VKNARDEP NOVEMBER MONTH NEWSLETTER

The importance of coral reefs for fishing in the Rameshwaram island. If coral reefs disappear then fish populations are affected. If fish populations dwindle then fishing communities are affected. Fishing communities  being an integral part of the socio-ecological fabric of the island the adverse impact on their livelihood shall disrupt the social fabric of the island. So conserving biodiversity of coral reefs is a very important obligation not only for the residents of Rameshwaram but also for the pilgrim-tourists who visit the island.

The newsletter also provides you the concluding part of the minutes of the third brain-storming session on Green Rameshwaram that was held at Rameshwaram island itself with public participation on October 11 2014.

The monsoons have arrived and this time Rameshwaram island has been made ready to collect more water than previous years. After decades the ruined, polluted and abandoned water bodies are now ready with a renovated beautiful new face to receive the water from the monsoons.

This month we show how beautifully the Arjuna Teertham is filled with the water of the monsoons. From the way the teertham was almost lost and now standing filled with water is a scene that is for every Indian to behold and be happy and proud. May this inspire us to preserve and renovate our abandoned water bodies which are a great national asset. Water is fast becoming a scarce resource. In such an emerging situation conserving every rain water counts. We are sure the future generations will look at these renovated water bodies with great gratitude and it is up to every one of us to preserve them and pass them on to posterity. Make sure you share this wonderful news with your near and dear ones and spread the message of water conservation.

In our happenings section we have Azolla and Green technologies training for theJharkhand farmers; Bio-methanation plant training and South Indian seminar on Varma therapy with special reference to orthopedic problems. The seminar and workshop was inaugurated by Dr.Sivathanu Pillai who headed the Brahmos. Many traditional therapists as well as medical professionals attended the meet. It was a confluence of minds and hearts : exchanging ideas and conserving as well as documenting the traditional knowledge for updating and adapting to the changing situations. This is a very important endeavor that VK-nardep has been taking to preserve the ancient science of Siddha-Varma which is a very effective yet cost-effective system of indigenous medical knowledge.

In our publication section we bring out eco-cartoons for the ethical and ecological market products: it is not making people purchase more but purchase what is needed for life and good for environment. In our wisdom section we have an Italian philosopher discuss how there is unity behind the varying names and forms; an ethno-mathematician discusses how the mathematics has cultural underpinning and the temple geometry is a holistic way of using mathematics for sustainable living. We have C.Rajagopalachari the great Indian statesman making a statement that anticipates today's environmental crisis decades before they dawned on our conscience. He draws a parallel between fish in the ocean trying to change the nature of ocean water leading to their perishing; such would be the fate of humanity if it meddles with the environment in which it has evolved he says.

Renovated the Sahadeva and Nakula teerthams at Rameswaram

The traditional water bodies of Rameshwaram are finding a new life. Already Vivekananda Kendra-nardep has renovated the Sahadeva and Nakula teerthams. We have renovated vitally the Arjuna and Bhima teertham. But the remaining one Pandava prince and eldest of them all -Dharma : teertham in his name has been missing. After months of search we at last zeroed in on the spot. We conducted the initial ceremonies, involved the local people, removed the thorny bushes encroaching upon the teertham which was completely lost and now the teertham is coming up. Read about it in our newsletter.

This month we give you further details about the Green Rameshwaram project. It has started already to have an impact with green awareness meetings been conducted for special interest groups and stake-holders, clean-green awareness campaigns taking place and green health camps being conducted. We present in this newsletter the continuation of the core-group activities and deliverable goals fixed for each of the core-groups.

We also have happenings at different sections of our work: sustainable agriculture workshops, workshops on bio-methanation plants, workshops on traditional medical systems etc. In our publication section we continue the eco-toons : this time we emphasize the importance of combining values of sustainability with science and technology in order to achieve sustainable development.

