Prayogpariwar in Humanscape

Tending the earth : Interesting titles that deal with the building of sustainable societies 

by Rakesh Kapoor  

Nurturing Nature: Women at the Centre of Natural and Social Regeneration, 

edited by Chhaya Datar, 

Bombay, Earthcare Books, 1998. 147 pp, Rs 100. 

In the post-modern global society two paths of development are gradually emerging. The first path advocates a form of neo-industrial market capitalism, the second path promotes biomass regeneration and an alternative `natural evolutionism' that is post-modern, post-individual, and, in going beyond the idea of dominion over nature, post-Christian. This book is an important contribution promoting the second path of development. A number of contributors to this book refer to the ideas of Prof Shripad A Dabholkar, particularly to the rediscovery of `sign-posts put up by nature' that Dabholkar talks about. Dabholkar, the author of Plenty for All [see excerpts carried in this issue] believes that increasing productivity in agriculture does not depend upon external inputs and green revolution technology but is a matter of developing bio-resource literacy, ie learning to capture photo-energy most efficiently and effectively. To spread bio-resource literacy he has developed the Prayog Pariwar methodology that refers to a participatory, self-learning and knowledge-sharing network which aims to help an average human being discover his true potential, and that of his neighborhood resources, to become autonomous in fulfilling all his needs. Over the years, it has grown into a vibrant movement with hundreds of experimenters sharing information at a time. Part I of the book is about seeking new visions and part II about experiments with alternatives. The editor's introduction places the whole argument in the perspective of the eco-feminism of Maria Mies and Vandana Shiva. The second chapter by S Manorama and C Shah critiques the old Darwinian view of evolution based on the concepts of scarcity and competition. Building on the perspectives on resource use developed by S A Dabholkar and K R Datye, the authors point to the need to reconstruct the theory on the premise that all human beings are capable of working, thinking and experimenting. Together, the various contributions to this anthology articulate a vision that unifies the regeneration of nature, the empowerment of local communities and the liberation of women.

Banking on Biomass: A New Strategy for Sustainable Prosperity Based on Renewable Energy and Dispersed Industrialisation, 

by K R Datye (assisted by Suhas Paranjape and K J Joy),

Ahmedabad, Centre for Environment Education, 1997. 353 pp, Rs 245. 

The developmental epoch based on non-renewable fossil fuels must, sooner or later, come to a close. The transition to a renewable society has to begin now. This visionary book articulates a radically new developmental strategy based on renewable bioenergy and dispersed industrialisation. It offers a vision of a new society that emphasises equitable access to natural resources, is ecologically sustainable, and uses sophisticated yet appropriate science and technology for a sustained improvement in living standards for all. . The author asserts that this new paradigm can create in India a base of production, which, within the space of 25 years, can gobeyond the subsistence needs of projected populations to attain a quality of life comparable to that of the developed countries in the 1970s. This alternative production system relies on two cardinal principles, namely, regenerative agriculture with diversified biomass production, and energy self-reliance. Besides the concepts and strategies of regenerative agriculture and energy self-reliance, the author discusses the social acceptability and validity of these arrangements. He also examines the trend towards globalisation and liberalisation, and discusses the change in premises and values which is necessary if we are to realise this possible future of sustainable prosperity. While the author lays out the broad features of the socio-economic-political transformation required to achieve the possible future that he has sketched out, he realises that the more detailed strategy and tactics of this transformation can only emerge out of a comprehensive grassroots effort for change.