filled. and It canhas also easy maintenance. It is basically a community structure and can be set up in schools, parks, villages and relief camps. It has been used in developing countries like India and Africa. Span pumps pvt limited, a Pune based company is designing such pumps in India. Cycle Run Water Pumps

This innovation comes from a foreign visitor who was inspired by women from villages of Rajasthan, who carried round earthen matkas on their heads for long distances in hot weather. This invention has made carrying water not only an effortless but fun activity. It is a round wheel shaped storage tanker with an attached handle on top to provide painless mobility. It has already become popular in villages of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Designed to reduce the drudgery and save time of working women, water wheel can store upto 10 to 50 litres of water in hygienic conditions. It’s designed for lasting on rough terrains and made from high quality plastic. It’s affordable too costing around 2000 A saver of time and cost of electricity and fuel, this rupees. It was innovated by a US based social entrepreneur, technology utilizes human power generated by pedalling a Cynthia Koeing under an organisation called Wello. bicycle to lift water from streams, ponds, canals and wells. Whenthe cycle is pedalled, it creates an up and down portable model which can be installed on site has also been developed.motion of pistons Designed which for smallpressurizes scale farmers water flow who to don’t outlet. have A capacity to afford costly diesel run motors, this arrangement made of cast iron and aluminium costs from rupees 2500 to 7000.can bring These a flow pumps of 100 have litres also per supported minute. Thewomen, complete kids unitand Shikha Shah has been working on water conservation and rural old people who at times found operating hand pumps in development activities ever since she joined TERI University for bend position a strenuous task. Some models have replaced her master’s degree in Water Resources Management. Originally bicycle by steppers, making pumping water a healthy and published on Ecoideaz.com. a magazine dedicated to green fun activity. In India, it was conceptualized by poor farmer innovations in India. from a village of West Bengal, Nasiruddin Gayen in 1980s. All images courtesy creative commons/flickr

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 17 New Technology for water solutions While traditional methods of water conservation are valuable, especially in countries like India, in our urbanised densely populated world, we do have many innovative solutions for water saving, purification and collection that are emerging. While high tech solutions are often high carbon solutions (such as

LOCAL WATER SOLUTIONS of sea water) there are many solutions which may become essential to see us through the future decades of water stress. Nanotechnology in One solution being explored in Intelligent Irrigation: Filtration: seawater desalination plant in 2005, is Approximately 70% of the world’s biomimicrySingapore, - which mimicking opened the biological its first freshwater is used by the agricultural According to the World Health Organi- processes by which mangrove plants sation, 1.6 million people die each year industry. Applying a more intelligent from diarrhoeal diseases attributable in fresh briny or salt water) extract to lack of safe drinking water as well as seawaterand euryhaline using fish minimal (fish that canenergy. live basic . Researchers in India Another new approach is to use have come up with a solution to this biomimetic membranes enhanced with perennial problem with a water puri- aquaporin: proteins embedded in cell membranes that selectively shuttle The technology removes microbes, water in and out of cells while blocking fication system using nanotechnology. out salts. bacteria and other matter from approach to water management by water using composite nanoparticles, deploying precision irrigation systems which emit silver ions that destroy for PUB, Singapore’s national water and computer algorithms and model- contaminants. "Our work can start Harry Seah, chief technology officer ling is already beginning to bring ben- saving lives," says Prof Thalappil of effectively mimicking these biological Pradeep of the Indian Institute of processes,agency, says: “Ifinnovative science canengineering find a way Technology Madras. "For just $2.50 a solutions can potentially be derived However,efits to farmers while in developedthis approach countries. em- year you can deliver microbially safe for seawater desalination. Seawater braces new instrumentation and ana- water for a family." It is a sign that low- desalination can then be transformed lytical technologies, innovation comes beyond our wildest imagination.” from a change in mindset that empha- round the corner – and be commercially sises the importance of measuring and scaleable.cost water purification may finally be Smart monitoring: In developing countries alone, it is estimated that forecasting. 45m cubic metres are lost every day in “In the old days there was not so Seawater distribution networks. Leaks are not much stress on measuring because Desalination: only costly for companies, but increase we thought we had plenty of water,” pressure on stretched water resources says Carey Hidaka, smarter water and raise the likelihood of pollutants management expert at IBM. “It’s a bit of a paradigm switch for the water industry, which like others is infiltrating“It does supplies. not make commercial sense to invest billions in additional used to throwing new engineering reservoirs and water catchment, developments at problems.” treatment plants [and] pumping stations, when as much as 60% of Wastewater water produced is unaccounted for,” Processing: says Dale Hartley, director of business development at SebaKMT, a water leak Engineering still has its place in eco detection specialist. friendly solutions. Many people living in urban areas, even in advanced New monitoring technologies economies, still do not have their help companies to ensure the sewage adequately treated and Although holding much promise for integrity of their vast water supply wastewater is often discharged, the future, seawater desalination is networks. Electronic instruments, untreated, into rivers and estuaries or still extremely expensive, with reverse such as pressure and acoustic sensors, used as irrigation water. osmosis technology consuming a vast connected wirelessly in real time to amount of energy: around 4 kilowatt centralised and cloud-based monitoring New technologies are promising hours of energy for every cubic metre systems will allow companies to detect to transform wastewater into a of water. and pinpoint leaks much quicker. resource for energy generation and

18 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Altered: Nozzle Plant based Sewage Same tap. 98% less water. The Treatment Altered:Nozzle is the worlds most extreme water saving nozzle. It In plant based sewerage treatments, installs easily into your existing tap. By plants and microorganisms are chosen atomizing water we can use 98% less purposefully to help break down water and still retain full functionality. pollutants within the water. The And if you need a little more, then you treatment is performed by the action switch to our regular saving mode. of micro-organisms that takes 4-6 Still 75% savings, but all the water you days and in which organic and substances, toxic substances, fecal and and pans. other bacteria are removed from the need. Perfect for filling glasses, pots waste water. Plant based treatment a source of drinking water. Modular The mind behind the Altered Nozzle plants consists of three pools arranged hybrid activated sludge digesters, for is Prof. Kaj Mickos of Sweden, who is a in cascades treating waste water, where instance, are now removing nutrients professional inventor with a stake in 14 between 95 and 99 percent is treated by to be used as fertilisers and are, in turn, companies and more than 30 individual using biological, chemical or physical driving down the energy required for patents. Along with Johan Nihlén, processes. The treated water is safe treatment by up to half. Mikael Abbhagen and Kickstarter.com, enough to be discharged into streams, that helped them crowd source funds to lakes, the sea, or retained in puddles “There is an urgent need for manufacture an initial batch of nozzles, wastewater systems that are more this group has launched their unique for irrigation. The system requires no compact, so that new plants can be built water saving tap. The old solution for maintenanceand artificial accumulationsexcept that new and seeds used in urban areas where land is scarce and saving water has been to restrict the must be planted periodically.Plant- for upgrading and expanding extant based treatments can treat all waste- facilities,” says Dr David Lloyd Owen, an to a point. When you’re left with only a water, but the most common uses are advisor to the board of Bluewater Bio, a drizzle,flow of you water. need But a thatshift onlyin technology. works up for: specialist in wastewater treatment. This technology allows enough water HYBACS Units at Ashbourne to be used, without millions of litres of water going down the drain. where the treated water can be re-used. Sewage Treatment Works. The HYBACS • Households and institutions - deal with sewage. sources, underground and lakes system is a green, more efficient way to • Protection of drinking water and waste depositories Mobile Recycling • Leachate waters from landfills Facilities: treatment for waste-water include: An unexpected by product from The Benefits of using a plant based the explosion of the global hydraulic fracturing industry has been demand plants and natural materials, where • Eco-friendly use of original for highly mobile water treatment no mechanical equipment or energy is facilities. Investment is being required for operation channelled into reverse osmosis units that will allow companies to treat high volumes of water to extract gas and When atomizing the water we break • No unpleasant odors injected into the subsurface. it up into millions of tiny droplets. • Cheap and easy maintenance Creating a high speed, heavy mist, as products [will be developed] with shooting out of your tap. This increases new“There applications will be knock-onwhere the benefits price the surface area of the water drastically tolerance is much lower,” says Peter and makes it possible for you to come Adriaens, professor of environmental in contact with almost all of the water engineering and entrepreneurship at coming out of your tap. the University of Michigan. Prof. Kaj Mickos says, “The result was Adriaens adds: “As these even more extreme than we thought. technologies develop and learn to We could have full functionality in treat high volumes of water, we will washing hands, doing dishes, brushing see cheaper, more potable treatment teeth etc, with only 2% of the water systems and we will start to move away compared to a standard saving tap!” Sources: from massive centralised treatment This nozzle is certainly expensive www.thegurdian.com and www.Kickstarter. systems.” for the Indian Pocket now, but one com hopes that if it succeeds commercially, - Camp Bijar and Biophilic Cities we will soon have an affordable version All images courtesy above websites and in India as well. hydrocreatives.com

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 19 LOCAL WATER SOLUTIONS

Inspiring Water Tales Bhim Singh Rawat narrates how villages all across the country are conserving water.

In 2016, India has been witnessing happened in this State. Hiware Bazaar of the rainfall and available water is one of the severest droughts after village in Ahmad Nagar district has taken. As a result of several such steps independence. The phenomena has become a byword for watershed and community formed norms, the led to a ‘never before’ kind of water management . During the 1990s, the underground water table in Hiware crisis across the country. As a result the village faced a major water crisis due Bazaar is now available at 20 to 40 feet sources are under severe to scanty rainfall. Various watershed below the surface. The women in the stress and aquifers beneath ground management programmes and water village are glad that they don’t have to have been over drafted. An already conservation initiatives were started trek miles in search of water. depressed agrarian community is worst by the villagers including refraining Aurangabad: On similar lines, a tiny hit. Thousands of parched villages have from sowing water-intensive crops and village Patoda, on the fringes of water- been dotting the rural landscape. Many starved Aurangabad city, is offering somewhat immune urban centers are development was also encouraged. valuable lessons in water conservation also facing the wrath of heat. opting for crop diversification. Dairy The villagers meet on December and harvesting. However, there is no dearth of 31 every year, during which a review Villagers regard water as more precious than money. They follow conservation around the country A tiny village Patoda, on the strict rules about usage and strictly presentinginspiring tales a ray inof hope the fieldamid ofa gloomy water carry out water audits. Water meters scenario. The exemplary works being fringes of water-starved are installed in every household and done by several villages, people and Aurangabad city, is offering the entire village recycles each drop organizations offer some lasting valuable lesson in water of waste water that it generates. solutions to growing water scarcity. So here is an attempt to present a State conservation and harvesting. village. Percolation has recharged the wise account of drought hit areas which Villagers regard water as aquifersToday, no and rain the water water flows table outhas ofrisen. the have been wading through the water So effective is its water conservation crisis sound and safe by reinventing more precious than money. model that Patoda has now become a the community driven and local water They follow strict rules about model for the rest of Marathwada and harvesting practices. usage and strictly carry the has won 22 state & national awards. MAHARASHTRA water audits. Water meters are But this transformation did not come about overnight. In fact, it is a result Ahmad Nagar: The State is among installed in every households of a decade long effort of villagers to worst drought hit, particularly the and entire village recycles conserve rain water and regenerate Marthawada region. It is interesting ground water. to see that the most remarkable each drop of waste water it water conservation work has also generates.

20 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Jalna: Similarly, the villages the unique idea of creating farm ponds of Wadhona, Vizora, Sunderwadi, Dewas a district in parched now named ‘Pani Bachao Dhan Kamao’ Padmavati, Bhorkheda & Vadod Malwa the region has won (save water, earn money) campaign Tangda in Jalna district of Marathwada introduced ten years ago. As part of five national awards for rain the campaign, the local administration using alternatives like water shed water harvesting. Curtsey to chipped in with technical inputs and development,have been greatlyafforestation, benefited farm by the unique idea of farm pond farmers were urged to dig out one bunding, organic farming, vermi- tenth area of their land and turn it into composting, agro-meteorology, now named ‘Pani Bachao farm ponds. After knowing about the farm ponds, water budgeting, DhanKamao’ (save water, earn micro-irrigation, fodder cultivation money) campaign introduced digging ponds on their own land with steps initiated under a watershed thebenefits help ofof farm tractors. pond, Today, farmers there started are development project by WOTR. The ten years ago. more than 1,000 irrigational ponds out of which 564 were made without any village, Jaydevwadi, on top followed government fund. The concept of farm help them raise the remaining amount. byproject Wadhona, is built onVizora, a hill, withSunderwadi, the first ponds has made about 400 villages in The crowd funding campaign has Padmavati, Bhorkheda and Vadod Dewas drought proof. collected over Rs 1.9 Lakh in less than Tangda. a week. The work started on May 17 The United Nations also had The most important aspect of this and is almost completed. Villagers now selected Dewas district’s community model is the work that the villages have are hopeful that this attempt to revive water management works in the best undertaken to arrest and conserve rain a water source and the prediction of a three water management practices in water, regenerate ground water and good monsoon will wash away all their the world under the category of ‘Best plan their water consumption. At each woes. Water Management Practices’ for 2011- level, at each village, some amount 2012. Over 3 lakh truckloads of soil had While under Participatory Ground of rain water is conserved or goes been excavated and works worth Rs 40 Water Management Project, Arghyam back into the ground. The mammoth crore had been successfully completed organization has brought the villagers task of developing a watershed, de- by farmers. of Muthalane in Pune, Randullabad in silting, bunding has also led to massive Satara and Pondhe in Purandar taluka Indore: Inspired by the success employment opportunities for the farm together and got them to understand of the campaign, the neighbouring workers giving them additional income. the issue of ground water management. Indore district administration has Moving a step ahead, also worked out a smart plan. It has Osmanabad: Accordingly, groundwater farmers of Horti village of Tuljapur asked farmers to de-silt water bodies management plans based on aquifer Taluka in drought stricken Osmanabad and transport the mineral rich soil to mapping were made in the villages. district have resorted to online crowd This experience showed that the funding to de-silt and renovate a both saving the district administration use of groundwater and aquifer canal. Around 700 farmers have come moneymanure in fields. deepening The idea water has bodiesworked and in based knowledge by demystifying together to widening, deepen and giving farmers mineral-rich manure it for the villagers and combining it de-silt an 8km long canal that runs with local knowledge helped them across their farms to increase its water they have been asked to do is dig 3-5 become aware of the common nature holding capacity ahead of the monsoon. feetfor the deep fields and atuse an 1/10th affordable of the cost. soil All to of their water resources and the The cost of the work is approximately strengthen the embankment. need for its better management. Rs 6 lakh, of which the villagers have The plan has begun to pay rich collected approximately Rs 3 lakh for MADHAYA PRADESH dividends to both government and the work and the rest of which will be farmers in water crisis-hit areas. raised through an online crowd funding Dewas: A district in parched Malwa campaign that has been put together to Betul: In another example of for rain water harvesting courtsey of people’s initiative in water sector, the region has won five national awards the Korku tribals in Betul district planned, designed and constructed the check dam without any aid from the government. To construct a check dam over the Mandu Kheda stream, about 35 tribals worked tirelessly

structure measuring 40 metres in lengthevery and day, 16 for feet fivein height months. is almost The ready. Likewise 100 of villagers from Bastagua, Tori, Ratangua and Lidwara villages in Teekamgarh which is part of Bundelkhand got together and have built 150 ft long, 15 ft wide and 5 ft tall stop dam in Sanghani river to conserve water during monsoon.