In our wisdom section we share how the food culture has to be sustainable: we need to move towards 'slow food' from 'fast food'; about the need for preserving cultural traditions of sustainability and also how the essence of everything connects us all together. Surely you will enjoy all these aspects of our newsletter. We have the solar technologist Jagadish Kapur's passage where he says: The understanding of the perennial cultural streams, and nature-based tribal cultures;and myths; with their reverence towards nature or ecology becomes the bridge between science and spirituality. We also have the passage from the interview of famous sustainable food culture guru who says: Today we have less biodiversity, we waste a big percentage of the food we produce, and we have millions of people dying of hunger. Those are real problems that we choose to take on. And we have a mystic who speaks about perceiving the unity of all that can be perceived, all that can be seen, at all levels of reality, including all beings and everything.

Vknardep June 2014

FORGOTTEN HISTORY RESURFACES BY THE PONDS

The traditional water bodies renovation at Rameshwaram is now entering into the Green Rameshwaram phase. Eminent epigraphist S.Ramachandran and Sri.Rajendran a veteran expert on irrigation structures based inscriptions, identified a 'Sati stone' by the side of Sugreevar Teertham.

They also identified another inscription at the Mangala Teertham. This was about the renovation of the Teertham by a Sethupati (traditional protector and chieftain of Ramnad) who had fought against the British - popularly known as 'Rebel Sethupathi'. The surfacing of evidence of indigenous rulers creating and maintaining water harvesting structures in the 18th century is important and VK-nardep is happy to inform the readers that it is proud to be the catalytic agent in this noble endeavor. We are happy to announce that with UNICEF we have inaugurated the 'Eco-Awareness Camp for staff of Rameshwaram Municipality'. VK-nardep has also catalyzed the Solar Electrification at Dhanuskodi by Brahmos Aerospace, New Delhi. We have also conducted a green health camp at Rameshwaram. In the 'Happenings' we have a variety of activities including family camp, children's camp for developing scientific temper, Azolla training, Bio-methanation plant training and installation of Bio-methanation plants. In the publications section we have eco-toons from Samagra Vikas which call in for discussion on the direction of science. Also learn about how acidifying of the ocean leads to destruction of shells and marine life. In our 'Wiisdom' section Swami Vibudhesha Teertha a seer explains how 'no life is inferior' and Fritjof Capra physicist-author turned deep-ecologist explains the process of becoming eco-literate and eminent Indologist Dr.Sheshagiri Rao explains the eco-symbolism embedded in Indian mythology.

We wish you a happy reading: You can download the entire newsletter from here;

Vk-nardep May 2014:

GREEN RAMESHWARAM TO GOLDEN MONGOOSE : VKNARDEP NEWSLETTER OF MARCH 2014

A very happy Ugadi.  This month newsletter concludes the previous month serial on the blue print for a 'Green Rameshwaram.' Mata Sri Amritanandamayi in her message sent on the occassion of the starting function of 'Green Rameshwaram' said "By taking up this work of transforming the ancient island town of Rameshwaram into 'Green Rameshwaram', Vivekananda Kendra is doing a great service to Mother Nature, Indian people and her culture. ...

That Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari is taking such a noble initiative is both welcome and happy news. Amma hopes that everyone will participate in the work and lend support to this noble undertaking."

You can read both Mata's message as well as the blueprint for Green Rameshwaram in this newsletter.The popular Tamil newspaper 'Dinamalar' has come out with a detailed report on our Teerthams work. You can see the photo-featurepublished by Dinamalar in the newsletter.In the 'Happenings' section we have a host of training camps, workshops on sustainable agriculture, bio-methanation plant, installation of biogas plants, paper presentations and exposure visit to the technology park by students and farming communities. We are sure you will find our activities interesting and useful. In our publication section we have eco-toons which make a critique of the dominant western development model. We bring you in this the concept of green footprint along with the latest data.

In our wisdom section we have the narrative of Sri Ramana Maharishi on his love towards a mongoose; His observations on the behavior of the animal shows what a keen observer of nature Sri Ramana Maharishi was and how he connects with the innate intelligence of the animal which often escapes our eyes because of our prejudice regarding our own species as the only intelligent one. Alan Watts the philosopher explains how the entire existence and divinity is essentially a play of hide and seek. We have an excerpt from the famous writer Pico Iyer who speaks about the inner silence and its need.

