Vknardep June 2011

8/6/2019 Vknardep June 2011

1/7

Echoes of EcoFrom a Conversation

In this issue:

From a Conversation Sustainable Building Practices

The Happenings I

The Happenings-II

Know Sustainable Technology

Azolla Bhagiratha of Bihar Visions of Wisdom

When one experiences thediversified existence of beings

abiding in the one eternal Being,and diverse forms spreading forth

from it, then he realizes theUltimate Truth.

-Srimat Bhagavat Gita (13:31)

Realizing the Truth

June , 2011 Vivekananda Kendra- nardep Newsletter Vol:3 No:4

Service to humanity is the highest form of worship Swami Vivekananda

Einstein: Do you believe in the Divineas isolated from the world?

Tagore: Not isolated. The infinitepersonality of Man comprehends theUniverse. There cannot be anythingthat cannot be subsumed by thehuman personality, and this provesthat the truth of the Universe ishuman truth. I have taken a scientificfact to explain this. Matter iscomposed of protons and electrons,with gaps between them, but mattermay seem to be solid without thelinks in spaces which unify theindividual electrons and protons.Similarly humanity is composed ofindividuals, yet they have theirinterconnection of humanrelationship, which gives living unityto man's world. The entire universe is

linked up with us, as individuals, in asimilar manner - it is a humanuniverse. I have pursued this thoughtthrough art, literature and thereligious consciousness of man.

Einstein: There are two differentconceptions about the nature of theuniverse -the world as a unitydependent on humanity, and theworld as a reality independent of thehuman factor.

Tagore : When our universe is inharmony with man, the eternal, weknow it as truth, we feel it as beauty.

Einstein : This is the purely humanconception of the universe.

Tagore : There can be no otherconception. This world is a humanworld - the scientific view of it is alsothat of the scientific man. Therefore,the world apart from us does notexist; it is a relative world, dependingfor its reality upon ourconsciousness. There is somestandard of reason and enjoymentwhich gives it truth, the standard ofthe Eternal Man whose experiencesare through our experiences.

Einstein: This is a realization of thehuman entity.

Tagore : Yes, one eternal entity. Wehave to realize it through our

emotions and activities. We realizedthe Supreme Man who has noindividual limitations through ourlimitations. Science is concernedwith that which is not confined toindividuals, it is the impersonalhuman world of truths. Religionrealizes these truths and links themup with our deeper needs; ourindividual consciousness of truthgains universal significance. Religionapplies values to truth, and we knowthis truth as good through our own

harmony with it.[An excerpt from Tagore-Einsteinconversation]


2/7

Ferro-cement for beauty:

Sustainable Building Practices: Ferro-cement Technology

for aesthetic constructionThis month

Green Health Home at VivekanandaPiram functioned for 8 days andtreated 209 patients.

Echoes of Eco - Newsletter, Vivekananda Kendra nardep, June 2011 Vol. 3 No: 4

If an elderly but distinguished scientist says that something is possible, he is almost certainly right;but if he says that it is impossible, he is very probably wrong.

- Arthur C. Clarke

Though Ferro-cement technology is agood cost-effective technology, itsdissemination and acceptability is areal problem.

The approach of Vivekananda Kendra-natural resources development project(VK-nardep) to the problem oftechnology dissemination has been atvarious levels. One importantinnovation by VK-nardep is the value-

addition to this technology. There isalso synergetic coupling of thistechnology with other highly adaptablesustainable technologies.

This integrates Ferro-cementtechnology as part and parcel of theway of life rather than a separatepiecemeal technological intervention.Ferro-cement technology can be usedfor the creation of beautiful decorativeitems. These include, garden ponds,decorative wheels, dustbins and flower

pots. Here we see some of them.

Cost effective

construction

Done with DST core

support

Apart from such integration of the ferro-cement technology with other sustainabletechnologies, VK-nardep also hasexperimented successfully with theaesthetic aspect of Ferro-cementtechnology by:

creating new designs in the pre-fabricated doors, windows,

using of pre-fabricated roof vaultsin creating symmetrical roofdesigns which give a rich look

using the technology to createinnovative art structures in publicplaces

decorative features in the building

Compartment partitions in officesetc.

Such varied application which allowsmasons and workers to try their creativityand create value addition makes this

technology acceptable and this in turnmakes the technology disseminationsuccessful.

Shri.V.Ramakrishnans paper on Value added and synergeticapproach to Ferro cementtechnology disseminationappeared in the journal releasedduring National Conference onFerro Cement Technology at Pune


3/7

Echoes of Eco - Newsletter, Vivekananda Kendra nardep, June 2011 Vol.3 No: 4

Real attainment is to be fully conscious, to be aware of surroundings and the people around, tomove among them all, but not to merge consciousness in the environment. One should remain ininner independent awareness.