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 21 UTTAR PRADESH in increasing water disputes among The villages in Channapatna farmers. Now working towards a In the water starved Banda: solution, 25 farmers of Kummaravandla Bundelkhand region that has 113 taluk, are finding this summer Pally have formed a collective called farmers’ suicides since Jan. 2016, much more comfortable than Kolagunti Ummadi Neeti Yajamanya farmer Prem Singh has been quietly the previous ones in the last 17 Sangham to “share groundwater with scripting a success story by practicing each other” and to sustain their crops organic farming, horticulture and to 18 years. This transformation with the help of government bodies animal husbandry for past many years. happened owing to a project and NGO WASSAN. The joint efforts of On his farm in Banda district, one can taken up in Dec, 2014 that all three stakeholders have led to the see full water bodies, fruit-laden trees concept of networking of bore wells to and healthy cattle. Locals and activists recharged the groundwater in secure the rain-fed crops of all farmers, the parched area by filling up irrespective of borewell ownership. By how his practices have transformed his tanks in the villages with water linking all bore wells with a network farmhave approachedand inspired Prem many Singh in histo find village out of pipelines and outlets, all farmers to grow an orchard on their farms. from Shimsha river. can now access groundwater. To ensure compliance, the farmers have be replicated by small farmers in the with commercially viable crops like also signed an agreement which aims region.Indeed, his model of diversification can papaya, beyond traditional ones such as at sustainable use of ground water Meanwhile, women groups in cotton, maize, onion, chilly and pulses. resource by encouraging farmers to Jalaun, Hamirpur and Lalitpur districts Ramanagara: Likewise, villages also in Bundelkhand have joined hands in Channapatna taluk, which used to form pani-panchayats. The focus of to suffer from acute drinking water irrigationswitch to cropsystems diversification, etc. The farmers’ System these paani panchayats, mostly led by committeeRice Intensification, has also horticulture,put a ban on micro new dalit women is to create more water much more comfortable than the bore well connection in critical areas. resources, revive old ones and conserve previousshortage, ones are in findingthe last 17 this to 18 summer years. Farmers have also been using natural water bodies with the help of This transformation happened owing government schemes such as water traditional and modern technology. to a project taken up in Dec, 2014 and works under the that recharged the groundwater in the MGNREGS and NADEP to build compost in 2011 in Jalaun district. By September pits. The mutual agreement has led to a 2011,The first a total paani of 96panchayat such water was resource formed villages with water from Shimsha river, new way of agriculture in the 72 acres management councils were formed. whichparched is area a tributary by filling ofup the tanks Cauvery. in the of land of 25 farmers. Since 2010, the Local organizations Parmarth Samaj Under the project, 65 tanks, including cropping pattern has changed, leading Sevi Sansthan have been supporting Kanva reservoir and 17 major tanks, to diversity of crops, reduction in costs both the initiatives in Bundelkhand. of cultivation and an improvement in Similarly, a group of villagers from from the Iggaluru barrage that stores Malakpur in Shamli district of western Shimshawere filled water. with As a water result, pumpedthere are upno UP are trying to breathe new life into signs of drought in villages despite the value of the produce and profits. the local stream Katha, a 150-km long region being drought prone. river that has been dead for sometime Mandya: Mandya district, that has now. With help from a local scientist, been notorious for farmers’ suicides is farmers are leading the effort to turn a presently experiencing an agricultural 1 km of the barren riverbed into a lake. revolution of sorts as farmers are The plan is to put up check dams to now selling organic produce for a harvest monsoon water along the 1 km stretch of the river bed which is 5-40 Madhuchandan SC, who left a lucrative feet deep. At present, in the absence of careerprofit. Thein the man US behind in August the initiative 2014 and is started the Mandya Organic Farmers Cooperative Society with 270 farmers, KARNATAKAcheck dams, it flows into the . who produce and sell their own organic Dharwad: Farm ponds have been farm products. proving effective in Karnataka where the majority of farmers in the 20 ANDHRA PRADESH villages of Navalgund taluk in Dharwad Anantapur: This district in the district have remained unaffected by State has been facing a severe drought the drought. The farm ponds dug in for over a decade. Since 2000, the area low-lying areas have allowed farmers to has seen a rapid fall in ground water Bhim Singh Rawat is a team member of harvest occasional rainfall, store water table mainly due to subsidized power SANDRP and has spent 5 years working and use it to provide timely irrigation to connections and the absence of a on Yamuna River and learning from their crops. As a result, the farmers are formal legislation or social regulation villagers living along the river. He has a able to irrigate and harvest 3 to 4 crops to govern extraction. Despite water Post Graduate Diploma in Environment & in a year. Their income has more than shortage, the cultivation of water- . doubled and they are experimenting intensive crops has continued resulting All images courtesy counterview.com

22 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 “The small wisdom is like water in a glass: clear, transparent, pure. The great wisdom is like the water in the sea: dark, mysterious, impenetrable”

- Rabindranath Tagore

“A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth’s eye, looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.”

- Henry David Thoreau

“In order to see, you have to stop being in the middle of the picture”

-Sri Aurobindo

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 23 Cauvery Row: When Source is the Cause Manu Moudgil Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are sparring over the dwindling Cauvery water. Kodagu, where the Cauvery begins its journey, is witnessing landscape changes which is impacting the water inflow to the river.

Besides lesser rainfall, the changing landscape of the region on Cauvery water, not much thought has gone into the place is also affecting the river ecology. LOCAL WATER SOLUTIONS whereEven the as river Karnataka originates. and TamilKodagu Nadu district, fight earlierover their known rights as Kodagu is known for its pleasant weather and beautiful Coorg, lies on the eastern slope of Western Ghats, a biological hotspot which is home to the Cauvery and is also the primary of holiday homes for the well-heeled have led to large-scale catchment area of the river. conversionlandscape. Theof farms increasing and coffee tourist estates in flow into and resorts, the prospect hotels Kodagu is also known for being one of the most diverse and villas. “Around 2,800 acres of land in Kodagu has been coffee production systems in the world as coffee grows converted for commercial purposes in the last 10 years under the of native trees, instead of the open sky. and several more applications are pending. This has led to These coffee plantations and the native trees add to the the concretisation of land which used to absorb rainwater rich biodiversity of Kodagu already rich with government- and recharge groundwater table earlier,” says Col. C.P. controlled reserve forests and the sacred groves linked to Muthanna (retd), the president of Coorg Wildlife Society religious customs of the locals. which has been working towards environment conservation in the area. The heightened construction activity has also But the landscape is now changing and so is the weather. led to increased illegal from Cauvery and its Dreams of Development tributaries, including Lakshman Theertha and Hemavathi in Kodagu. “Illegal extraction has led to the change in the course The three talukas, Madikeri, Somwarpet and Virajpet, of of rivers and as we know, sand holds water which not only Kodagu are receiving low rainfall for the second consecutive recharges groundwater but also help maintain the surface

Cauvery Foundation, a volunteer group creating awareness year with deficits of 21 percent to 39 percent till September onflow the in issues lean concerning season,” says the Devikariver. Devaiah of Save River in16, the 2016. Mandya This hasdistrict. led to The lower length in flow of the into rainy Cauvery season and has 36 decreasedpercent deficit by 14 indays the over Krishna the past Raja 35 Sagarayears. It dam also reservoirnoticed a Besides the resorts and villas, government projects like a power line to Kerala which required over 50,000 trees to

strong fluctuation The length in the ofannual the rainfallrainy season every 12 has to 14 decreased years. by 14 days over the past 35 years. It also noticed a strong fluctuation in the annual rainfall every 12 to 14 years. Besides lesser rainfall, the changing landscape of the region is also affecting the river ecology.

24 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Otter is to water what tiger is to forest. They are the apex predator in the river and their presence indicates good ecological health of the river. More of them means good amount of food like fish and crabs and ideal conditions for them to breed. Otters also eat diseased fish, preventing the diseases from spreading, and prefer to eat the invasive fish species, thus maintaining the population of the native species. be felled last year are threatening to change the way Kodagu without the need to sell their land,” says K.A. Machaiah, who looked and felt. “The power line went through, despite volunteers with Save River Cauvery Foundation. protests by locals and suggestions of alternatives to the plan Col. Muthanna also feels that restrictions to development which were less destructive. There are also plans to expand should come with incentives for maintaining status quo. roads and build a railway line to the region which will further “The people of Kodagu are offering an essential service by impact the catchment area of the river,” says Col. Muthanna. keeping the Cauvery alive which, in turn, serves around eight What the Otters say crore people, 600 major industries in downstream areas of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. There has to be a The large forested areas and coffee forests of Kodagu are mechanism through which we pay them back for maintaining the catchment area,” he says. tigers, bison, leopards, and sambar deer. The man-elephant home to various flagship species of India, including elephants, It’s not a tall order considering the amount of resources plantations and degradation of forest areas, but there’s no and time Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are spending bickering evidentconflict impacthas been on on the the diversity rise due of toriverine the expansion life as yet. of coffee over the leftover water. The need is to shift focus towards the water that can be saved. Kodagu has a similar model running M. Gopakumar, co-founder of Nityata Conservation in its own coffee plantations. Initiative, has been studying otters in the Cauvery river for the last four years. Otter is to water what tiger is to forest. On a Coffee High They are the apex predator in the river and their presence Kodagu produces about 38 percent of India’s coffee. The indicates good ecological health of the river. More of them plantations are unique as these harbour more tree species than most other coffee plantation areas elsewhere in the world. However, native shade trees are increasingly being preventingmeans a good the amount diseases of from food spreading,like fish and and crabs prefer and to ideal eat conditions for them to breed. Otters also eat diseased fish, replaced by the exotic silver oak which grow quickly and fetch better price. Even though silver oak don’t have dense the native species. the invasive fish species, thus maintaining the population of canopies, the shift from Arabica to Robusta coffee helped as Except opportunistic poaching by the locals, there’s no latter doesn’t demand heavy shade. great threat to otters in Kodagu right now, but Gopakumar A study done by the Coffee Agro-Forestry Network compared the impact of tree variety on the ecosystem of the region and found that native trees sustain wider varieties of Thehas churning a warning. of water “Certain due to fish mining species also breed continues in sand. for long, So removal of sand disrupts fish colonies and hence the otters. and carbon sequestration. leave. This can happen in the span of one dry season when flora and fauna and contribute positively towards hydrology miningincreasing usually the takes turbidity place. and So, making it’s important the fish to and ensure otters good to sand mining. This won’t be the case if Kodagu continues to growwater at in this flow, pace,” preservation he says. of catchment areas and minimal Why not Incentivise? It’s a medley of forests, grasslands and plantations in farmers and coffee growers let go of an economic opportunity currentlyKodagu that offered keeps to them the Cauveryby the tourism flowing and but the should real estate the Manu Moudgil, an independent journalist and resarcher, has industry? special interest in health, environment, media issues, legal and consumer affairs. He has worked at various positions with Hindustan “The reality is that everybody wants to attain a better Times, Press Trust of India and Mail Today Newspaper. standard of living. Who would like to slog on farms, manage Originally published on India water portal. Published under a creative money is available by selling that land? This is why we need commons license. anlabour alternative and fight that changing lets the weatherpeople grow to grow crops crops economically when big All images courtesy Creative Commons/flickr.

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 25 LOCAL WATER SOLUTIONS

Connecting Beyond Boundaries : Nadi Festival Ajay Nayak How Shillong’s Nadi Festival used River Systems to mediate policy between 5 countries.