Vknardep Mar 2014 by Vivekananda Kendra. 

ROAD MAP FOR GREEN TRANSFORMATION : VKNARDEP NEWSLETTER OF FEBRUARY 2014

Vivekananda Kendra-nardep has worked out a detailed holistic blue print for making Rameshwaram a green pilgrimage. This involves discovering the historical, cultural and ecological linkages and reviving them. Apart from linkages we also have to revive the relations at the institutional, social and individual levels. A road map to this has been charted out. Beginning this newsletter we are sharing this with you. You can read it in detail and understand the holistic transformation VK-nardep aims to achieve in Rameshwaram by making it a green pilgrimage model island. Meanwhile the project of reviving the Teerthams or the sacred water bodies in the island has achieved another milestone with the Bhima Teertham in a very ruined state now getting a face-lift. Have a look at what the hard work and toil of our workers have obtained for this sacred water body on the way to the Kandhamana-parvata hillock a place sacred next only to the temple in the island.

In our happening section we have training programme on construction technology, workshops on sustainable agriculture including Azolla training programmes, exposure visits by various sections of the society including farmers, students, SHG members etc. workshop on indigenous Siddha medical practices, a series of training programmes and awareness camps for bio-methanation plants etc.  Farmers from Maharashtra, students from Thirunelveli and rural community from Dingugal district of Tamil Nadu - all benefited from our Gramodaya Park exhibition of various green technologies. In our publication section we share a few eco-toons that will ignite thoughts about science, technology and sustainable development.

In our wisdom section we have a Japanese ecologist talk about the harmonizing of the cycle of Tao. She says: Since yin and yang complement each other to constitute the whole, so it is necessary to consider how to make the most of both.We have Swami Chinmayananda speaking about the ecological crisis that humanity is facing. He rightly traces the root of the problem to what we do to the nature being returned to us. So he calls it as 'ec(h)ology'. What ecological problems need is not a mere technological solution but a change of attitude: You are destroying nature's harmony and saying that nature is misbehaving. All the time we are talking of how to adjust the outer world. We never turn our attention to the source of the problem - YOU. Psychologist David Barash explores the interconnected nature: The interconnected and interdependent nature of things is the heart of ecology. So our existence is not a distinct and separable phenomenon.

VKNARDEP : Newsletter November 2012

This month newsletter is about how the whole humanity is undergoing a complete transformation.This change is happening around us. Nevertheless we have a choice as to whether we want to change ourselves - as an individual. What is the nature of this change? How does this change makes a holistic transformation?   This newsletter presents you an excerpt on this subject of change from an interview with Gary Zukav – author of ‘Dancing Wu Li Masters’ – which was a pioneering book on physics and Eastern philosophy in early 1970s. However the interview itself is in 2012.

We bring you our regular happenings: traditional medical practices workshops, which aim to create awareness about these cost-effective indigenous medical practices which are indigenous to the regions, Azolla training camp and also Shakthi Surabhi training and installation. Shakthi Surabhi bio-methanation plant has been featured in Pasumai Vikatan. In our publications division we provide an excerpt from 'Akshaya Vikas' our volume on sustainable development which speaks about the key differences between Indic way as well as vision of life and the Western. The former is slowly but surely getting validated by the worldview of emerging trends across many scientific disciplines. Beyond the changing society and emerging paradigms, some values remain eternal. In our wisdom session we have stories from the Upanishads which are both deeply spiritual and at the same time socially and spiritually relevant.

So this newsletter provides an in-depth glimpse into the way the planet is changing and how the eternal values act as the charioteer.  The Upanishad stories presented here speak of how sharing the food has a mandatory spiritual basis. They speak of how the true knowledge is imparted and how the knowledge is realized as wisdom and a way of life.  You can download all these from the newsletter which is available here. Happy Reading!

VKNARDEP : Newsletter September 2012

How to design an Eco-Education? Is that merely scientific facts and methods or something else along with all these?  In an excerpt from his article on the problem Prof. Christopher Uhl ponders over the problem: What do these students—indeed, what do all of us need to know to become environmentally literate and know to become more ecologically conscious?" And proceeds to answer. Read about designing a course in eco-education in this excerpt presented in the newsletter.