-Sri Ramana Maharishi

Motivation Workshop was held for Tamilnadu ForestryTraining College, Vaigai Dam at Gramodaya Park,Vivekanandapuram in two batches on 24

thand 27

th.The

participants numbered 64 and 62 for the two campsrespectively.The resource persons included:Shri.N.Krishnanamoorthi, Shri.V.Ramakrishnan, and

Sis.V.Saraswathi

This month Networking

What is Biogas? How to install and maintain aBiogas plant? What are the practices for optimumbiogas utilization? From the point of view of bothan end-user and technician this manual has been

written. For copies contact the SecretaryVivekananda Kendra-NARDEP

Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari-629702

Sis. Saraswathi addressing the villagers during themeet on village development programme,Perumselvavillai

Villagers interaction and discussionShri.A.Sankar, AGM, NABARD, Nagercoil, addressing thevillagers during the meet on village development

ro ramme Perumselvavillai

Forestry officials undergoing a session during themotivation camp: Sri.Ramakrishnan is conducting thetrainin .

Tested water from 14 wells in Kanyakumari Dist programme of Central Ground Water Board, Chennai.

Murugan kundram traditional rain water harvestingstructure renovation work is continuing.

Water and Sanitation


4/7


There is a path of joy and there is the path of pleasure. Pondering on them, the wise (one) choosesthe of joy; the fool takes the path of pleasure. Katha Upanishad 1:2:1

The channel of vk-nardep in youtube uploadedthree small videos which have the testimonies oftwo housewives and two men.

One person explained how he created a goodkitchen garden. The two housewives also explainedhow bio-methanation plant has improved the qualityof their lives.

Another person explained how he ran the bio-methanation plant on tea waste.

Always check for new video clips at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/VKNARDEP#p/

a/u/1/KwWeZfSbSA0

Happenings: This month for SustainableAgriculture

Village Development Programmeunder the auspices of NABARD,Chennai was conducted by VK-nardepteam at Perumselvavillai, KanyakumariDist.on 23

rd. 30 participants attended

the training. Shri.A.Sankar, AGM,NABARD, Nagercoil attended theevent. The resource persons were:Sis.V.Saraswathi, Shri.S.Rajamony

Dr.Kamalasanan Pillai gave a talk onAIR, Trichur on 2nd June. Topic:Organic farming

Pasumai VikatanTamil organic farmingmagazine gave a good coverage aboutAzolla on June 10

thissue.

Press report on Visha Vaidhya Conference +workshop conducted at Vivekananda Kendra-

nardep.

Youtube uploads This Month

An elderly house-wife explains how Bio-Methanation

plant helps her and makes her life better: login to ourchannel for more

Demonstration with a snake at the Visha-Vaidhya

conference-workshop.

Happenings: This month for Holistic Medicine

Dr.V.Ganapathy conducted the regionallevel workshop on Documentation onVisha Vaidya Practices (sponsored byAYUSH. Delhi) at Senaithalaivar KalyanaMandapam, Shenkottai on 7

thof June. 45

traditional skilled persons attended this.

Workshop on Traditional Visha VaidyaPractices was conducted byDr.V.Ganapathy on 28

thof this month. It

was sponsored by AYUSH, Delhi. It wasconducted at the Gramodaya Park,Vivekanandapuram. 175 includingtraditional Vaidhyas attended thisconference + workshop.


5/7

``


My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in

the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind Albert Einstein

How to feed the future humanity?How to make development sustainable?

Some of the best publications on the subject for layman and

professionals alike are from VK-nardep.Contact: The Secretary, Vivekananda Kendra-NARDEP

Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari-629702Tamil Nadu

Phone: 04652-246296 Email:[email protected]

All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the onlylaw of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore love for

love's sake, because it is law of life, just as you breathe to live.

Swami Vivekananda

This month Shakthi Surabhi

This month training programme on Bio-methanationplant (supported by DST, New Delhi) wasconducted at TRC, Kalluvilai on 25

th

Shri.V.Muneeswaran was the resource person.

The control of nature is aphrase conceived inarrogance, born of theNeanderthal age of biologyand philosophy, when it

was supposed that natureexists for the convenienceof man. The concepts andpractices of appliedentomology for the mostpart date from that StoneAge of science. It is ouralarming misfortune that soprimitive a science hasarmed itself with the mostmodem and terribleweapons, and that inturning them against theinsects it has also turnedthem against the earth.

It is a wholesome andnecessary thing for us toturn again to the earth andin the contemplation of herbeauties to know of wonderand humility.

Through all these new,imaginative, and creativeapproaches to the problemof sharing our earth withother creatures there runs aconstant theme, the

awareness that we aredealing with life with livingpopulations and all theirpressures and counterpressures, their surges andrecessions. Only by takingaccount of such life forcesand by cautiously seekingto guide them into channelsfavorable to ourselves canwe hope to achieve areasonable accommodationbetween the insect hordesand ourselves.


6/7

Echoes of Eco - Newsletter, Vivekananda Kendra nardep, April 2009 Vol. I No: 2

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.--Henry David Thoreau


Inspiration:

A Bhagiratha

brings Azolla to

Bihar

Azolla goes to Bihar

Akhilesh Kumar from Tata Institute ofSocial Sciences, did a three monthpilot project on Azolla as cattle feedat Patna district of Bihar from 5thMarch to 5th June 2011.The projectaims to study the technology transferof this new agriculture technology atthe ground level in order to supportsustainable agriculture developmentin rural Bihar. He obtained thetechnology from Dr. KamalasannanPillai of Vivekananda Kendra. After alot of initial technical hurdlesAkhilesh succeeded in transplantingthe technology to rural Bihar.