Maps draw up a political boundary, Myanamar and India, to cast the river draws more in common from its soft but people living for generations close as the protagonist to mediate policy, borders with neighbouring Bangaldesh, to nature, at the grassroots, know only perceptions and most importantly, than with Bengal. They share tribes, possibilities. they share landscapes, their histories existence, celebrated along the rivers and more so, they continue to share the For a mind from India’s commercial theyof a confluence live by. of culture, trade and co- rivers. When one considers this volume capital, Mumbai, there was a disruption of riverine systems, we are also talking Come July and the rains insistently of set misnomers on region, its peoples of an amazingly rich harvest of fusing and relationships. culture, craft and trade developed over of people in North East India, our most To begin with, for a geographically generations. As you visit Meghalaya’s biodiverseestablish their landscape. significance The infestival the lives of sound person, it becomes increasingly Dawki-Tamabil border crossings along Behdeinkhlam, celebrated by the people the Umngot river between India and of the indigenous faith in Meghalaya, of being from the ‘mainland.’ Bangladesh one feels the resonance of seems in tune with the monsoon’s build difficult to adjust to the local reference these links in the slipping dialects, in the up. Drum-beats drive the festivities Socially, one understands, as the tastes of traditions and in the planting as offerings are made to ancestors region remains insular till date and of the idea that riverine connectivity and rituals that venerate nature with can sustain relationships and create folklores take place. Processions dance an environment for friendly trade and down the hillside in a riverine fashion The festival of Behdeinkhlam, tourism between the North-East region with tower-like structures called celebrated by the people of the and our surrounding neighbours. Rot or Raths, only to be immersed in culmination at the sacred pool at Jowai. indigenous faith in Meghalaya, As most of the visitors from As if in sync, Meghalaya’s capital city seems in tune with the Bangladesh crossed this point, these of Shillong hosted the ‘Nadi Festival’ monsoon’s build up. thoughts might have coincided with those of the organisers and nations around the north-east of India. Drum-beats drive the festivities collaborators of the event – the that brought together five neighboring as offerings are made to Government of Meghalaya and the Maulana Abul Kamal Azad Institute of it showcased a dialogue and display ancestors and rituals that Asian Studies. by Initiatedspeakers, by artists the Asian and Confluence,observers venerate nature’s incarnates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, with folklores take place. The opening Policy Dialogues drew

26 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 the symbolic presence of state heads the livelihood of the people who are in understanding of his statement: like the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, upstream and catchment areas.” “The role of the ‘third space’ to Dr. Mukul Sangma; Chief Minister of However, the true spirit of the Mizoram, Lal Thanhawla; Bangladesh event came in the interactions led by government and the second Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, between long-time friends reuniting spacecomplement led by industry, efforts of has the become first space the Rashed Khan Menon; Bangladesh with real-time stories both, re-lived need of the hour. Credible civil society Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and new, like when Rathindra Roy, organizations, academia, individual Shahriar Alam; Former Water Resources entrepreneurs and grassroots level Minister from Nepal, Dipak Gyawali; facilitating the stakeholder session on organizations must be mobilized to Former Ambassador of Bhutan to India, institutionEx-UN official building from met India, Shaid who Hussain was lead to an organic growth bottom up.” Dago Tshering; High Commissioner of Shamim, an entrepreneur-activist of Bangladesh in India, Syed Muazzem Last year, Shillong hosted the social movement through handicraft Ali, and High Commissioner of India to ‘Indigenous Terra Madre,’ bringing and ecotourism at Prabartana in Bangladesh, Harsh Vardhan Shringla. together 159 tribes from around Bangladesh. Their dialogue became the world that highlighted the The commonalities between the a testimony to the linkages and north-eastern states and neighbouring commonalities that bind the region and its balanced equation with the countries through the rivers of the and its diaspora. As their conversations environment.significance of grassroots knowledge region offered potential highways of drew in friends from across the engagement through portals of the borders, new friendships developed Phrang Roy, Chairman of NESFAS, past, when there existed an everyday over shared happiness at progress and the organisers of the event, was also at exchange of culture and trade among horrors of loss. the stakeholders’ meet at Nadi and said, the local people. In support, Dr. Sangma “As one travels through the traditional Similar pictures were drawn at said: “Every livelihood activity revolves communities one sees the impact of separate stakeholder meetings on around sources of water and can have the river from the very name of some Institution Building, Tourism and both a negative and a positive impact villages to their link to the world Media, along with live exhibitions on on the ecosystem. Therefore, it is outside. The same under current is yarns and dyes, cultural programs, important to ensure that everyone who crafts bazaar and performing arts of is in an upstream area understands the agro-biodiversity as a connecting the border areas of Bangladesh and the roadreflected to ourin their environment, systems our health and NE region. ensure that the hydrology of these and nutrition, our relationships and riversthe ramification remain sustainable, of their activities. we also To In these events, the inspiration celebrations leading to our wellbeing.” need to see that the State is capable for Sabyasachi Dutta, Director, Asian As India follows the world into its of taking care of the of urban future these forgotten grassroots Confluence was evident, as was an might be the havens for discovering Initiated by the Asian Confluence, it showcased a dialogue and display by speakers, artists and observers climate change adaptation and cross borderresolutions peacekeeping, on man-nature as the conflict,people from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanamar and India, to cast the here have time-tested value chains river as the protagonist to mediate policy, perceptions which shout out for discovery like and most importantly, possibilities. cascades making a gigantic splash when waters from these hills, meet the plains.

Ajay Nayak is a blogger with Better India TheBetterIndia.com is India’s only positive news e-platform.

All images courtesy creative commons/flickr

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 27 Barefoot Hydrogeologists: The Next Generation LOCAL WATER SOLUTIONS

Today, Priya, Kunti and Sarita are confident of managing their own spring. “Will you be able to help another village if it comes to you for advice”?, asked Chicu Lokgariwar “Yes!” came back a chorus of voices.

Today, after participating in meeting of the Springs Initiative, whims. When the spring in Singoli, a whichI first is a met network Kunti of and organisations Priya at a neighbouringwhich they took village, water, suddenly to the Gods'dried are conversant with hydrogeology. and individuals working across India to up the villagers immediately assumed TheyCHIRAG's now know springs that programme,these two springs they restore their springs. Both from Kulgad that a menstruating woman must have are located on the same fracture; it village, they had come to talk about the touched it. Simultaneously, the people was probably a minor tremor and work they had done on their spring. of Kulgad considered themselves not a whimsical God that led to the fortunate that their spring which was changes. With their new knowledge were awed when Priya tacked a map of formerly a trickle, started to gush forth. of hydrogeology, the people of Kulgad herThe village officials to presentthe board at and that explained meeting now rely on their own efforts rather it; they were utterly taken aback when The officials present at that than luck to ensure that they do not run Kunti pulled out two rock samples from out of water. her bag and said, "You might not know meeting were awed when Priya However, according to Sarita, what phyllites and quartzites are, so I tacked a map of her village another member of the Kulgad springs brought these to show you". to the board and explained it; committee, hydrogeology was not the Hydrogeology opens windows they were utterly taken aback biggest challenge they faced. In the course of conserving their spring, they Kunti and Priya have come a when Kunti pulled out two rock discovered that science was easy. It was samples from her bag and said, responsibility for their groundwater. “You might not know what Inlong November way since 2014, they firstthe people undertook of humans Vested that interests were difficult. Block Paths Kulgad attributed the workings phyllites and quartzites are, so I When the people of Kulgad mapped of Kulgad Naula, the spring from brought these to show you”. their spring, they realised that the

28 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 recharge area for their village spring Learning from Past Experience Sarita later told me, "That spring has lay in another village, Singoli. "No been dry for 20 years and Singoli has This issue, of the spring and its problem", they thought. After all, they piped water supply. But we agreed recharge area being in two different knew the Tiwaris, the family who was because that was the only way we could villages, is something that CHIRAG has also work on our own spring". The faced before in the case of Bhadyun land. Located just above Kulgad, Singoli recharge area for Singoli was on the and Bheduli. There, it took the team isresponsible an example for of much a phenomenon of the village's that other side of the mountain. Working two years of trekking up and down is increasingly found in Uttarakhand the Bhadyun mountain before the two -- that of the deserted village. Only yield results. Instead, they decided to villages came to an agreement. This one family remains of the original constructin the Tiwari's a sub-surface land simply checkdam would notto time, Budaniji wanted to see if peer-to- 30 households; the others have all hold back whatever water reached the peer learning was possible. So he took moved out, leaving their homes to fall spring. to ruins. The lone Tiwaris ensure that visit to Bhadyun, and then waited and Vinod Tiwari explained that he no one encroaches on the land of their watched.the Kulgad spring committee on a field was earlier not certain what this erstwhile neighbours and have, in a project was all about. He was afraid sense, become the caretakers of that Bhushan Singh of the Bhadyun that if the land he was responsible for village. springs committee counselled them was damaged or encroached upon, he well. "Go and speak to them", he said. Vinod Tiwari, the son of the would be held responsible. Now he "Explain the project properly, explain its household, did not understand why not only understood how it worked, he should cooperate to bring water to but was also committed to the process. Vinod has now started constructing thisbenefits. is precisely We cannot what give Sarita them Devi money, and were taken aback when he prevented percolation pits on his own land and Gopalbut can Singh offer of some Kulgad other did benefits". in their nextAnd themKulgad's from spring. working The peopleon Singoli of Kulgad soil, meeting with Singoli. claiming that the owners had objected. the land", he says. It turns out though, Kunti and Sarita thought otherwise. The Solution planting trees there. "It can only benefit by a fear of loneliness. "Singoli became They decided that they would make emptythat Vinod's after acquiscencethe naula dried was triggeredup. Now to"He do". wanted some benefits for himself we are entirely dependent on Kulgad and his family and we didn't know what for friends and functions. If they leave Budaniji wanted to see if peer-to-peersimilar learning efforts to was revive possible. Singoli's Sospring. he because the water is less, what will we took the Kulgad spring committee on a field visit to Bhadyun, and do"? then waited and watched. Bhushan Singh of the Bhadyun Springs Committee counselled them well. “Go and speak to them”, he said. in resolvingVinod's fear this of issue being but the this last would man “Explain the project properly, explain its benefits. in the area definitely acted as catalyst advice to the Kulgad springs committee. Today,not have Priya, happened Kunti without and SaritaBhushan's are

confident"Will you of managing be able theirto help own another spring. village if it comes to you for advice"?, I asked. "Yes!" came back a chorus of voices.

Chicu Lokgariwar is a civil engineer and has been working on participatory watershed management and environmental awareness in western India. She works with the Portal as a consultant, and is based at Chatola, Ramgarh, Nainital District, Uttarakhand Text and images courtesy India Water Portal. A view from Kulgad and Singoli, with the recharge areas marked out. Published under a creative commons license.

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 29 Water, River, Earth, Being... Manohar Prabhu - poet, visionary, entrepr eneur and regular guy, offers these poems “in heartfelt gratitude to the many life-forms who have blessed him.” Water

Observe the miracle of water: the source, the womb, The sustenance and the substance of all life. Humble servant of all, divine dancer between states, Changing shape and form in endless transformation, Yet always the same. Falling rain, cleansing sky and earth, Still lake mirroring perfection, Flowing river, carrying sins and dirt away into the receptive sea. Distilled vapour, transformed by warming sun Reborn pure again on the wings of the wind, Before returning like a lover to the earth again: Sweet life- giving rain. Love’s secret form in its timeless wheel, Showing beyond all doubt The perfect cycle of Life; can’t you see? Your soul traverses the same cycle. Become water and be free.

Earth

Plant your feet firmly on the earth, Then, your being can soar above the clouds. Charge your spirit with sun and wind and sky, Mountain and meadows and sea. Drink in the Life – green of a rice field and the wheeling Of parrots across the sky – nature is your very flesh, Can you not feel it? This Earth is your Self. Honour her.

30 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Water, River, Earth, Being... Manohar Prabhu - poet, visionary, entrepr eneur and regular guy, offers these poems “in heartfelt gratitude to the many life-forms who have blessed him.” River

Bless me, Mother River, that I my flow as you do, Ever changing, yet ever the same, Ever giving, with no holding back, Ever humble, making no claim. Joining past, present and future in one unbroken stream, Dancing through a million moods and hues, Linking mountain snow with salty ocean, singing the dream, Ever constant in your truth and being. Let your thousand voices murmur in my heart, O Mother! Teach me your timeless art That sustains and refreshes, soothes and purifies, Quenches all thirsts, cleanses all stains, Endlessly lives and endlessly dies To be ever reborn anew: Sweet Mother River, may I dissolve in you!

Being

Only look with the eyes of Being, Centered in no-mind- What a wonder! The water, this leaf, that frog, Dust and , the cobweb and the cow: Each so holy…and awesome in its glory!

The above four poems have been selected from the book titled, “Light Songs”, verses composed by Manohar Prabhu and photographs by Ashok J. Koshy

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 31 JUST ANOTHER WAKE-UP CALL

EXPRESSIONS Dr. Murali Sivaramakrishna urges us to break the myth of human supremacy and awaken as we face a planetary crisis.

It had rained so heavily last night. But now the dawn has We humans are indeed great consumers. We gorge on our brought so much soft light on the wet boughs and silken planet. And now even if we do produce a mass of garbage which might pollute our earth and water and air around us an amazing touch of blue. From where I sit on the low balcony offlowers. my house Everything I can see appears right up fresh to the and end clean. of the The street sky where bears to get rid of all that. There are many among us who strongly it turns sharply to the left and right hiding beyond the heavy believewe still hopethat thathuman we canbeings eventually alone are find the new apex scientific creations means of laden trees. god—after all we are the direct decedents of god—he or she produced us in their own image as many of our religions Now there is a shower of insects. There are termites all teach us! over the place. Crows, mynas, drongos and magpie robins are dashing in and out of the strange volcano-like eruptions This I have heard: humans are not the only creatures who from the ground. Millions and millions of tiny winged leave debris behind. Large herds of wandering elephants pull creatures zoom about only to be devoured in hundreds by these birds and other little lizards and hairy mongooses We have built up our civilisations and cultures which join them. This is certainly a protein rich repast for with us humans as the centre of it all... them. Nature is so strange. Each one thrives on the other. Life is one long unending chain. And yet the survival of each Our environmental history is so full of our own species is ensured through different means. The termites might be food for the birds but their sheer numbers makes footprints and finger prints. We are the culprits. And there has been no time in our histories as in niche in the food chain that ensures this, for after all in nature timethem means outlive different their predators. things for It isdifferent not the species.life span or specific the present when our wake-up call has been so persistent. It is screeching. all living creatures. It lives barely for one day. And within thisThey short say life thatcircuit the the Mayfly entire has drama the shortestof birth, growing life span up, of reproduction and the ensurance of the species and death hand,comes the full longevity circle. Some of elephants moths and and butterflies tortoises takes live a them little closelonger to and a century dragon and flies beyond live up sometimes.to a week. While on the other All life forms on earth have their own intrinsic space and roletime, in and the one significant and pointecosphere. we have We tocan bear say inthey mind have is that they are there for themselves and they play a significant essential rights to exist independently of what we humans mightintrinsic consider significance their worth. which But means for the they present ought we tohumans have have absolute right of control over all of this planet earth, this third rock from the sun. I once heard someone state over the television that Americans have such superior weapons nowadays that they can destroy the entire earth nine times! Humans do have the power to annihilate all life forms including ourselves. This is certainly a potential threat to all nature. But nature thrives through creation and destruction. Even the giant reptiles of the Jurassic age had to face extinction continuity in ensuring the success of life by permitting new andthrough newer the life great forms to age. emerge Nevertheless even after nature such dida massive find a catastrophe. It is said that even after a horrendous chemical warfare cockroaches can survive to live another day!