Azolla is getting a coverage in Andhra Pradesh. A leading Tamil TV channel has also given good coverage to this technology. Varma workshop has been conducted this month. SHG members from a neighboring district came to VK-nardep to learn sustainable technologies... these are just some of the happenings reported in our newsletter this month. We are presenting the book 'Beneficial Herbs' which are actually herbal plants  that usher in health. This book is a good introduction to beginner as well as professional as to how to use common plants for common household ailments. This book has been in great demand since its publications. Good pictures, crisp narrative and practically useful information - all that explain the popularity of the book. This is also the first death anniversary of Wangari Mathai - a great African eco-feminist. We remember her in this newsletter

In the wisdom section we share how a scientist, seer and a mystic view the planet, evolution and nature.Joan Maloof the ecologist sees the planet as conscious. Swami VIvekananda sees the evolutionary process as having involuted consciousness expanding back into consciousness and  Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram sees the entire nature as conscious.

You can download and read all these in our newsletter HERE

VKNARDEP : Newsletter August 2012

Dear Friend of VK-nardep,

This month newsletter brings you the concept of an eight-fold platform for deep ecology and its implications for society and environmental protection. This is an excerpt from eco-philosopher Eric Katz's article titled, 'Deep Ecology: Faith, God and Nature' . He expresses wonderfully thus: " Because I identify with the rest of the natural world, I care for the rest of creation. I expand myself outward to include an interest in the value and flourishing of the entire natural environment. I come to understand that I can only fully realize myself through the flourishing—the Self-realization—of the entire natural universe."

In this month activity we bring you news about our Azolla training, Bio-methanation plants installations and workshop on traditional bone-setting techniques. In the publication section we bring you information on our Varma Points chart. This is the first time such an exhaustive visual documentation which is reliable, clear and attractive has been made in this field. This has helped many Vaidyas to explain to their patients what Varma points they are using instead of making the patient feel bewildered. This increases the respectability and reliability of the system. This chart is only one of the important first milestones in the long journey of traditional medical knowledge conservation and revival.

In our wisdom section we bring you three views on nature, life and peace. An excerpt from the famed article titled 'Nature' by Ralph Waldo Emerson; An excerpt from a talk of Swami Vivekananda which explains the concept of involution and grandoneness of all life and Thich Nhat Hanh on how to cultivate peace.

You can download it all here and VK-nardep wishes you a great reading experience.

VKNARDEP : Newsletter June 2012

Transforming India into a Low Water Economy

• The Happenings – I
• The Happenings-II
• The Happenings-III
• From our Publications
• Visions of Wisdom: Creativity
  

A low-water economy should rest on the principle that water be left in its natural state in the environment as much as possible. Every drop extracted must be justified. Every drop used must be recycled and reused whenever possible.

Vknardep June 2012

VKNARDEP : Newsletter April 2012

This month newsletter bring you a wonderful article on embedded mind in nature by Italian deep ecologist Guido Dalla Casa. He demonstates how the evolution of science allows us to see the embedded mind in all levels of existence. This also has its reflection on Ethics. Ethics should extend not only to humans but also non-human lives on the planet which have embedded mind. He declares "An ecosystem is a mind-endowed complex system."

Azolla technology is getting a good reception at Andhra Pradesh thanks to the hard work by Dr.Pillai and his team. You can read about it. And Varma System of bone setting... this mysterious system of medicine is unique to Southern Tamil Nadu. Shrouded as it is in mystery and in the verge of gradual extinction, Vivekananda Kendra -nardep team headed by Dr.Ganapathi has made extraordinary efforts to make awareness about this system of medicine and also to scientifically collect data about this medicine and make traditional physicians gather in one place, discuss and share their methodologies and experiences. There is a detailed report about it also. Gradening is not just a vocation. It is an art, science and a meditation as well. So In her wonderful book on gardening Sis.V.Saraswathi explains how to do gardening scientiifically and cost-effectively. There is a review of this Tamil book in our publications section.

