Gandhi, Environment And Sustainable Future
PREFACEEnvironmental issues came to the fore in the 1970s.Thefirst United Nations Conference on the Human Environment(1972) was held in Stockholm, Sweden. It brought environmentto the centre stage of the global agenda and later led to theestablishment of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP). In 1983, the UN General Assembly set up the WorldCommission on Environment and Development, popularlyknown as the Brundtland Commission. Its aim was to linkenvironmental issues to the findings of the 1980 Brandt reporton North-South relations. The Brundtland report entitled OurCommon Future, published in 1987, established the linkbetween environment and the economy and coined a new term"sustainable development" as the way to ensure economicdevelopment that would not endanger the ability of futuregenerations to enjoy the fruits of the earth.Twenty years after the first global environmentconference the representatives from 178 nations, nongovernmental agencies (NGOs) and other interested parties(approximately 30,000 in total including members of themedia), met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to discuss globalenvironmental issues with implications for appropriate policiesto be pursued by national governments. The conference soughtagreement on concrete measures to reconcile economicactivities with protection of the planet to ensure a sustainablefuture for all people. The United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) wasopened for signature at this conference. This conference was aland mark in the history of environment and is popularly knownas the Earth Summit. Ten years after the first Earth Summit theWorld Summit on Sustainable Development , took place in
iiPrefaceJohannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, to discuss the issue ofsustainable development. The United Nations Climate ChangeConference, commonly known as the Copenhagen Summit,was held at Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009. The CopenhagenAccord, though not legally binding, recognised climate changeas one of the greatest challenges of the present .Theseconferences brought into limelight the challenges in the field ofenvironment and the concrete action needed to mitigate theissues.It has been acknowledged by environmentalists thatGandhian insights serve as a guide to understand the problem ina proper perspective. It is to be noted that Gandhi has not leftany aspect of life untouched. He clearly expressed his views onbasic issues relating to life. Though he has not dealt specificallywith the issue of ecology and environment one can easily gaugehis perspective on issues relating to environment from his basicapproach to life. Gandhi led a holistic life which was in tunewith principles of nature and environmental friendliness. Thesearching mind of Gandhi identified the factors disturbing rightkind of living. A fundamental discovery of Gandhi is that nonviolence is the law that is operating in our life. Therefore, ourlife style should be completely non-violent. All have to setlimits to material comforts which will help them to movetowards the path of spirituality. Theories of development do notlook life from a holistic perspective. They give emphasis tobodily aspects and altogether ignore the intellectual andspiritual dimensions of life. As a result, our developmentpolicies are lopsided, truncated and distorted.Gandhi realised that industrial revolution is a watershedin human history. His systematic study of process and effects ofdomination of machines led him to conclude that industrialcivilization is a satanic civilization. If we draw a graph ofdevelopment of industrial growth and superimpose it on a
Prefaceiiigraph of parameters representing environmental degradation,one will be amazed to see that they are almost similar. To putdifferently Gandhi identified that the real disease is industrialcivilization. Environmental problems that we face today areonly symptoms of that civilization. Therefore situating Gandhisecurely in discussions on environment is appropriate andsignificant.In order to provide a forum for exchange of ideas andsharing of experiences on various issues related to present stateof environment from a Gandhian perspective, Institute ofGandhian Studies,Wardha, in collaboration with Gandhi PeaceFoundation, New Delhi, and Centre of Science for Villages,Dattapur, Wardha, organised a National Seminar on Gandhi,Science and Environment in Wardha from 14th to 16th March2009. The Seminar brought together scholars, actors andstakeholders in the respective fields to have a meaningfuldialogical round table in order to take stock of theenvironmental challenges ahead and the strategies to overcomethem. This volume is a collection of selected papers presentedat the Seminar.This volume contains articles dealing with Gandhianperspective on environment, sustainability,spirituality, majorenvironmental issues like climate change, nuclearisation, GMtechnology, crisis in agriculture and farmers’ suicides andsuccessful technological innovations that will ensure asustainable future. This volume has brought togetheracademics, activists and scientists to reflect on the environmentfor the survival of planet earth. It is hoped that this volume willbe beneficial for persons working on gandhiana, environmentand technological alternatives.