32 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 down and destroy innumerable trees, thorny shrubs and bushes. Aren’t they then culprits of destruction of nature torched and scorched miles and miles of bush and terrain throughoutand habitat? our With history. the discoverySo then, why of fireonly human blame ourtribes present have day generation solely for habitat destruction? First Wake Up Call But the point is simply that now we have reached such a pass that we cannot stretch our luck any more: we have reached a cul de sac in our history and the history of our planet.We haveWe have built the up first our wake civilizations up call. and cultures with us humans as the centre of it all. We have put our interests in front of everything, with totally anthropocentric - human centred world views. Little do we recognise the rights of all have come to realise through all our learning and pursuit ofother science, non-human is something flora and that fauna cherishes to exist. biodiversity. But nature In as fact we it is through the continued preservation of this vibrant harmonious web of life that we can also aid in our own survival. Ecology teaches us that everything in our universe is interlinked with every other thing else. We break one and it makes a dent in all others as well. When each animal, each bird, each amphibian, each insect is deprived of its survival space—its biological habitat—we also are making dents in the other interconnected chains. We are locked in with everything else that exists. Some we can see and make out, others are invisible to us but nevertheless exist.It makes so little sense to assert our own right over All life forms on Earth play a significant role in everything else. But yet, this is exactly what we have been the biosphere...they have intrinsic significance... trying to do so far. Our history, or rather our environmental We have to change our ways of living. Before that are the culprits. we need to wake ourselves up. Do we need to history is so full of our own footprints and finger prints. We wait till the last and final call has to go? Second Wake Up Call outside has become warmer and shadows have started to Our second wake-up call is one that tells us our earth is shrink. The sun is moving beyond the tree line up into the not a garbage dump! All the nations of the world produce blue skies. The termite volcano appears to have subsided. waste and they are of several levels from chemical to bio- The crows have already left. Satiated no doubt with their chemical to nuclear waste. What do we normally do when we are left with some waste? We simply dispose of it over our mynas still hang about pecking at this and that. A couple of wall; if it is in our neighbour’s yard it is safe beyond our sight. squirrelsfill of sumptuous dash in and protein-rich out of the meal. bushes. Only Probablya couple the of stray late Now that we have come to realise that all of this is our home comers. It dawns on me suddenly that I have left the lights where shall we dump our waste? Is there space beyond our on inside my rooms. It is imperative that I conserve whatever our waste? planet? Can we find a distant galaxy where we can heap all These are not mere lists of facts or a fanciful array of aboutis left, inincluding no time! our electricity. I definitely do not want that fantasies—but his could be a clarion call to stay awake and doorbell to be the third and final wake-up call. I am up and recognise our responsibilities. We should not reach out for the snooze button. There has been no time in our histories as in the present when our wake-up call has been so persistent. It is screeching. We have so polluted our earth, our waters— including fresh water lakes, rivers and the seas—and our air. We have to change our ways of living. Before that we need to Dr. Murali Sivaramakrishnan, poet, artist and literary critic, call has to go? is professor and head of the department of english, Pondicherry wake ourselves up. Do we need to wait till the last and final I remember the native American saying that we have University, Pondicherry, India. A specialist in indian aesthetics not just inherited the earth from our forefathers but simply and literary theory, he is a scholar of international repute deeply concerned with indigenous values and environmental issues. Dr borrowed it from our children! Murali has as much involvement with nature and environment as My reverie is rudely broken by the door-bell. Someone is with painting and poetry. at the door. I need to go and get the front door. The sunlight All images courtesy creative commons/flickr

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 33 The Book On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

BOOK REVIEW seemingly separate things is therefore And why does shifting our view and only real for a while, not eternally real, changing our experience of "I" matter? for it comes and goes as the Self hides with our current view. Because we're distorting reality andYour seeks experienceitself.' is simply the universe exploring what it means to we come out of it, as leaves from be you and the whole of existence is in a tree. 'We doAs notthe "come ocean, into" "waves," this world; the support of your exploration of free will. universe "peoples." Every individual is an expression of the whole realm at the center of every journey ever of nature, a unique action of the total You're Joseph Campbell's hero universe. This fact is rarely, if ever, experienced by most individuals. Even ataken—'And god; where wherewe had we thought had thoughtto slay those who know it to be true in theory another,to find an we abomination, shall slay ourselves; we shall where find do not always sense or feel it, but we had thought to travel outward, we continue to be aware of themselves as shall come to the center of our own isolated "egos" inside bags of skin. existence; where we had thought to be that our attitude to the world "outside" The first result of this illusion is Cole Lehman delves deeper into alone, we shall be with all the world.' us is largely hostile. We are forever the philosophy of Alan Watts in the whole universe; the unfathomable "conquering" nature, space, mountains, andDeep eternal down, consciousnesses you're an expression that lies ofat deserts, bacteria, and insects instead his seminal work, The Book. the center of every life form and object of learning to cooperate with them in existence. And so is everyone else. in a harmonious order....The hostile The people you love and the people attitude of conquering nature ignores In this book, Alan Watts explores the basic interdependence of all things the foundations of what it means to and events–that the world beyond the exist in a disconnected society and you label as evil. We're all it. You're skin is actually an extension of our proposes a new viewpoint as part of yourjust playing personality; that you're to taste not theso thatunique the own bodies–and will end in destroying the solution. universe can know what it's like to wear the very environment from which we to feel your loves, horrors, victories, emerge and upon which our whole life defeats,flavor of and your everything life and in between. experience; new bible. We need a new experience–a 'We do not need a new religion or a depends.At only ' 160 pages Alan Watts’ The Book is a quick and fascinating read. new feeling of what it is to be "I."' You're TS Eliot's 'Still point of the supposed to know about who we are? turning world.' So, who are you? What aren't we religion ever imagined has tried to captureYou're through the metaphor. essence that every God tries to express and fails to do in mythThat and you're metaphor. it. You're what the word

You'reAnd so it. is everyone else. God as the King of the Universe, the Absolute'But thisTechnocrat is because who we personally think of Deep down, you’re and consciously controls every detail of his cosmos–and that is not the kind of an expression of the whole universe; the unfathomable and at all, for any student of the history of eternal consciousnesses religionsGod in my will story. know In fact, that it it isn't comes my storyfrom Cole Lehman is a writer, yoga teacher, ancient India, and is the mythical way that lies at the center of and an explorer. He’s fascinated by nature, of explaining the Vedanta philosophy... every life form and object dreams, and the power that story has to In the Vedanta philosophy, nothing create the world around us. His dream for in existence. And so is everyone the future is to see a civilization integrated exists except God. There seem to be else. The people you love and with the earth beneath us—not rooted in other things than God, but only because conflict with it. Cole believes the path to that she is dreaming them up and making the people you label as evil. world lies within each of us. them her disguises to play hide-and- We’re all it. seek with herself. The universe of Image courtesy creative commons/flickr

34 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 HOLISTIC THINKING

The real reason why Delhi is Choking

Pallava Bagla focuses on the underlying crisis in agriculture that has led to the choking of Delhi.

North India faces an annual trauma It is easy to point fingers at of noxious exhausts from automobiles, industry, thermal power plants and as winter approaches — the air in the the farmers little realising region, having more than 200 million people, becomes toxic. Fingers are that behind the farmers really knows who is the bigger culprit. pointed at the hand that feeds India. burning agricultural waste is ‘charvested’ or burnt fields. Nobody Farmers in the granary of the country a deep crisis that is brewing farmers little realising that behind the are rebuked, they are asked not to burn farmersBut it isburning easy to agriculturalpoint fingers wasteat the in agriculture and it is is a deep crisis that is brewing in action fouls the air in mega cities like hugely interlinked to all the agriculture and it is hugely interlinked agriculture waste in their fields as their New Delhi, Lucknow and Allahabad. elementary ingredients for to all the elementary ingredients for a healthy life - air, water and land. There is no doubt that after the a healthy life, air, water and land. in India’s granary Haryana and Punjab Punjab are getting depleted and they turnmonsoon into cremation ends the grounds vast paddy where fields the plume of smoke covers north India. are Todaylosing theproductivity. fields of HaryanaThe haloed and left-over paddy straw is burnt in vast Satellite pictures depict the smoke Green Revolution is turning them into swathes. plume with clarity and alarm bells start debt ridden wastelands. ringing in the corridors of power in India’s capital. Many years ago, the region used to harvest one or two crops a year and in hundredsThe fires of arekilometres so many above and the so Last winter, the Chief Justice of Earthwidespread record thattheir satellitespresence. Giving flying India passed strict orders and even fallow period was very crucial as it gave ‘Udta Punjab’ a whole new dimension. contributed his bit by car-pooling; thebetween organic fields matter were from left fallow.agricultural This This is also the time when generally despite his efforts the air remains waste time to decompose and mix with the westerly winds prevail and a giant toxic. Delhi’s air is a complex cocktail the top soil.

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 35 Today in most places at least three crops are being farmed if not four. As soon as one crop is harvested the farmers are eager to start planting the next crop. There is no time to let the paddy waste, to be used more judiciously, in the rush to drive ahead with the next crop the simplest alternative for farmers is to burn the waste, and to let the ash sink into the soil.

Today in most places at least three centigrade mark. It is traumatic then of one metre every three years (one crops are being farmed, if not four. foot per year). More than 109 cubic As soon as one crop is harvested the pumped from deep inside mother earth km (26 cubic miles) of groundwater farmers are eager to start planting andto see paddy fields sowing being being flooded done. with water disappeared between 2002 and 2008 the next crop. There is no time to let — double the capacity of India’s largest With the monsoon at least 6-8 weeks the paddy waste, to be used more surface water reservoir. Who cares for away, farmers start paddy cultivation in judiciously, in the rush to drive ahead sustainability! Sahara Desert-like weather conditions. with the next crop. The simplest Paddy is a crop that thrives at times The second big problem arises once alternative for farmers is to burn the the crop has been harvested which waste, and to let the ash sink into the happens during the post-monsoon soil. when water is plenty so artificially season. At that point the rice grains This gives agriculture a whole new water is made available to flood the are sold at government determined This early sowing of paddy leads to fields. minimum support prices and the a double whammy - initially ground green revolution style’ or what I call farmers are left with large amounts of water is pumped up using copious ‘jhumingdefinition, Punjab ‘slash style’. and burn farming - straw. Unfortunately straw from paddy amounts of energy. This depletes the contains a lot of silica and is very rough A vicious cycle is brewing and water table which in most places has farmers have been lured into cultivating been falling to unprecedented levels to eat it. Now when the farmers are in Recently NASA, using its satellites aand hurry hence to plantbovines the find next it crop, very theydifficult are mainly because of faulty agriculture called it ‘an unprecedented crisis of left with no alternative but to hurriedly policiesmore and followed more for from many theirdecades. fields As vanishing water’. burn the agri-waste. the Indian agri-researchers gave the “If measures are not taken to country more and more short duration Waiting to make organic compost ensure sustainable groundwater usage, varieties, farmers kept embracing them out of the straw or to roll it into bales consequences for the 114 million with gay abandon, nobody even gave and transport it to the few agri waste- residents of the region may include a thought about what it was doing to-wealth power generators is costly a collapse of agricultural output and to the and now leading to both on time and money. severe shortages of potable water”, unprecedented . explained Matt Rodell, based at So going in for ‘jhum agriculture If one travels through Punjab and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in with a Punjabi tadka’ by incinerating Haryana in May and June, the peak of Greenbelt, USA. the waste on location is a cheap and summer, temperatures are sizzling, simple solution as it costs merely a NASA reported that groundwater hovering around the 45 degrees match stick. Organic matter is the life levels have been declining by an average

36 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 blood of any top soil but in regions of respiratory, skin and eye diseases.” cent of farmer households are under north western India, organic carbon debt in the state, next only to Andhra “Intensive agriculture is also a content is constantly being depleted at Pradesh (82 per cent) and Tamil Nadu contributor to greenhouse gasses like, a rapid rate. Experts say very soon they (74.5 per cent).” carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous will turn into wastelands. oxide causing climate change.” So when most farmers are According to a recent edition of State custodians of innate native wisdom why To top it all the State of Environment of Environment of Punjab published of Punjab report points out that and damaging practices. Unfortunately “declining farm yield and income burning of straw after combine itare is they really indulging the government’s in such profligate agri- due to economic (high cost of inputs harvestingby the local is governmenta common “openpractice field in economic policies that are to blame. like, seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and the state in order to ensure early farm labour) and ecological (low Subsidised or free electricity to productivity of soil, receding water farmers makes them use their pump Punjab produces around 23 million table) factors is pushing marginal and sets endlessly and then on top of it tonspreparation of rice straw of fields and for17 millionthe next tons crop. of small farmers into the vicious cycle of an assured minimum support price wheat straw annually. debt.” gives them a ready market, leaving no “More than 80 per cent of paddy incentive to be considerate towards “The total indebtedness is around straw (18.4 million tons) and almost 50 the top soil, deep acquirers and mother Rs 240 million (50 per cent each from per cent wheat straw (8.5 million tons) earth in general; and now this new institutional and non-institutional produced in the state is being burnt headache of being dubbed the fountain sources) for the loans taken for head of wide spread air pollution. tractors, tube wells, farm chemicals, air pollution due to emission of large seeds, as well as, for other social needs. To solve this giant mess, knee jerk amountsin fields everyof suspended year. This alsoparticulate causes As per results of a recent survey, the reactions like Delhi Chief Minister matter besides gases like methane, indebtedness of Punjab farmers on Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘odd even scheme’ carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen an average is Rs 41,576 (against the to ration cars on the roads and passing and sulphur dioxide among others national average of Rs 12,585). 65.4 per dictates to farmers not to burn agri- leading to various health hazards like waste and to penalise are just not going “More than 80 per cent of paddy straw (18.4 million tons) and to work. A comprehensive restructuring almost 50 per cent wheat straw (8.5 million tons) produced in the of the agricultural economy is required if denizens of Delhi and north India state is being burnt in fields every year. his also causes air pollution don’t want to choke to death. due to emission of large amounts of suspended particulate matter Nobody has the time to implement besides gases like methane, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen such mega changes. So the National and sulphur dioxide among others leading to various health Green Tribunal will keep passing more and more draconian but un- hazards like respiratory, skin and eye diseases. implementable orders. And clean air which is really a fundamental right of every citizen will become more and more toxic by the day. A slow painful death is the only surety.