Education is a wonderful thing. How to educate is the question. Swami Chinmayananda, Sri Aurobindo and Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam explore in the wisdom section of our newsletter the need for a ethical education, need for creativity and freedom in education and a demonstration of a good teacher respectively.

You can read it all by downloading our newsletter here

VK Nardep : Annual Activity Report

Annual Report at a glance
1.04.2011 to 31.03.2012

S.No.	Topic	Number	No. of participants
1.	Cost-effective Construction Technology i.Training programme for “Construction Technologies”	1	100
2.	Water Management and Sanitation i.Workshop on “Grey water treatment” ii.Workshop on “Rural water supply and water treatment”	3 3	118 188
3.	Sustainable Agriculture i.Workshops on Sustainable Agriculture ii.Azolla Propagation / Technology	32 20	1430 1056
4.	Holistic Health i.Workshop on “Varma points and Bone settings” Workshop on “Visha Vaidya Practices” ii.Green Health Home iii.Green Health Camps	7 1 56 days 1	528 92 2048 430
5.	Renewable Energy i.Training camp on “Shakti Surabhi” ii.Construction of Biogas Plants • Shakti Surabhi – Portable model • Shakti Surabhi – Fixed model • Higher size capacity	16 14 30 3	272
6.	New Working i.Refresher course for Forest Officials ii.Training programme for RuTAG iii.Workshop on Scientific Temper iv.Discovery – Personality Development camp	2 1 3 1	126 40 167 42
7.	New Publication i.Green temple chart (Tamil) ii.Manaiyadi Mooligai Vanam       Reprint iii.Kunapaduthum Mooligaigal iv.Azolla (Tamil) v.Psumai Vivasaya Thozhil Nutbangal vi.Paramparia Visha Vaidya Practices vii.Hand book on Shakti Surabhi Bio-methnation plant	1000 1000 1000 2000 2000 1000 2000

Highlights:

Dr.P.Kamalasannan Pillai received a “Societal Innovation Award – 2010” for his work in the field of Azolla Technology from National Research Development Corporation, New Delhi.

VKNARDEP : Newsletter March 2012

This month newsletter brings you an excerpt from a classic. Lady Evelyn Barbara "Eve" Balfour (1899-1990)is a legendary name in organic farming. We present excerpts from her address to International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements conference in Switzerland in 1977. The reader will find the address as relevant today as it was more than 35 years ago. And she points out that our educational system need to teach our children about the ecological problems and philosophy. "It is now urgently necessary that a still wider aspect of ecology should also form part of the regular curriculum of all schools, starting at the primary stage."
The trouble is we have first to teach the teachers, and here, I think, we must be agreed on what we want to teach." The newsletter ends with the wisdom of three great souls of India - Tagore, Gandhiji and Vinoba : each calling for a change in our educational system. Thus in both these features the emphasis is on change in educational system.

In the publication section we have shared one of the important publications that we brought out almost two decades ago. 'Back to Nature' is a wonderful synthesis of science, Indian philosophy and ecological awareness. The book looks at the root cause of our ecological crisis and emphasizes a shift in our value system and way of thinking. It reveals a vision that synthesizes quantum mechanics, systems thinking and Indian philosophy. The book is a treat for your mind and leads you to proper eco-action. Read the review in this newsletter and then make sure to order the book.

As ever this month also we have been a bee hive busy with activity: workshops on sustainable agriculture, traditional bone-setting methods, workshops on Azolla technology and kitchen waste based bio-methanation plant training, installation of kitchen waste based bio-methanation plants - all these have happened. Dr.Kamalasannan Pillai and Dr.Ganapathi have given special lectures at VIT and Pondicherry respectively. Dr.Pillai received his societal innovation award at Mumbai in a grand function. There was also Green Building technology workshop attended by architects and engineers this month. A series of talks were given in All India Radio by VK-nardep staff on organic farming. So we have been spreading the green awareness in our own small steps.

You can read all about these and more by downloading our newsletter here.