ivPrefaceWe are highly beholden to ChandrasekharDharmadhikari, Chairman, Institute of Gandhian Studies,Wardha; Radhaben Bhatt, Chairperson, Gandhi PeaceFoundation, New Delhi, and Sameer Kurvey, ExecutiveDirector, Centre of Science for Villages,Wardha, for theinstitutional support rendered for the publication of the volume.Our special thanks are due to Surendra Kumar, Secretary,Gandhi Peace Foundation, for his encouragement and initiativein the execution of the project. We acknowledge our debt toJohn Moolakkattu, Professor, Dept. of Humanities and SocialSciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, for the usefulinsights in the editing work. Arunima Maitra also extended hersupport in the editing of the volume. Shrikant Kulkarni of theInstitute deserves special mention for his help and constantencouragement. Last but not least, we appreciate the promptword processing of the manuscript done by Manohar Mahajanof the Institute.Siby K. JosephBharat Mahodaya
1IntroductionSiby K. JosephThe State of EnvironmentThe present state of environment is a matter of concernfor all socially committed individuals, internationalorganizations and governments all over the globe. GlobalWarming, Climate Change, Pollution and access to clean waterare some of the gravest challenges before the world today.People all over the world are aware of the ill effects of globalwarming and various steps have been taken to mitigate theemission of green house gases. Most of the nationalgovernments have signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol aimedat reducing emission of green house gases.1 It is interesting tomention that though the US has signed the Kyoto Protocol wayback in 1998, the Senate is yet to ratify it. The latest yearbookof United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) cautionseverybody about the precarious state of environment. Scientistswarn that there is still a considerable emission gap of 5gigatonnes to be closed. The report further states that the needto reduce emissions of black carbon and tropospheric ozoneprecursors has received comparatively little attention so far.2The prospects of reduction in emission of greenhouse gaseslook bleak in the near future mainly because of the unbridledgrowth being pursued by the advocates of the present model ofdevelopment.
2Gandhi, Environment and Sustainable The current state of environment is a disturbing one. Ithas been evident from the continuous rise in earth’s meansurface temperature, which results in the melting of polar ice.The changes that are happening on the climatic front in recentyears are at a faster pace compared to the earlier era. Theaverage facade temperature of the globe has augmented morethan 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900 and the speed of warminghas been almost three-fold, the century long average since1970.3 The main gases contributing to green house effect arecarbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).The largest producers of these gases are the thermal powerplants, transportation by road and air, heavy industries, all ofwhich are indispensable in the present model of development.The depletion of the ozone layer is another pertinentenvironmental issue which has similar implications.Both sentient and non-sentient beings are experiencingthe ill-effects of global warming and ozone layer depletion. Asa corollary to it, there is frequent melting of glaciers. Themelting of ice at the Polar Regions has led to a rise in the meansea level which will engulf low-lying countries. The effect ofglobal warming on the animal kingdom is very evident. Someof the endangered animals which maintain the eco-balance havebecome extinct or are on the verge of extinction due to theirinability to cope with the rapid changes that are taking place onthe climatic front. The effect of it on the season cycle needs nodescription. The fine equilibrium that existed in the seasonalcycle has changed dramatically. The shift in season cycle hasbecome a breeding ground for new diseases which wereunknown to humanity. The drastic changes on the climatic frontin terms of untimely onset of rains, floods and other naturalcalamities have created a severe crisis in the agricultural sector.Now the suicide of agricultural farmers in the Indiansubcontinent is not limited to a particular region or areas having
Introduction3less rainfall. The pathetic state of affairs in the agriculturalsector is mainly due to the effects of climate change and theintroduction of modern agricultural practices which depend onchemical fertilizers genetically modified organisms and marketforces.Another important issue which needs mention is theindiscriminate use of plastic which extended the humanfootprint even to the remotest parts of the ocean, which poses apotential threat to eco system and human health. This issuewas echoed in the latest yearbook of United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP) which said “The Ocean hasbecome a global repository for much of the waste that wegenerate. Every year large amounts of plastic debris enter themarine environment. A number of scientists are concernedabout releases of persistent, bio- accumulating and toxiccompounds when plastic debris enters the food chain throughingestion by fish and other marine organisms.” 4 Theenvironmental issues discussed here are only illustrative andnot comprehensive. There are a number of environmentalissues which are equally important and needs immediateredressal to avoid the threat of mass extinction. The evergrowing concern over environmental issues has been echoed inthe various earth summits and the Copenhagen Summit. Theinconclusive Copenhagen Summit brought into sharp focus thedeep divide between the countries of the North and the Southregarding not only the factors behind climate change and whois responsible for it, but also as regards respectiveresponsibilities for management and mitigation.5Gandhi and EnvironmentalismThe deep ecology and the conservation of mother earthhave become the catchwords for environmentalists all over theworld. It is interesting to note that Arne Naess, who coined the