Pallava Bagla is a Photo Journalist and Science Editor with NDTV. He writes about Science and Technology. His latest book is called ‘Reaching for the Stars: India’s Journey to Mars & Beyond’.

All images courtesy creative commons/flickr

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 37 When every step taken is a new discovery... POSITIVE ACTION

The year was 2014. Siddharth Agarwal, along with a friend set out on a cycling expedition. The journey spanned over a month, from Kharagpur to Mumbai and that too in the peak of the summer season. They called it ‘The Madness Project’. And quite aptly so! They did it to gain an authentic understanding of the issues the communities they met on the way. His next major initiative titled ‘Back to the Roots’, had him walking across Rajasthan in search of stories and cultures from the place his ancestors belong and to shed light on the forgotten traditional art forms, such as Shekawati paintings and architecture. His present undertaking is titled ‘Moving Upstream’. It includes a walk upstream along the banks of the Ganga from Sagar Island in West Bengal to Tapovan in Uttarakhand. This is in order to grasp the socio-economic, ecological and political reality of those communities living alongside the river and to understand the life of the river itself. The following interview with Siddharth by Gagana N.V. gives a glimpse into some of the finer aspects of his project.

What triggered the idea for the ‘moving upstream’ the intricate details, the links start forming organically and project? How did it all begin? take me forward. The Politics, people and water: A day would not pass without a singular series of events or incidents, but the culmination the news carrying reports on government schemes/plans on of multipletrigger streams cannot bewith defined each ascontributing a single event, their not evenown rivers, lakes and canals, often representing only a singular parts. A few of the many streams that have led to this: perspective. This under-representation of the actual stake holders and increased activities around water bodies all Orientation towards environmental issues: A long standing belief that started with my parents and teachers teaching It built in me an intense urge to get the perspectives of the lessons about global climate change that I took too literally, actualacross stakethe country holders, was people the final who and have most been impactful and continue trigger. to followed by personal experiences like observing glacial be affected by our actions on water bodies, whether it be a recession at Gaumukh (on a trek with the International river, lake or ground water. Award for Young People) and binge watching National What were some of the hurdles and how did you deal Geographic and Discovery Channels. with them – both in the planning stage and during Past experience from social projects: When I was in the walk itself? school volunteering for Rang De or trying to design a module for Early Childhood Education in urban slums or walking and There are a variety of everyday issues that seem trivial cycling across India in an attempt to understand how things now that I look back upon them but weren’t so simple when in our country work (or do not), exposure to a variety of I was on the ground, walking. Having continuously stayed issues has helped me mature. in urban areas in the months leading up to the walk, my Serendipity: In principle, I strongly believe in the idea was worried about access to reliable sources of water while of serendipity and having said that, it might not appear too walkingbody was and accustomed wondered how to consuming my body would filtered react water to these. and I strange when I say that every time I am about to complete one I was sure that bottled water was out of the question but I project, the next project already starts coming to life within had to prepare myself, and how? I was fortunate enough to me. From the basic seed idea to the outline and right down to

38 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 be supported by an organisation that gave us bottles capable policies & schemes and an overall disproportionate resource allocation spectrum where they fall on the leaner side. As we progress as a society towards a more “modernised” and of filtering all sorts of bacteria when water passes through “developed” ethos, it is important that we understand our it’s Afilters. couple of weeks into the project I had an epiphany that if I have put myself in this position to understand the situation own strengths, weaknesses and value systems. of the people as and when they face it, then why not do the What the journey has done is made me more empathetic, same with regards to drinking water. So I slowly phased out helping me form a stronger bond with our fellow countrymen and their stories. The youth should take advantage of source seemed highly questionable. What this did was that it the variety of opportunities available for them today to mademy usage me directlyof the filter, dependent using iton only human when contact the quality for drinking of the experience the grassroots conditions. Even as you read, we water, having to ask the same questions about water safety at at Veditum India Foundation are working hard to create 10 places instead of the 2 places I was earlier stopping to ask. more such opportunities that engage young minds. By putting myself in the line of action, the depth of research suddenly increased and it also included an empathetic Where is the moving upstream project headed next? relationship with the people I would meet. The echoed in the many partnerships that have emerged out What were some of the discoveries or learning on belief that good ideas always find an audience is the way – the things that changed you and anything organisations like Open Water which is helping us run else? of this project. Right from collaborations with scientific Every step was a discovery for me simply because I had like The Initiative with whom we are collaborating to create never travelled this route before, forget travelling on foot. All socialscientific impact tests by onfocusing water on samples the cottage to textile social and organisations handloom places except the cities of Varanasi and Kanpur were new industry. and even those didn’t hold very sharp memories. Moving Upstream is a series of projects with the walk The play of seasons, beginning from summers in early June when I was in Bengal, progressing to high monsoon we intend to learn and better design our future projects. As in July and August when I was walking through Bihar and wealong speak, the Gangawe are being working the onfirst extending in the series this project through to which other Uttar Pradesh and continuing to autumn when I was still rivers around the country by getting youth to participate walking through Uttar Pradesh made me learn how to adjust in and create a better understanding of our river systems to different kinds of weather and immediately adapt so that I that exist. We are looking for individuals and organisations did not lose out on time or health. I have often been stuck in to help us make this possible through collaborations, the middle of nowhere sometimes with water all around me, desperate to get out of the place but my heart would drag me readers are interested in our work, they can write to us at further in where I could learn something more. [email protected], financial support, and outreach. If any of the The people, they are warm and welcoming more often I am currently working on collating information from my than not, but curious they are always. This is a lesson that walk, preparing presentations and doing further research was shared with me by my dear friend Ujjawal Chauhan while on the aspects that I have come across on this journey. I am we cycled thousands of kilometers around the country; that if we are receptive and inquisitive enough, there are stories designed for future chapters of the projects. also using my time to reflect on how things can be better waiting to be heard from storytellers who don’t always have The tendency in most of us is to adhere to the an audience. understanding of the world perpetuated through the lenses Our people are resilient, strong and understanding, of mainstream media which more often than not gives us but they are also less informed, less privileged and more a largely incomplete picture of reality. Siddharth’s efforts vulnerable. It would be unforgivable to not use this so far through all his projects, offers to us an alternative, opportunity to bring forth their issues, on how they battle a more wholesome way of dealing with the problems and falling standards of drinking water, access to affordable disenchantments that we so often encounter in our daily health care and education, reliable information sources on lives.

Gagana N.V. a student of Holistic Eduction course at Bhoomi College, Bangalore, is presently experimenting with simple and sustainable ways of living. She is strongly inclined towards reading,writing and poetry. All images courtesy Siddharth Agarwal

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 39 PERSPECTIVES

Fear of a Living Planet

By refusing to recognise that the Earth is alive we implicitly endorse the worldview that enables our destruction of the planet, says Charles Eisenstein.

Does the concept of a living acceptable to policy-makers and the danger that, intoxicated by the idea planet uplift and inspire you, or is public. of cosmic purpose or some-such, we it a disturbing example of woo-woo ignore the pain and grief that we must I think that argument is mistaken. nonsense that distracts us from integrate if we are to act effectively By shying away from the idea of a living practical, science-based policies? and courageously. Certainly, dogma planet, we rob of like “It’s all good” or “We’re all one” its authentic motive force, engender can blind us to the exigency of the and-bolts environmental or social paralysis rather than action, and planetary crisis and discourage us from activistThe will scientifically-oriented roll her eyes upon hearing nuts- implicitly endorse the worldview that making changes in our lives. Certainly, phrases like “The planet is a living enables our destruction of the planet. borrowed rituals and concepts of being.” From there it is a short step sacredness can be an insidious form of to sentiments like, “Love will heal the The Psychology of Contempt colonialism, a strip-mining of cultural world,” “What we need most is a shift in To see that, let’s start by observing treasure to compensate for and enable consciousness,” and “Let’s get in touch that the objection to “Earth is alive” the continuation of our own cultural with our indigenous soul.” vacuity. What’s wrong with such ideas? The The fear of being emotional, skeptics make a potent argument. Not denyisn’t primarilyEarth’s aliveness a scientific depending objection. on irrational, hysterical, etc. is very close only are these ideas delusional, they After all, science can easily affirm or to a fear of the inner feminine, and say, but to voice them is a strategic No, we are dealing with an emotional the exclusion of the fuzzy, the ill- error that opens environmentalism to perceptionwhat definition here, ofone life that is goes being beyond used.

conscious, even sacred. That is what dimensions of our activism in favor ofdefined, the linear, and the rational, emotionally-perceived and evidence- onaccusations about the of ‘heart’ flakiness. or spirit By invoking or the upsets‘alive’ tothe affirm critics. that Earth is sentient, based, mirrors the domination over sacred,unscientific we will concepts, be dismissed by as prattling naive, Certainly, much of the discomfort and marginalization of the feminine fuzzy-headed, irrational, hysterical, is a healthy revulsion toward the from our social choice-making. Part of over-emotional hippies. What we need, escapism, spiritual bypass, and cultural our resistance to the notion of Earth as they say, is more data, more logic, more appropriation that plague so much a living being could be the patriarchal numbers, better arguments, and more of the New Age. Certainly, there is a mind feeling threatened by feminine practical solutions framed in language

40 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 ways of knowing and choosing. But merits of the theory or the strength of touch with these feelings that I had the that’s still pretty theoretical, so let me the evidence. ears to listen to evidence and reason share a little of my own introspection. and the eyes to see what is happening Of course, simply by making this to our world. I believe that this love When I apprehend concepts such as assertion I open myself to the very and this grief are latent in every human “Earth is alive,” or “All things are sacred,” same calumny. You can conveniently being. When they awaken, that person or “The universe and everything in becomes an environmentalist. it bears sentience, purpose and life,” semi-literate, gullible at best and there is always an emotion involved; in delusionaldismiss me at asworst, irrational, perhaps scientifically knowingly Now, I am not saying that a no case is my rejection or acceptance dishonest, bamboozling my audience rational, evidence-based analysis of the result of pure ratiocination. Either with learned allusions to impart an the situation and possible solutions I embrace them with a feeling of eager, is unimportant. It’s just that it will be tender hope, or I reject them with a ravings. But if you really care about this compelling only with the animating feeling of wariness, along the lines of “It Earth,illusion you’ll of scientificwant to be probity curious toabout my spirit of reverence for our planet, born is too good to be true,” or “I’m nobody’s the emotional content of this judgment. of the felt connection to the beauty and fool.” Sometimes, beyond wariness, I What hides behind the contempt? The pain around us. reactivity? violated or betrayed. Why? The Love of Life feel a hot flash of anger, as if I had been What moves the Our perceived worldview has cut us The idea that our planet is alive, off, often quite brutally, from intimate Environmentalist? and further, that every mountain, river, connection with the rest of life and with Most people reading this lake and forest is a living being, even the rest of matter. The child hugs a tree probably consider themselves to be a sentient, purposive, sacred being, and thinks it feels the hug and imagines environmentalists; certainly most is therefore not a soppy emotional the tree is his friend, only to learn that people think it is important to create distraction from the environmental no, I’m sorry, the tree is just a bunch of a society that leaves a livable planet to problems at hand; to the contrary, it woody cells with no central nervous future generations. What is it, exactly, disposes us to feel more, to care more, system and therefore cannot possibly that makes us into environmentalists? and to do more. No longer can we hide have the qualities of beingness that If we answer that, we might know how from our grief and love behind the humans have. to turn others into environmentalists ideology that the world is just a pile of as well, and to deepen the commitment stuff to be used instrumentally for our Water memory, adaptive own ends. mutation, crop circles, morphic of those who already identify as such. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t True, that ideology is perfectly communication, precognitive dreams… become an environmentalist because consistent with cutting carbon andfields, a living psi phenomena,Earth, a living UFOs,sun, a living plant someone made a rational argument emissions, and consistent as well with universe, all incite scorn. Anyone who that convinced me that the planet was any environmental argument that believes in these, or even takes them in danger. I became an environmentalist invokes our survival as the primary as a valid topic of investigation, risks out of love and pain: love for the world basis for policymaking. A lot of the usual epithets of ‘pseudo-scientist,’ and its beauty and the grief of seeing it environmental activism depends on destroyed. It was only because I was in appeals to survival anxiety. “We have to change our ways, or else!” Appealing to ‘flake,’The or child ‘woo-woo,’ hugs regardlessa tree and of thinks the it feels the hug and imagines the tree is his friend, only to learn that no, I’m sorry, the tree is natural tactic for anyone coming from afear belief and that selfish the interest, planet has in general,no intrinsic is a just a bunch of woody cells with no central nervous system and value, no value beyond its utility. What therefore cannot possibly have the qualities other reason to preserve it is there, of beingness that humans have. when it has no intrinsic value? It should be no surprise that this tactic has failed. When environmentalists cite the potential economic losses from climate change, they implicitly endorse economic gain and loss as a basis for environmental decision-making. Doubtless they are imagining that they must ‘speak the language’ of the power elite, who supposedly don’t understand anything

interestbut money, and but ecological this strategy sustainability backfires arewhen, opposed. as is the norm, financial self- Similarly, calls to preserve the rainforests because of the value of the medicines that may one day be derived

