We are living in a world where every other person we meet, who has little bit of education or exposure pretends or actually I should say believes that he knows what he should do for the upliftment of the society. After all it's a personal opinion and I respect that. But sometimes I feel annoyed by the arrogance they show to others point of view as if they got the realization of the truth! Let's take an example any well educated person I meet, says education is the panacea to all the problems right from poverty to corruption. Youth in our colleges and corporates are devoting their spare time in working for NGOs which are working in this area. Even I know a friend of mine who left her job in Google US and returned to India to work for a NGO which is working for educating Urban slum children. This is such a great gesture and I know all these people have great heart and really want do something for the society. There was a time, when I was also thinking in the same line, but that was till the time I met Shri Narayan Reddy ji.
Narayan ji is a self-made great man. He has done pioneering work in the field of organic and sustainable agriculture. When he was studying 4th standard his father beaten him badly, so he flew away from his home. Then he worked as a peon in a transportation company. He completed his study with his limited earnings. Slowly in the same transportation company he became a manager. He always had a desire to go back to village and do farming so he used to save money from his earnings. Even he used to skip his breakfast for saving money. Then one fine day he had money and left his job returned to a village in Daddaballapura taluka of Kolar district, Karnataka and bought 4.5 acres of land there. The village is 65 Km from Bangalore. Then he started doing modern agriculture which fetched him tehsil award for the best progressive farmer. But slowly he realized that farming is not viable for him. So one fine day he decided to sell his land and go back to his earlier business. But destiny had some other plans for him, in the mean time he met an organic farmer from California in Bangalore who inspired him to do organic farming. After this he started experimenting with organic farming and inspired other farmers in his taluk to do the same and the result is not less than any revolution in this part of world.
My quest for sustainable livelihood creation and organic farming took me to him. I met him in his farm where he stays with his wife and youngest Son and Daughter-in-law. When I entered his farm an old man wearing a half pant which is stitched at several spots and white (turned brown) T-shirt appeared before me and gave his introduction as "Namaste! I am Narayan Reddy.". I always thought of this man should be a very down to earth and simple man, but never thought of this simple and down to earth! Anyways then we started talking about a lots of issues present in the society and what is his point of view. He told me that young man, it's good that you want to do something for the society, only people with good things in their past life gets these kind of awakening in their early age. This was flattering to me! Then he goes on to say no one can help the society, the society has to help itself. We can only show them path, they have to take the journey. He says, "In my whole life I've done the same. I've created examples and inspired people to follow. Those who had real desire for their betterment they always learned and got better off, those who didn't are suffering till now." I completely agree with his philosophy. He told this society has lost its self-pride so they are happy in taking Government's rice and cheap labor but not ready to work in their farm.
Then I asked him what are his current plans. He told me he's building a small Gurukul. Then my obvious question was why? we have so many schools in the villages. In fact as this Taluka is near to bangalore so the condition of schooling system is not that bad here. I witnessed this while I was driving to his farm. He said the Govt is asking every child to get educated under Sarvasikshya Aviyan. Because now-a-days kids also get mid-day meal, so everyone is eager to attend school. I thought then it's a good thing after all we wanted this. Then he says the problem starts from here. When kids go to school and learn the syllabus everyone aspires to become doctor or engineer. They think that anything less than that is a waste of life. Those kids who are good in studies they get scholarship and their parents sell some of their land and sponsor their studies. But most of them are not so good in studies and they are mostly small or marginal farmers' children. Then they feel disheartened and loose confidence and indulge in petty politics, daily labor and so on as they feel that agriculture is not a great livelihood! He says my Gurukul is going to address this problem. I am going to take 20-30 kids every year in their summer or winter holidays and teach them organic farming in my farm. I'll provide them free food and stay for those many days. I want to re-instate the belief that farming is the wisest of Job on earth. So even if they can't become doctors or engineers, one day, they will not loose confidence and can lead a respectable life by doing farming.
I was taken aback! I never thought of this. All these years I am a great critic of our education system but never thought of this angle. I mean he is so true. I think most of us who patronize the notion that "Education can solve everything" need to revisit. Now at least some of us should put our effort in what should be our education system while others can keep on spreading the existing education system, because the stream has to flow. I think we are putting a lot of effort in educating our kids but isn't that we are missing a vital link that what we are feeding them is really safe? Isn't it a worthy enough point to ponder over?
This blog is not to abuse anybody who is working in this cause. Personally I believe doing mistake is better than siting idle. So in a way who all are working in this direction, deserve salute. But i feel time has arrived we need to check the quality of food before feeding them to our kids (our future).
More on Narayan Reddy ji could be found at http://www.cefsindia.org/articles4.html
