Amidst the hustle-bustle of the city we are heading towards a place which is 31 years old, a settlement of a community built on the principles of “Reciprocity” or giving back to nature. Though we might never be able to return the favors endowed by nature but in whatever little capacity we can gradually develop ecological conscience and sustain ourselves by making our lives simpler, more meaningful and enriching. On the way as we pick up colleagues, some making their first interactions, we share snacks with each other; baked matthis (guilt-free), Danish buns and cookies exuding bonhomie.
On a Sunday morning at 7:30 as we drove past the city our route was seamless as we didn’t encounter any traffic. Coming closer to our destination I saw houses painted in different shades of neon green, yellow, pink and red outshining amidst the greenery and muddy way. Seeing Senna spectabilis; an invasive species, one of the mentors expresses her concern about how this invasive plant is posing threat to wildlife and indigenous plants. Little intermittent silences allowed us to gaze at the trees, observe the transition from the urban to the rural, and reflect.
As we reach our destination we see other cars are squeezed into a pleasant shady square. We get out of the car and start walking towards the place where all the arrangements were made. Entering the paved surface by taking off our footwear the floor felt very cold. We were warmly welcomed with the hot ragi drink suffused with the flavor of raw ragi. This healthy, delicious, nourishing traditional beverage prepared us to explore the wilderness of the adjoined sanctuary.
The community at Navadarshanam have put into practice various ideas of using appropriate technology, permaculture principles and traditional knowledge systems to live sustainably on the land. Navadarshanam is an eco-spiritual settlement. The place runs on solar power, harvests rainwater, and the buildings have been constructed using mud bricks (CSEBs). They grow their food and also run a self help-group of local villagers to supply chemical-free groceries and vegetables to subscribers in Bangalore. The community kitchen is satvik and vegan.
By integrating sustainable models they showcase the potential of sustainable lifestyle in transition towards well being not only of humans but of the entire ecosystem. They conduct regular programs and retreats. Some of these programs are Silent Retreat, Song of Mystics, Sustainable farming- Permaculture, workshops on sustainable farming and others.
Continuing our exploration we went out to discover the wilderness of the forest. As we wade through the muddy area I had to take off my slippers to manage to walk and maintain balance which made me feel like an adventurous traveler. We came across wells of different depths with variations in their water level. Hand pumps were installed to fetch water, reminiscent of the time I last visited the village in the northern region of the country. Seeing the banana plantation, Lady fingers crops, chia seed and other crops it was fascinating how this settlement has built its resilience by becoming self-sustainable.
The shade is surrounded with greenery
“ In the middle of the wilderness of the forest”: reflecting and admiring
Places like Navadarshanam embodies scale and mystery: the thin line between destruction, the power to take life or to transform it. A self-contained, homogenous, uncompromisable and irreducible. When we have become accustomed to fast-paced lifestyles, lost in the quagmire of urbanized cities it could be challenging for some to absorb the silence, stillness and serenity of nature. While making our way through forest Mr. Gopi tells us about human-animal conflict as we see at various spots the elephant footprints which enter the fields and destroy the crops.
“Wonders that mother nature create at her own will”
Banana Skipper; Erionota thrax
The caterpillar feeds and molts within the rolled leaf.
JUGAAD?
Mr Gopi, our host sharing about the rain water Harvesting system installed in the home
Experiencing the joy of eating locally grown organic food.
As we returned from our walk in the forest food was being prepared in the kitchen. Conscientious women were preparing food sourced from their own farms (community land). We were served ragi balls, red rice, daal, sambhar and pickles. The meal was wholesome and nutritious. “I usually overeat when I come here- one of the mentors says excitedly”, I can relate to it since the food was so delicious and nutritious that you are bound to have a second round of the meal. As we were having our meals the sharp clarity of the light was softened by the heavy rainfall. The sound of voices and conversations was subdued as the rain patters on the ground.
“Eating silently and mindfully”; Leela with her novel
“ Guftagu: گفتگو”
“ Reflections, knowledge sharing and exchange of ideas”
Gist of our discussion
As we enter this aesthetically pleasing hall all of us sat to listen to Mr. Gopi who shares about the principles and objectives of Navadarshanam. Mr. Gopi used to work in the USA and left his job 13 years ago to become one of the core members of the Navadarshanam community.
“Life in the USA was going well but I think I was longing for a more meaningful and purposeful life closer to nature and my own self”. Dr. Victor Frankl, the holocaust surviving pshcysitarist coined the term phrase ‘Will to Meaning” which defines that having a coherent purpose in life is essential to psychological well being. In the age of social media and fast-paced lives, spending hours in front of our laptops and systems, we are at risk of losing touch with nature and its impacts are reflected in the rising cases of mental health issues and anxiety problems. Mr. Gopi expresses that life here is not easy but it’s meaningful. As Frankl remarks, “If a person has found the meaning sought for, he is prepared to suffer, to offer sacrifices, even, if need be, to give his life for the sake of it. Contrariwise, if there is no meaning he is inclined to take his life, and he is prepared to do so even if all his needs, to all appearances, have been satisfied.”
He tells how the younger generation in the rural area (Navadarshanam) is lured to city life while losing touch with the nature .“If Navadarshanam was Mr. Gopi’s fantasy, the city is theirs (rural people). Perhaps they will learn from their journey as Mr Gopi learnt from his that fantasy and experience never quite match up”
Navadarshanam launched the Community support Initiative (CSA) in 2016. It’s a new offering under the SHG banner with the intent to facilitate a closer and direct partnership between the rural producers and urban consumers of food. This initiative facilitated market access to rural producers of organic and nutritious food. CSA is functioning efficiently by making the community self-sustainable by providing farmers with good income opportunities. Through initiates like CSA and others the administrators/mentors have been successful in building clusters and networks that ensures the smooth supply chain.
“Our discussions and questions came to an end with a beautiful song sung by Ms. Shubha after which we enjoyed light hearted and luscious organic tea. Tea is central to us. It offers welcome, gives comfort, stimulates conversation and provides a focus for social intercourse. …..and here our tour ends but the urge to reconnect with the nature and our own selves continued....
Pietra Dura? Intricately floral pattern on the upper side of the door
“Silent Retreat”
Going back in time?
“Aesthetically pleasing architectural design”
Smiling faces; Content and Happy!
4 munchkins also accompanied us which made our tour more exciting!
This picture was taken after we filled our bags with the local products including sambar powder and chikki which was absolutely amazing!
"Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself"
Till our next visit goodbye! If you have visited Navadarshanam or any similar places do share your experience in the comment section.
No comments:
Post a Comment