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 41 something that isn’t even alive? But the truth is, we love the Earth for what it is, not merely for what it provides. I suspect that even the most hardheaded environmentalist, who derides the Earth-is-alive crowd most vociferously, harbors a secret longing for the very object of his contempt. Deep down, he too believes the planet and everything on it is alive and sacred. He is afraid to touch that knowledge, even as he longs for it. Often, his intellectual reasons are but rationalizations by which he gives himself permission to act on his felt understanding of what is sacred. This person is all of us. I am no exception: the idea of a living, sentient Earth attracts me and repels me both, mirroring the polarity of opinion I observe at conferences between the nuts-and-bolts and spiritual factions. Accusations of ‘naive!,’ ‘softheaded!’ and ‘gullible’ rattle around in my own brain, expressing a hurting thing Each of us wades against the tide of an old ideology as we dare to within. Maybe if I join the ranks of the critics and turn the criticism outward, act from the felt understanding of our intimate connection to life, accuse others of ignoring science and our interdependency, our interbeing. In the interests of honesty as well as effective strategy, we need to look at the fear and pain that some temporary relief. But there is no realindulging healing in in fuzzy that. thinking,I want to be I canwhole. find I that critique comes from. Then we can get people in touch with want to feel more and not less. I want to their perception of a living sacred planet, so they can feel the grief heal these alienated parts of myself, so and love that perception opens, and act upon it. that I don’t act from them unconsciously and sabotage the beautiful vision that from its species imply that, if only we because you love our planet. To call asks my contribution. can invent synthetic alternatives to others into environmentalism, we Each of us (in an industrial society) whatever the forest might bear, we should therefore appeal to the same wades against the tide of an old needn’t preserve the rainforest after love in them. It is not only ineffectual ideology as we dare to act from the all. Even appealing to the well-being of but also insulting to offer someone a felt understanding of our intimate one’s grandchildren harbors a similar venal reason to act ecologically when connection to life, our interdependency, we ourselves are doing it for love. our interbeing. Critiques of the idea of what about environmental issues that Nonetheless, environmental a living planet make that struggle all onlytrap: affectif that peopleis your infirst far-away concern, , then campaigning relies heavily on scare the harder. In the interests of honesty or that don’t tangibly harm any human tactics. Fear might stimulate a few as well as effective strategy, we need being at all? The clubbing of baby seals, gestures of activism, but it does not to look at the fear and pain that that the extinction of the river dolphin, sustain long-term commitment. critique comes from. Then we can get the deafening of whales with sonar… It strengthens the habits of self- people in touch with their perception it is hard to construct a compelling protection, but what we need is to of a living sacred planet, so they can argument that any of these threaten strengthen the habits of service. feel the grief and love that perception the measurable well-being of future opens, and act upon it. Why then do so many of us name these beings of little utility? “fear that we won’t have a livable planet” generations. Are we then to sacrifice as the motive for their activism? I think Besides, did anyone ever become a it is to make that activism acceptable committed environmentalist because within the ideological framework I have of all the money we’ll save? Because described that takes an instrumentalist view of the planet. When we embrace willing to bet that even the survival of what I believe is the true motive—love theof all species the benefits or the we’llwell-being receive? of Iyour am for this Earth—we veer close to the Charles Eisenstein is a teacher, speaker, grandchildren isn’t the real motive territory that the cynic derides. What and writer focusing on themes of for your environmentalism. You are civilization, consciousness, money, and is it to make ‘rational’ choices, after all? not an environmentalist because you human cultural evolution. He is the author Is it ever really rational to choose from are afraid of what will happen if you of Sacred Economics love? In particular, is it rational to love don’t act. You are an environmentalist All images courtesy creative commons/flickr

42 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 How to Raise an Environmentalist PERSPECTIVES

Encouraging children to form an emotional attachment to nature may be key to protecting our planet’s future, says Jill Suttie

We read it in the news every day. Why disaster talk doesn’t move aside by more pressing, immediate us (and what does) concerns, like schoolwork or deforestation, it seems that we are on relationship worries. But scientists theFrom brink climate of achange natural to disasterover fishing on anto Painting a disastrous portrait of the have learned that there is a way to epic scale. If we cannot do something Earth’s future often causes us to simply overcome these deterrents: developing to reverse these trends, we will surely check out. The idea of destruction on a compassionate relationship with the make our planet uninhabitable. such a massive scale can either be too natural world. Research suggests that diffcult to contemplate or seem too the desire to conserve is intricately But how do we encourage people— out of our control to motivate action— tied to our connection to nature—or especially our kids—to care more and especially action inconvenient to us, the degree to which we enjoy spending take action? like walking to work or bringing our time in nature, empathize with our Social scientists are beginning to own bags to the grocery store. fellow creatures, and feel a sense of look for answers to this question with Psychological biases also play a oneness with nature. That emotional some promising results. Research role. When a problem seems distant connection increases our sense of indicates that motivating people to care or abstract, it can easily be pushed personal responsibility toward nature takes more than just reciting facts and and makes us want to do more to making doomsday predictions. Instead, But how do we encourage preserve it. it requires promoting compassionate people - especially our kids - to For example, one study by Cynthia concern for our natural world, which Frantz and F. Stephan Mayer looked at comes from early contact with nature, care more and take action? the relationship between electricity empathy for our fellow creatures, and a Social scientists are beginning use and emotional connection to nature sense of wonder and fascination. to look for answers to this in dorm residents at Oberlin College. Specically, scientists are starting to uncover how to encourage that question with some promising to Nature Scale (CNS) and other compassionate concern in children, results. Research indicates that measuresStudents filled of self-nature out the connectedness,Connectedness so that it will translate into pro- motivating people to care takes and scores were aggregated and environmental behavior down the compared to dorm electricity use. road—and this research comes not a more than just reciting facts and Results showed that dorms with moment too soon. making doomsday predictions.

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 43 higher average connection to nature feelings. Scores on the IAT were linked exposure. That caring also translates scores used less electricity than those to whether or not students took the into more pro-environmental behavior with lower scores, and this difference bag (a spontaneous pro-environmental in adulthood, which suggests that was even more pronounced when act), while CNS scores contributed getting kids out in nature is important students were given direct feedback most to explicit pro-environmental if we want them to become our future on their electricity use over time. But behaviors. The researchers concluded, environmentalists. dorms whose residents on average “In the long term, it would be wise to Environmental programs in scored higher on valuing nature and cultivate people’s connection with schools are one way to do this. In one supporting environmental protection nature, promote the emotional and study, researchers measured 9 and measures did not use less electricity, cognitive tie between humans and the 10-year-olds and 11 to 13-year-olds suggesting that having an emotional natural world, and increase people’s on their connection to nature (using connection to nature is uniquely feeling of being one with nature.” the Inclusion of the Self in Nature powerful in predicting behavior. These studies and others suggest Scale, or INS), then followed them In another study, it was students’ that a caring connection to nature may through a four-day environmental implicit feelings about nature that be an important indicator of how much education program focused on water. mattered the most. Students from we are willing to engage in behaviors The program involved lessons about Nanjing University in China took an to save our natural world. And that has water and immersive, sensory-laden Implicit Associations Test (IAT), which implications for our kids. experiences with water, such as walking measured their automatic, unconscious barefoot through a creek and catching feelings about things associated with Why kids need to get outside and releasing wildlife in the creek. built environments (i.e., cars, streets, Many kids today are suffering from After the program, the kids were buildings) versus natural environments measured again on connection to disorder” because they spend so little nature and compared to a group of out the CNS and were asked about their timewhat Richardthere— Louvespecially calls “kids nature in deficitcities, same-aged kids who hadn’t gone deliberate(animals, birds, environmental trees). They behaviors— also filled where green spaces may be few and far through the program. Results showed such as how much water they use when between. that the younger children initially had washing, or how often they ride a bike higher INS scores than the older kids, or walk to school rather than drive. Besides having an impact on kids’ but the education program increased Afterward, the students were offered health and well-being, this lack of INS in both age groups. In particular, a gift of tasty wafers and then asked if contact with nature may also impact the researchers cited the immersion they wanted a plastic bag to carry them. their compassionate caring for the activities as critical to these effects. Whether or not students asked for the environment. However, only the younger kids bag was used as a proxy measure of Researchers at Cornell University maintained the increases in INS four spontaneous environmental behavior. found that, when children before weeks later, suggesting that these kinds Results from the experiment the age of 11 spend time in nature— of programs should perhaps target showed that CNS scores did not predict hiking, camping, hunting, or shing, for younger students. results on the IAT, suggesting that our example—they grow up into adults Indeed, another study looking conscious feelings about nature may who care more about the environment at 14 to 19 year-olds showed be different from our less conscious than those who didn’t have that early that participating in a one-day Many kids today are suffering from what Richard Louv calls environmental education program on global climate change that did “nature deficit disorder” because they spend so little not include immersive experiences time there— especially kids in cities, where green spaces in nature had very little impact on may be few and far between. connection to nature scores. One possible reason that spending time in nature increases children’s connection to it is that the experience feels good in some way. Research on adults has found that spending time in nature helps with what’s called attention restoration—helping the brain to recover from sensory and cognitive overload, which reduces stress and improves later performance on cognitive tasks. At least one study with children suggests attention restoration plays a role in their enjoyment of nature too and leads to caring more about it. Researchers found that children in schools with schoolyards that had more natural elements reported higher levels

44 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 emotionally with nature may be helpful, we clearly still have more to learn about what makes kids want to protect the environment. Much of the research on this is fairly preliminary, and we are only just starting to understand how to nudge our kids in that direction. Plus, we may need to consider cultural differences more carefully. At least one study found that people from less individualistic/more collectivistic

uenced by social norms rather than individualcultures are concern more when likely it to comes be infl to environmental action. This suggests that, in addition to augmenting our kids’ connection to nature, we may need to

Mindfulness may be one potential avenue. At least one study behavior, focusing on shared values with adults has found a link between mindfulness, connection to andemphasize community society’s efforts role toin protectinfluencing the nature, and well-being, while another found that mindfulness is natural environment—especially for kids from more collectivistic cultures. associated with “green behavior.” Still, it seems that we would do no of restoration, leading to more positive This implies that mindfulness harm by simply making sure our kids environmental attitudes. And those meditation may indeed help increase get outside. Many studies have found increased pro-nature attitudes, in turn, emotional connection to nature, that children, like adults, receive were tied to more pro-environmental perhaps by helping people be more behavior. present for outdoor experiences or by from being exposed to nature, including decreasing their sense of separation betterpsychological attention, and self-discipline, physical benefits and How to boost connection to from nature. Though research on cognitive development, and decreased nature children is sparse, at least one study levels of stress . And helping kids to found that a program for middle develop more mindfulness or empathy Still, researchers don’t know schoolers pairing mindfulness skills wouldn’t hurt either, given exactly what it is about being in nature meditation and tai chi seemed to the research showing their positive that impacts environmental concern increase their connection to nature. impacts on kids. and action, though many agree that emotional engagement is critical. So, Another potential strategy for how can we augment that engagement helping kids care more about nature in our children? Mindfulness may be may be to develop their empathy for one potential avenue. At least one study animals. In at least one study with with adults has found a link between adults, instructing people to take the mindfulness, connection to nature, and perspective of an animal being harmed well-being, while another found that by pollution increased environmental mindfulness is associated with “green concern more than instructing them behavior.” Perhaps mindfulness allows to be objective. Another study found people—and would allow kids—to pay that anthropomorphizing nature— attention to nature and appreciate it assigning human-like qualities to more fully. objects in nature—increased college students’ connection to nature, which One recent study randomly assigned in turn impacted their willingness to undergraduate college students Jill Suttie received her PhD from the engage in conservation behaviors and University of San Francisco and was a participating in a three-day nature trip promote them to others. to perform meditation (with formal licensed psychologist in private practice practices in the mornings) or not (a Luckily, children naturally seem to before turning her attention to writing. Currently, she is the book review editor for control group). Before and after the identify with animals and nature from Greater Good magazine, a publication of the a young age. But parents can further trip, students were measured on their University of California, Berkeley, where she connection to nature. Compared to encourage their love of animals by also contributes feature articles and essays. the control group, those who’d been in introducing them to wildlife in their Jill has recorded her first collection of songs, the meditation group reported greater areas, adopting pets for their homes, Lucky Girl, an eclectic mix of rocking roots increases in self-nature connection as or reading them stories where animals and folk-rock ballads, inspired by her life, well as more spontaneous recollections or natural objects are featured as her loves, and her politics. of trip memories emphasizing nature sympathetic characters. (rather than other aspects of the trip, Though engaging kids socially and Images courtesy: Ananth Somaiah and such as social interactions). creative commons/flickr

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 45 EDUCATION

Education for Real Life

Building ‘water intelligence’ in future generations has to begin with home, schools and colleges in this era of formal and structured education. Rema Kumar, a passionate educationist who believes that Education can still be part of the solution writes an open Letter to Parents, Educators and Curriculum Planners. Dear All, I write to all those concerned about the well being of our Children might be surprised or shocked to know that children. I write as an educationist who fervently believes in the past century and the ones before that - no state that education ought to be about Real Life Issues. I write ever supplied water anywhere in the world! And yet, each about an issue that is of the greatest concern now and will human habitation had its own supply of water for domestic have even greater implications in the future. and related usage that worked reasonably well. Built over centuries, the indigenous systems of water management It is absolutely clear that our children will inherit a deeply suitable for almost every agro-climatic and ecological zones water stressed world. It also seems obvious that most, if not sustained human growth all across the globe. all of us will be affected by lack of water or an excess of it in the coming decades. So it is only fair that children get We need to have conversations with our children, need to prepared to deal with it; get to know that this crisis is more draw their attention to the fact that these systems ensured of a water mismanagement crisis than one of water shortage. that communities took ownership and responsibility for They also need to know that: their water needs and treated their water resources with great respect. access to safe drinking water. Most importantly, we need to involve them in projects at • More than a billion people in the world do not have home where they can practice judicious use of water. We can also encourage them to begin looking at the community they adequate sanitation. • More than half the population do not have access to are part of in order to practice water-wise ways of living. Children learn best from example. The day to day water related diseases. usage habits are picked up most easily from parents - be it • At least 3-4 million people die every year of water use in every little way. during the last century. avoiding the shower, fixing leaky taps or minimising water • More than half the world’s wetlands were destroyed Also, can adults in every locality or apartment actually To Parents … work together to conserve water and avoid water wastage? While we focus on building self reliance and independence Already there are many communities, both urban and in our children and prepare them to fend for themselves in rural, who have begun such work, and children who grow the larger world, let us bear in mind that self-reliance for up in such spaces are lucky to have parents with water- water is a life skill that would prove to be a life saver in the intelligence. Many have woken up to taking responsibility coming years! for water, having learnt that centralised government control