4Gandhi, Environment and Sustainable term ‘deep ecology’,6 has acknowledged his indebtedness toGandhi in the formulation of this term.7 Manyenvironmentalists acknowledge their debt to Gandhi inunderstanding the problem from a holistic perspective. InGandhi’s life time, ecological and environmental issues werenot matters of serious discussion as now. But Gandhi wasdeeply concerned about the damages done by modern industrialcivilization to the environment which he portrayed in hisseminal work Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule written in1909.Gandhi has not built up any theory of environmentalphilosophy or system which strictly falls within the scheme ofpresent environmental science. Gandhi was deeply concernedwith all problems confronted by humanity, and it was quitenatural that he expressed his concern on matters relating toecology and environment. One who scrutinises Gandhi’sspeeches and writings will be amazed by the deep ecoconsciousness rooted in his philosophy of life.Eco-consciousness embedded in Gandhi’s Philosophy of lifeand WorldviewGandhian environmental ethics stems from hisphilosophy of life and his worldview. In the Gandhian worldview, human life cannot be divided into watertightcompartments such as economic, political, and religious and soon. Human life is an undivided whole. He believed that “One’severyday life was never capable of being separated from hisspiritual being. Both acted and reacted upon one another.” 8 Hebelieved in the unity and oneness of all life and itsinterconnectedness. This relational worldview is equallyapplicable to animal and plant life. He wrote, “I do not believethat an individual may gain spiritually and those that surround
Introduction5him suffer. I believe in advaita. I believe in the essential unityof man and for that matter of all that lives. Therefore I believethat if one man gains spiritually, the whole world gains withhim and, if one man falls, the whole world falls to thatextent.”9According to Diwan and Bethea, “In surveying thebeliefs of spiritually-oriented cultures throughout time andacross geographical boundaries, one single, common assertionemerges: the immutable unity or oneness of life, at all levelsand in all manifestations.”10 Unity and oneness of life is thecrux of Sarvodaya ideology which can be considered as theunderpinning of deep environmental philosophy. Gandhi’sphilosophy of Sarvodaya is based on the principle of well beingof all human as well as sentient beings. Gandhi wrote in the lastchapter of his Autobiography “To see the universal and allpervading Spirit of Truth face to face one must be able to lovethe meanest creation as oneself.”11 In the Sarvodaya society ofGandhi’s vision, the organization of the society must be basedon the Law of Non-violence or Love. According to Gandhi, “Aseeker of the Truth, a follower of the law of Love cannot holdanything against tomorrow.”12Gandhi’s ideal of Aparigrahacalls for a giving up of all possessions. Gandhi had given a newmeaning to the verse in Isha Upanishad - tena-tyaktenabhunjeethah (enjoy the wealth by renouncing it). He said “Earnyour crores by all means but understand that your wealth is notyours; it belongs to the people. Take what you require for yourlegitimate needs and use the remainder for society.” 13 It callsfor the application of doctrine of trusteeship and everyoneshould use the resources of nature with a sense of aparigrahafor the common welfare of the people.The sarvodaya society which Gandhi visualised is freefrom undue exploitation of nature. In such a society every onehas to perform Yajna to lead an ideal life in tune with naturetrying to return whatever he or she takes from nature. Gandhi
6Gandhi, Environment and Sustainable explains his concept of Yajna as folows: “Yajna means an actdirected to the welfare of others, done without desiring anyreturn for it, whether of a temporal or spiritual nature. ‘Act’here must be taken in the widest sense, and includes thoughtsand word as well as deed. ‘Others’ embraces not onlyhumanity, but all life . Yajna having come to us with ourbirth, we are debtors all our lives, and thus for ever bound toserve the universe.”14 It is clear that Gandhi’s concept of Yajnais not merely engagement in bodily labour. It gives anopportunity for an individual to repay the debt one owed to thesociety.Gandhi had profound concern for nature and all livingbeings including plants and animal kingdom. He led a lifewhich was essentially non-violent giving due respect to natureand its creations. There are many telling passages in Gandhi’slife which show his commitment for environmental protection.Let us cite an incident from his life. It was painful for Gandhito see large numbers of leaves plucked at night for him whileonly few were necessary. He lamented, “Trees are living beingsjust like us. They live and breathe, they feed and drink as we doand like us they need sleep. It is a wretched thing to go and tearthe leaves of a tree at night when it is resting! And why haveyou brought such a huge quantity? Only a few leaves werenecessary . We should feel a more living bond betweenourselves and the rest of the animate creation.” 15 He made aconscious effort to use the resources of nature to the bareminimum in an attempt to conserve natural resources even if itis available in abundance. His attitude was that one should nottake even a single thing from nature when it is not actuallyrequired. Gandhi placed before humanity a lifestyle which wasin tune with the environment. The application of Gandhianprinciples will allow human beings to satisfy their basic needswithout harming interests of fellow beings. Gandhi stated that