In his own words:

"When I reached home fromKanyakumari and opened this bucketcontaining Azolla, it was a shock tome. The condition of azolla culturewas very bad. More than 70 % ofAzolla mother culture was damaged.I felt very unhappy but with patience I

prepared one Azolla pond andinoculated it with mother culture.After three days there was somepositive growth and I started havingconfidence. After 7-10 days againthere was some fungal attack. Onegood thing is that I also inoculatedsome healthy Azolla cultures in acement tub. In this tub condition wasa little bit comparatively good. I nevergave up hope."

Next desiring to get some healthy

Azolla for further propagation, hewent to the block veterinary officerand discussed about Azolla. Hewas directed to meet Patnaveterinary collage for Azollaculture. Here he met Dr.Shahu,associate professor in livestockproduction management.

He discovered that awarenessabout Azolla was very less. Thenhe got the contact of Dr.A.K.Jha aResearch scientist at Sabaur

Agriculture college who is alsodoing some research on Azolla.But he was busy with elections.Then again he got a lead. Thistime he had to go to Ranchi to getit. Then came the good news fromhis house. The Azolla beds heinoculated were flourishing.

Now he gained confidence andstarted looking for institutionalsupport to propagate AzollaHowever there were government

bureaucratic hurdles.

Fortunately at that time formerPresident APJ Abdul Kalam wasvisiting that area for a farmers' clubprogramme. Though he could notmeet Dr. Kalam, Akhilesh placedtwo buckets of Azolla on the wayKalam comes to the venue. Dr.Kalam stopped and said "Azolla!Great Work!".

That did the magic.

Farmers started getting interested,Organizations started showinginterest and even Hindustannewspaper (Hindi) reported it.Soon with organizations like BAIFoffering support, Akhileshsuceesfully propagated thetechnology to farmers. TodayAzolla blooms in the backyards ofthe marginal livestock farmers ofBihar thanks to this Bhagiratha.

Undeterred Akhilesh inoculates Azollain the bed he prepares

Damaged Azolla after Journey.

After disease attacks and initialsetbacks Azolla cultivated and kept inbucket. Dr. Abdul Kalam sees andappreciates.

Azolla makes it to the Bihar pressreport in Bihar and also to thebackyards of the Bihar farmers.


7/7

Schrdinge

Vivekananda Kendra nardep, Kanyakumari-629702 Phone:91-4652-246296www.vknardep.org

The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that thepath to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith,but through striving after rational knowledge.

-Albert Einstein

It seems evident to me, andmaybe it will become more

evident to others, thatconsciousness and matter arenot in such separate camps as alot of people used to think. It waspopularly thought that mind dealswith mind things - thoughts,feelings and so forth - and thatbody deals with physiologicalthings, and that there is virtuallyno communication between thetwo.

-Now, particularly after some ofthe research I did, it seems to methat knowledge can beenvisioned as embodied. Not inthe metaphorical sense, butliterally embodied in the materialsense. Knowledge can alter andchange the biology and physicalstructure of the thing that has thatknowledge. How that knowledgeis expressed can really changethe body.

In other words, there is thepossibility that we can alter andchange ourselves by how andwhat we learn, how and what weinform ourselves with, and whatwe do with that information.

The movement of love is notlimited to human beings and it is

perhaps less distorted in otherworlds than in the human.

Look at the flowers and trees.

When the sun sets and allbecomes silent, sit down for amoment and put yourself intocommunion with nature. You willfeel rising from the earth, frombelow the roots of the trees, andmounting upward and coursingthrough their fibres, up to thehighest outstretching branches, theaspiration of an intense love andlonging,a longing for somethingthat brings light and giveshappiness, for the light that is goneand they wish to have back again.

There is a yearning so pure andintense that if you can feel themovement in the trees, your ownbeing too will go up in an ardentprayer for the peace and light andlove that are unmanifested here.

Rhythm of Ganga The Movement of Life Knowing Transforms

- Fred Alan WokfQuantum Physicist

When it is understood that oneloses joy and happiness in the

attempt to possess them, theessence of natural farming will berealized. The ultimate goal offarming is not the growing of crops,but the cultivation and perfection ofhuman beings.

I did not know it firsthand becauseI have not read many books. Butwhen I heard about his campaignof non-violent resistance, I sawabsolutely no contradiction. Unlikemany other great men Ive met

throughout the world, I thinkGandhi alone embodied total unityof thought and action. I am toldthat Gandhi did not follow the timeof the wristwatch but that of theGanga. His spinning wheelembodied the cyclic rhythms ofnature which are what I would liketo follow. I was also moved by hisinsistence on a return to a village-based life of simplicity and truth. I,too, would like my rice, mymethods to be spread among thepoorest of the poor to revive the

much-abused earth.

- MotherSpiritual leader

Masanobu FukuokaNaturalist and Philosopher

Vknardep June 2011

Documents

Transcript of Vknardep June 2011