46 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 cannot take care of our basic needs in a long term sustainable of custodianship and collaboration and living out water fashion. consciousness in the school and their communities needs to be the focus point for the teachers. To Curriculum Planners and Educational Leaders Teachers/educators can engage students in big and small There is a great deal of discussion around the issue of projects which will enable them to focus on the micro and making water education mandatory for students. However macro aspects of the issue. They could study the usage, subjecting them to a content and data overload is not what be alert to waste/misuse, be the conservers who spread water literacy should be all about. They certainly need to awareness and mobilize for action. Involving the students in hands-on construction/maintenance projects for harvesting or recycling, collecting/maintaining climate data are also know the facts and figures: level in 1947. ways of active engagement. • India’s per capita water availability is half of the Other possibilities include studying the water source, and community managed systems, were put in place to following the water trail in their community, conducting harvest• surfaceTechnologies, and groundwater, as opposed often to community causing irreparable designed surveys to examine end use patterns and including damage to hydrological cycle by over-exploitation of water stakeholders to work towards water prudent ways. We resources. may need to strongly reiterate that short term convenience methods will drag us deeper into the crisis. being one of the wettest countries on earth. Can water be considered sacred again? • We are one of world’s worst water miners despite The 2011 census data reveals that 41% of India is below the age of 20. If we are able to reach out to this group and • Large scale water development systems have often get at least some of them committed to action we could look led to inefficient and inequitable distribution. at a scenario where water becomes everybody’s business; solely for rain-water harvesting it would meet all of India’s where water is a precious gift and is accorded the respect irrigation• If and 5 to household 10% of needs. India’s land were to be utilised to ensure judicious use of water and prevent squandering. enjoyedit deserves; by all. where the hydrological cycle flows seamlessly • Expanding people’s participation is one of best ways without being interrupted; where the flow of abundance is Children need to know the context and the current The path ahead lies in reclaiming the sacred and scenario but more importantly there is a need for thinking, integrating pragmatic action oriented approaches. The engage them with the issues and make the connections. initiatives. I conclude with a Rig Vedic hymn and the wish Thediscussion, curriculum reflection needs pointsto be hands-on and exercises and solution-centred. that can deeply thatcommunity water becomes has a significant everybody’s role business… to play in supporting such Success stories of water wise solutions such as the Ralegaon Aapo Hi Sstthaa Mayo-Bhuvasthaa Na Siddhi which moved from a tenuous one crop village economy to a three crop one or the Tarun Bharat Sangh experience of Uurje Dadhaatana| bringing Arvari river back to life in India’s arid region needs Mahe Rannaatha Cakssase ||1|| to be shared. There are many other such real-life examples O Water, because of your presence, the Atmosphere is so - and the curriculum must encourage children to learn from refreshing, and imparts us with vigour and strength. websites and pioneers in localised water conservation whom We revere you who gladden us by your pure essence. people if only we look for them. Engaging with the question we can find in our regions and connect with us as resource In deep faith,, happens would enable them to consider and work with replicatingof how transformations them. from water scarcity to sufficiency A Concerned Educator Practice oriented projects such as water audit for the school, setting up sewage water recycling units (phytorid STPs), rain water harvesting and ground water recharge pits/wells, setting up student water panchayats to study ways and means of reducing water usage, growing only low water usage indigenous varieties of plants and trees. to ascertain the indigenous system of water management andResearch work projects to implement to study those their needs specific to bemicro encouraged. climatic zone The focus of the curriculum should sharply be on possibilities for water wise living.

To Educators Rema Kumar is a educationist with over 20 years of expereince. She The curriculum can inform. However, it can stop short of has been involved with Prakriya Green Wisdom School, Bangalore since its initial years. She is currently the Director, Bhoomi college. inspiring for action. I believe teachers have a critical role to A passionate teacher who has keen interest in deep ecology and play in enabling students to be water literate and water wise. education for sustainability. Knowledge backed by possibilities for action is what would lead to a proactive and engaged citizenry. Kindling the spirit Image courtesy: Ananth Somaiah

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 47 Before the Flood

Rob Hopkins reviews the film featuring Leonardo Dicaprio that remindsthe world of the urgency around climate change.

MOVIE REVIEW The release of Leonardo DiCaprio’s In terms of the gravity of the One: Before the Flood ... of tears? Climate change is clearly something end of a US election in which climate its punches. “The window”, Johan Leonardo DiCaprio cares about deeply, changenew film has ‘Before gone all the but Flood’, unmentioned, near the Rockstromchallenge, of the the Stockholm film doesn’t Resilience pull and has for many years. One of the is to be celebrated. As is the fact that Centre tells him (i.e. the window of it has been made available free online, action for avoiding disastrous climate interview with Sunita Narain of the change), “is barely open”. Centrekey moments for Science in the film,and Environmentfor me, is his release, has already been viewed 3.5 He visits world leaders and key in New Delhi. She challenges him, millionand within times, the as firstwell as 2 trending days of on its people in governments and business. saying that 30% of Indians still have no Twitter. Ah, the power of celebrity. It We see some degree of how this access to electricity, and for the US to powerfully reminds the world of the impacts on him personally, for example tell India to cut its emissions without urgency around climate change, which when the shooting for scenes for ‘The cutting its own, without recalibrating can only be a good thing. Revenant’ that require snow have to its own lifestyle and its expectations, is be moved 9,000 miles south, from not going to work. When she presses without a real jolt around the urgency the Canadian snow belt to southern him on this point, he says “it (the US of climateIt’s not achange. film you Veryget to few the peopleend of Argentina because there’s no snow left voluntarily changing its lifestyle) is other than those who have completely in that region of Canada. All of which probably not going to happen”. severed the link between their brain leads me into the two fundamental There is, in this moment, a tension and their heart can watch footage that runs, unaddressed, throughout ‘Before the Flood’. DiCaprio lives in a (“it looks like Mordor”, he tells the issuesThis I have is a with powerful, this film. timely, taken flying over the Alberta tar sands executive of the company wreaking and beautifully made film this devastation. “What’s Mordor?” interviewsworld of contradiction. with the Pope, His influence President is comes the reply), over the Indonesian and it will have a big impact. Obamasuch that and he so can on. make He isa filma very containing wealthy forests deliberately set alight by palm Climate change demands us man, owning an island off Belize, oil companies, or over collapsing ice to take risks, to reimagine numerous homes around the world. sheets without being deeply troubled. He supports lots of great projects. He is “Everything I have seen on my journey sacrifice as opportunity. part of the 1%. He has the 11th largest

has absolutely terrified me”, he says.

48 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 yacht in the world, which cost over $200 million, which has its own wine cellar Yes, the leadership from the powerful people interviewed here is and a helicopter pad. He attracted a important... But if we avoid the sacrifice bit, we skirt around the lot of criticism when, earlier this year, heart of the issue, and around our own hearts too. private jet, to collect an environmental award.he flew fromIt has Cannes been argued to New by York some by affected his heart, made him rethink Jonathan Latham‘s piece ‘Why the Food that his lifestyle diminishes his ‘moral and reimagine his own life and lifestyle, Movement is Unstoppable’ which gives authority’ to speak out on issues like his self-image. a great taste of this. climate change. DiCaprio could do that. He could be What are the new social I don’t want to knock him. In many technologies, the social infrastructures, wondered if the title ‘Before the Flood’ that this shift requires? They are being great ambassador for all of this. He’s a mightthe first in celebrityfact refer toto reallythe moment model beforethat. I pioneered, around the world, through coolways guy, it’s aand great his film, opinion and Iis think respected, he is a a huge diversity of initiatives and any real period of self-examination. communities. They are recognizing themselves bewildered in cyberspace Thethe flood reality of tearsis that that there often comeis really before no that climate change is a crisis that is byespecially the “is climate by young change people real who or not?” find place for super yachts in a world that about disconnection, from each other, nonsense babble. It’s impossible to manages to stay below 2 degrees. Nor from nature, from the places where keep everyone happy: if you’re rich and for fracking, third runways, huge new we live, and they are reweaving those a celebrity and you speak out, people infrastructure projects. Nor, indeed, connections. The role of the Obamas, will accuse you of being privileged and for the 1% with their current ways of the 1%, should be to support those and out of touch, if you aren’t, far fewer to learn from them. that we can have our cake and eat it. people will listen. It’s brilliant that he Yes, the leadership from the Weliving. can’t. The But film there would is stillhave a usdelicious, believe has made this. powerful people interviewed here albeit different, menu on offer. But I would like to have seen more is important. But President Obama I’d have loved him to have read Chuck Collins’ book ‘Born on Third acknowledging that the Paris impactof his innerand conflicts.credibility. It wouldHe knows have Agreementcuts an unconvincing is “nowhere figure, near sombrelyenough” thetransformed reality of thisclimate film’s change, narrative, yet he DiCaprio’s reluctance to share his own but offering little else, and the Pope’s lives a 1% lifestyle. When he was on honest,Base’ beforepainful, rich making journey this with film. us amazing historic Encyclical on the that plane to New York, to pick up his is such a pity. He is, perhaps, uniquely climate has largely fallen on deaf ears. environmental award, how did he placed to do that. It would have had But other than mobilising through justify it to himself? What did those such an impact, and his example would demonstrations, people could reach internal conversations look like? have touched the 1% as well as the rest of us. In his book, Collins writes: that nothing is happening on the Yes, he drives electric cars, and has “Wealthy friends and neighbours. It ground.the end of The this realityfilm with couldn’t the impression be more solar panels on his house, but nothing in is time to come home … to come out different. of your gated communities and gated that interview in Delhi, mentions This is a powerful, timely, and hearts”. It’s a journey I would love to this film, including his reaction during have seen DiCaprio make. get through this, wealthier nations, a big impact. But it could have been and‘sacrifice’. wealthier And people,ultimately, need if weto aremake to Two: Social Technologies sobeautifully much more, made gone film, so and much it will deeper, have taken so many more risks, been the world’s wealthiest 10% generate ‘Before the Flood’ presents a case braver. Climate change demands us halfsacrifices. of global We carbon know fromemissions. Oxfam There that where climate change is to be solved by is huge leadership to be shown here. politics and technology. It’s all about as opportunity. But if we avoid the international agreements, new tax to take risks, to reimagine sacrifice regimes, renewable energy, eating less of the issue, and around our own hearts that future world could be, on how a meat and battery storage. “There’s no too.sacrifice bit, we skirt around the heart moreAbsent equitable, are hisjust, reflections sustainable on world how reason we can’t solve this problem in could be so much better than today. In time” he says at one point. Elon Musk that world, what do the lifestyles of the would have us believe that technology rich and famous look like? What kind can do it all, and his vision and of inner journey do they need to go on? commitment are certainly remarkable. What do they need to let go of, and what We are left with a sense that this is a does that grief, that refocusing look challenge that can only be solved by the like? How does their relationship with rich and the powerful. privilege and power need to change? What does it look like for a celebrity Yet all over the world, people are to really become embedded, rooted, already doing a huge amount. Much Rob Hopkins is an independent activist and in a place, rather than houses around of the best action is coming from city Mayors, from local governments, and writer on environmental issues, based in the world, connected by private jets Totnes, England. and huge yachts? That’s what I wanted from communities. And this stuff is to see. I wanted to see how this stuff growing, and spreading fast. I loved Image used is a screenshot from the movie.

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 49 The Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting Dr. Joseph Michael Mercola views intermittent fasting as a lifestyle, not a diet, that includes making healthy food choices whenever you do eat.