Introduction7“the earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but notfor every man’s greed.”16 This well known dictum of Gandhireminds us that man cannot infinitely exploit nature to satisfyhis unlimited wants.Gandhi’s philosophy of life provides a sustainabledevelopment paradigm which is symbiotic with nature and ecosystem. In Gandhian frame of reference economy, ecology andspirituality are interrelated. That is why Gandhian economy isoften referred to as ‘economy of environment’. 17 Anyone whois interested in understanding Gandhi’s philosophy of lifeshould carefully read his criticism on modern Westerncivilization which promotes the present model of development,and is largely responsible for the grave environmental crises.Therefore, it is vital to look at the environmental crises throughthe lens of Gandhi’s philosophy of life.Notes and References
1. The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC or FCCC), aimed at combating global warming. The UNFCCC is an internationalenvironmental treaty with the goal of achieving "stabilization of greenhouse concentrations in theatmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climatesystem." The Protocol was initially adopted on 11 December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and came intoforce on 16 February 2005. Currently, there are 193 Parties (192 States and 1 regional economicintegration organization) to the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC. For more details Seehttp://unfccc.int/kyoto protocol/items/2830.php2. United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP Year Book 2011:Emerging Issues In our Globalenvironment. See http://www.unep.org/yearbook/3.4. United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP Year Book 2011:Emerging Issues In our Globalenvironment, Executive Summary, p.vii, Seehttp://www.unep.org/yearbook/5. The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as the Copenhagen Summit,was held at Copenhagen, Denmark, between 7 December and 18 December. The conference includedthe 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on ClimateChange and the 5th Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP 5) to the Kyoto Protocol. The CopenhagenAccord was drafted by the US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa on December 18, 2009. Thedocument recognised that climate change as one of the greatest challenges of the present and actionshould be taken to keep any temperature increases to below 2 C. It was "taken note of", but not"adopted", in a debate of all the participating countries the next day, and it was not passed unanimously.The document is not legally binding and does not contain any legally binding commitments forreducing Carbon dioxide (CO2 )emissions.6. Deep ecology is a philosophy of nature which demands deepening of our love for natural world andits empowerment and protection along with identification of human being with n
environmental issues like climate change, nuclearisation, GM technology, crisis in agriculture and farmers’ suicides and successful technological innovations that will ensure a sustainable future. This volume has brought together academics, activists and scientists to reflect on the environment for the survival of planet earth.
The African Element in Gandhi www.mkgandhi.org Page 4 FOREWORD Many books have been written on Gandhi’s twenty-one years in South Africa, the birth of Satyagraha and the transformation of Gandhi from a lawyer-servant
"How shall I tell you, my child ? A mad man shot him dead yesterday. Our beloved Gandhi was killed." "But, mother dear, Gandhi could not have harmed that man in any way. He was good, so very good." "Yes, my child, this is a strange world, and those who are truthful and love God are not liked by many. Truth is bitter and very few can bear to be .
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MAHATMA GANDHI MEDICAL COLLEGE & RESEARCH INSTITUTE, . POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN GOOD CLINICAL LABORATORY PRACTICES 2019 -20 ONWARDS Department of Biochemistry Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research . of India (PHFI) as its technical partner and constituted the National Initiative for Allied Health Sciences (NIAHS) secretariat with a .
The Hind Swaraj Centenary Seminar . than the Institute of Gandhian Studies at Wardha in the heart of India. Meeting November 20-22, 2009, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the publication of Gandhi’s most significant and consequential . Gandhi’s vision
Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology The Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology (MGUMST), Jaipur established on 23rd May, 2011 by Ordinance No. 04 of 2011 and regularised by Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Jaipur vide Act No.
"My Trip to the Land of Gandhi" JLI Y '959 July '959 Chicago, Ill. In this account of his India tour published in Ebony magazine, King notes that Gandhi's spirit is still alive though "some of his disciples have misgivings about this when . . .they look around andjind nobody today who comes near the stature of the Mahatma."'
and social challenges, need to become future cities that are smart, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. By Robert Brears, Our Future Water hand-pointerRight-click on the name of the article that you want to read 2 Future Cities: Smart, Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Future Cities: Smart, Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable 3