Is it a good idea to “starve” yourself fats, like coconut oil, olive oil, olives, HGH, human growth hormone, just a little bit each day, or a couple avocados, and nuts. It typically takes of days a week? Mounting evidence several weeks to shift to fat burning hormone,” plays an important role indicates that yes, intermittent fasting mode, but once you do, your cravings commonly referred to as “the fitness for unhealthy and carbs will longevity, including promotion of FOOD AND HEALTH on your health and longevity. automatically disappear. This is musclein maintaining growth, and health, boosting fitness fat loss and (IF) could have a very beneficial impact because you’re now actually able to by revving up your metabolism. The I prefer daily intermittent fasting, burn your stored fat and don’t have fact that it helps build muscle while but you could also fast a couple of days to rely on new fast-burning carbs for simultaneously promoting fat loss a week if you prefer, or every other day. fuel. Unfortunately, despite mounting explains why HGH helps you lose weight There are many different variations. evidence, many health practitioners To be effective, in the case of daily are still reluctant to prescribe fasting to intermittent fasting, the length of your their patients. According to Brad Pilon, practicewithout (as sacrificing long as they muscle don’t mass, overtrain and fast must be at least 16 hours. This author of Eat Stop Eat: andwhy areeven careful athletes about can benefittheir nutrition). from the means eating only between the hours The only other thing that can compete “Health care practitioners across of 11am until 7pm, as an example. in terms of dramatically boosting HGH the board are so afraid to recommend Essentially, this equates to simply levels is high-intensity interval training. eating less because of the stigma skipping breakfast, and making lunch involved in that recommendation, but fasting include: we are more than happy to recommend Other health benefits of intermittent yourYou first can meal restrict of the it day even instead. further — that someone start going to the gym. • Normalizing your insulin and down to six, four, or even two hours if If all I said was you need to get to the leptin sensitivity, which is key for you want, but you can still reap many of gym and start eating healthier, no one optimal health i m p r o v i n g these rewards by limiting your eating would have a problem with it. When biomarkers of disease to an eight-hour window each day. the message is not only should you eat • Normalizing ghrelin levels, less, you could probably go without This is because it takes about six to also known as “the hunger eating for 24 hours once or twice a eight hours for your body to metabolize hormone” R e d u c i n g week, suddenly it’s heresy.” your glycogen stores; after that you inflammation and lessening free start to shift to burning fat. However, if The Health Benefits of Intermittent radical damage you are replenishing your glycogen by Fasting • Lowering triglyceride levels eating every eight hours (or sooner), Aside from removing your cravings preserving memory functioning for sugar and snack foods and turning and learning body to use your fat stores as fuel. you make it far more difficult for your Intermittent fasting is as good or better Intermittent fasting — more a machine, thereby making it far easier than continuous calorie restriction lifestyle than a diet toyou maintain into ana healthy efficient body fat-burning weight, According to Dr. Stephen Freedland, I view intermittent fasting as a are many other good reasons to fast associate professor of urology and lifestyle, not a diet, and that includes intermittently.modern science For has example, confirmed research there pathology at the Duke University making healthy food choices whenever Medical Center, “undernutrition without you do eat. Also, proper nutrition sessions of the American College of malnutrition” is the only experimental becomes even more important when Cardiologypresented at in the New 2011 Orleans annual scientificshowed approach that consistently improves fasting, so you really want to address that fasting triggered a 1,300 percent survival in animals with cancer, as well your food choices before you try fasting. rise of human growth hormone (HGH) as extends lifespan overall by as much This includes minimizing carbs in women, and an astounding 2,000 as 30 percent. Interestingly enough, and replacing them with healthful percent in men. intermittent fasting appears to provide

It takes about six to eight hours for your body to metabolize maintain.nearly identical health benefits without being as difficult to implement and your glycogen stores; after that you start to shift to burning fat. Mark Mattson, senior investigator However, if you are replenishing your glycogen by eating every for the National Institute on Aging, which eight hours (or sooner), you make it far more difficult for your is part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), has researched the health body to use your fat stores as fuel.

benefits of intermittent fasting, as well 50 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 If you’re ready to give Remember it takes a few weeks, and According to Mattson, there are several intermittent fasting a try, you have to do it gradually, but once theoriesas the benefits to explain of why calorie fasting restriction. works: you succeed and switch to fat burning consider skipping breakfast, mode, you’ll be easily able to fast for 18 “The one that we’ve studied a lot, hours and not feel hungry. The “hunger” and designed experiments to test, make sure you stop eating and most people feel is actually cravings for is the hypothesis that during the drinking anything but water sugar, and these will disappear, as if by fasting period, cells are under a mild three hours before you go to magic, once you successfully shift over stress, and they respond to the stress to burning fat instead. adaptively by enhancing their ability sleep, and restrict your eating to cope with stress and, maybe, to to an 8-hour (or less) time frame Another phenomenal side effect/ resist disease… There is considerable every day. similarity between how cells respond to the stress of exercise and how cells bacteriabenefit thatin your occurs gut. Supporting is that you healthy will 600 calories), tends to boost BDNF respond to intermittent fasting.” gutradically bacteria, improve which actually the outnumber beneficial by anywhere from 50 to 400 percent, your cells 10 to one, is one of the most In one of his studies, overweight depending on the brain region. BDNF important things you can do to improve adults with moderate asthma lost eight activates brain stem cells to convert into your immune system so you won’t get percent of their body weight by cutting new neurons, and triggers numerous their calorie intake by 80 percent on other chemicals that promote neural will sleep better, have more energy, alternate days for eight weeks. Markers health. This protein also protects your havesick, orincreased get coughs, mental colds andclarity flus. andYou brain cells from changes associated concentrate better. Essentially every also decreased, and asthma-related with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s aspect of your health will improve as symptomsof oxidative improved, stress and inflammationalong with disease. several quality-of-life indicators. Give Intermittent Fasting a Try Based on my own phenomenal How Intermittent Fasting Benefits your gut flora becomes balanced. experience with intermittent fasting, Your Brain If you’re ready to give intermittent fasting a try, consider skipping I believe it’s one of the most powerful Your breakfast, make sure you stop eating ways to shift your body into fat burning intermittent fasting. As reported in the and drinking anything but water three mode and improve a wide variety of featured article:brain can also benefit from hours before you go to sleep, and biomarkers for disease. The effects “Mattson has also researched the restrict your eating to an 8-hour (or less) time frame every day. In the 6-8 while in a fasted state. Clearly, it’s cananother be further powerful magnified tool in byyour exercising box to If you don’t eat for 10–16 hours, your hours that you do eat, have healthy help you and your family take care of bodyprotective will go benefits to its fatof fasting stores tofor neurons. energy, protein, minimize your carbs like pasta, your health. and fatty acids called ketones will be bread, and potatoes and exchange released into the bloodstream. This has them for healthful fats like butter, eggs, been shown to protect memory and avocado, coconut oil, olive oil and nuts learning functionality, says Mattson, as — essentially the very fats the media well as slow disease processes in the and “experts” tell you to avoid. brain.” This will help shift you from carb Besides releasing ketones as a burning to fat burning mode. Once your byproduct of burning fat, intermittent body has made this shift, it is nothing fasting also affects brain function by short of magical as your cravings for boosting production of a protein called sweets, and food in general, rapidly brain-derived neurotrophic factor normalizes and your desire for sweets Joseph Michael Mercola is an alternative (BDNF). Mattson’s research suggests and junk food radically decreases if not medicine proponent, osteopathic physician, that fasting every other day (restricting disappears entirely. and web entrepreneur. your meal on fasting days to about Image courtesy creative commons/flickr.

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 51 KOMBUCHA TEA Drink Recipes Kombucha is a functional beverage produced by fermenting sweetened tea using a SCOBY Culture that is ‘Symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast’. (For SCOBY

RECIPES CULTURE contact Aliston at - [email protected])

Ingredients • Kombucha SCOBY Culture For every one litre of water you need : • ½ tsp of Green tea • ½ tsp Black tea • 4 tbsp Organic sugar + 1 tbsp jaggery/cane sugar/ molasses Flavouring Agent for secondary fermentation: citrus peels, lemon grass, basil, mint, ginger or combination of any 2 of the above.

Method: Primary fermentation: • Boil water, tea and sugar • Allow it to cool and then strain • Introduce SCOBY into tea and allow it to ferment for 5 to 9 days • Drain 90% of solution leaving 10% of solution as HIBISCUS TEA starter for the next batch Ingredients Secondary Fermentation: • 4 Glasses of water • Bottle the liquid with and leave it to ferment for • 12 Red single whorled Hibiscus flowers an another 3 to 4 days. • ½ Teaspoon lemon juice • After secondary fermentation the drink is • Jaggery or honey to taste ready for consumption for upto 1 week if left at room temperature and upto 3 weeks if kept • Mint leaves refrigerated. Consume 100ml as and when required. • A pinch of salt Health tips: Method • Helps in digestion • Heat water and bring to boil. • Elevates mood • Clean the flowers and shred it petal-wise. • Generates energy Keep one flower aside for garnishing. • Put the shredded petals into the boiling water. Switch off the gas. Cover the vessel and let it cool. • Strain the Hibiscus water, add lemon juice and jaggery to taste. Garnish with finely chopped hibiscus petals and mint leaves and serve.

Health Tips: • Rich in Vitamin C • Helps in increasing the metabolism and decreases anxiety

52 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 SPROUTED RAGI JUICE

Ingredients • 1 Cup Ragi grains • Jaggery to taste • 4 cups water • Salt to taste • Pinch of Cardamom powder

Method: • Soak Ragi for 3 to 4 hours. Strain and keep it aside overnight for sprouting • Grind in a mixer with water to a fine paste and strain in a muslin cloth. • Do this 3 times till all the milk is removed APPE HULI (Spicy Tender Mango Juice) • Add jaggery and cardamom powder and serve

Ingredients Variation: • 2 Green chillies • You can add grated coconut while grinding to get an enhanced flavor • 2 Raw mangoes • 1 Garlic pod Health tips: • 4 Cups of water • It is a cooling drink • 1 tsp Oil • High in fibre content • 1 sp Jeera (cumin seeds) • Helps fight anemia • 1 sp Mustard • A Pinch of asafoetida • Salt to taste

Method: • Chop mangoes and green chillies • Add 4 cups of water to the cut pieces • Cook it for 10 minutes till mangoes are tender • Remove the skin of the mango pieces and mash it well or coarsely grind

Seasoning: Heat oil, add mustard and cumin and asafoetida and pour it over the mango juice.

Variation: • Instead of mango, any citrus fruit can be used. • Instead of green chilli, a dry red chilli soaked in water for an hour and crushed can be used. • Add a dash of jaggery to enhance the taste

Health tips: • Good source of Vitamin A and C I.M.Pushpa is a facilitator with Bhoomi College. She is passionate • It also whets the appetite and is a good remedy about working on the land, saving and distributing seeds, enriching for morning sickness the soil, and making organic fertilisers and biopesticides. She is well- versed in healing through home remedies, and enthusiastic about cooking and sharing her recipes with others.

Photographs by Ananth Somaiah.

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 53 A Himalayan Project An appeal by Sonam Wangchuk of Secmol, the inspiration for the famous movie, “The Three Idiots”, to support a new project - of setting up the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), as an International University to offer learning suited to preserve the Himalayas.

On my part I have decided to donate the award money of roughly One crore rupees towards this university, to quickly begin the greening of desert while funds for construction, etc. start flowing in. Further we have already received commitments of Rs. One crore rupees each from few generous individuals. And it is not just money, we are receiving significant contribution in kind from various individuals and organizations which has allowed us to do surveys, mappings etc. of the area. We are currently looking for friends who can be champions of HIAL in different regions and who can help us in mobilizing support for this ambitious project. Support can be in various form like: • human resource… i.e. finding teacher volunteers or advisors for the University Dear All, • finance (either by donating or by connecting to It is my pleasure to inform you that with your others who might be interested) support and good wishes I won the Rolex Award for • or even to initiate discussion about the maladies Enterprise 2016 on 15 Nov 2016 at a ceremony held and remedies of higher education in one’s own place. in the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, USA. Ice Stupa project was selected by Rolex from 2,322 applications In case you are in a position to be a champion for this from people of 144 nationalities. The ceremony was cause, kindly get in touch with me. attended by hundreds of luminaries and leading scientists, environmentalists. With Best Wishes, And now, coinciding with the Rolex award, we are Sonam Wangchuk preparing to launch our most ambitious project till date – Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh For more details on the project and how you can help, (HIAL), an alternative university for mountain visit www.hial.co.in development which will use our 25 years experience of hands-on practical education at SECMOL school and scale it up for higher education at international level. HIAL will be a collaboration between SECMOL, The Phyang village & monastery and the Ladakh Hill Council Government. It will be established on a 200 acre desert land provided by the Ladakh Hill Council Government and will eventually engage up to 5,000 youths to find solutions to the challenges faced by mountain people; especially in education, culture and environment (climate change)! Sure setting up an international University is an ambitious plan! While the target for the first phase is roughly USD 150 crore (USD 20 million), we plan to raise Rs. 15 crore (USD 2 million) to kick start the first phase. We hope to raise this through a combination of crowd funding and direct corporate (CSR) and institutional support.

SonamWangchuk founded the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) in 1988 together with a group of Ladakhi youth to re-engage Ladakhi students and help them complete their education. By introducing educational reforms in government- run schools, SonamWangchuk has been encouraging communities to reinforce the cultural identity of minority ethnic groups that live along the northern border of India. He is a visiting faculty at Bhoomi College

54 Eternal Bhoomi January - March 2017 Bhoomi Green Schools Programme

Are you interested in working with children ? Do you wish to do you your bit to spread awareness about issues • concerning Nature and Sustainable Living? • Can you spend a couple of hours a week to visit schools or colleges near you? • Join in as a volunteer for Bhoomi...

Bhoomi offers you training over two Saturdays to be equipped to engage children through viewing documentaries, anchoring discussions, reading and simple activities for middle school children. For the present, the focus areas planned for such sessions are:

- The coming Food Revolution - Our Amazing Bodies - Our Beautiful Planet - Fun with Organic Gardening - Adventure

These sessions can be offered once a week to schools who enroll for the Bhoomi Green Schools Programme.

If you are interesed in volunteering please contact us at : bhoomi. [email protected]/ Call 9449853834

January - March 2017 Eternal Bhoomi 55

RNI No: KARENG/2010/33927 Make a Difference... Live the Change... Do you wish to do your bit about the mindless destruction of Nature that is happening today? Do you wish to take up green careers/ activities or look be a teacher in alternative schools? Do you seek to empower children to become tomorrow’s mature, responsible adults? Do you wish to learn in experiential, practical and yet meaningful ways? Do you wish to take a gap year / sabbatical to connect with Mother Earth? If these aspirations are yours and you wish to be part of the solution, Bhoomi College will support you through these two intensive learning opportunities.

1 Year and 6 month Post Graduate Courses, 2017-18

Diploma in Science & Management for Sustainable Living Starts July 2017 What this programme offers : • An understanding of root-level social, economic, cultural and environmental issues, holistic thinking & group processes • Strategic affirmative-action approaches, including self - exploration, hands on work and field visits • Knowledge and skills for pursuing green careers • An ecosystem for operationalising your entrepreneurial ideas Diploma in Holistic Education Starts July 2017 What this programme offers : • Opportunities and support to explore concepts and philosophies in education, culture building and holistic learning • Multiple possibilities to build on one’s psychological, interpersonal and knowledge based strengths • Hands-on engagement with children and adults to work with processes of co-evolving and co-creation in learning and living.

What you can expect at Bhoomi College: • Seasoned teachers and expert facilitators • Hands-on practical work • A cutting-edge curriculum • Beautiful eco-friendly campus • Enriching learning processes • Labs to co-design learning projects and activities • Internships with NGOs, schools and institutions Apply online through: www.bhoomicollege.org or contact: [email protected] Phone: 080 28441173, 09449853834

The Bhoomi College - a participative space for deep, holistic, and practical learning No. 40, Chikkanayakanahalli Road, Off Sarjapura Road, Bangalore - 560 035

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