Effect of Cultural Tourism at Shonibarer Haat
Shonibarer haat is a weekly Saturday afternoon bazaar set up by local artisans in Santiniketan, Birbhum district, West Bengal. It takes place on Saturdays in the khowai region, which is a geographical formation of small canyons resulting from constant erosion caused by wind and water. This place is characterised by Shyambati canal on one side and a patch of dry forest of Sonajhuri (Acacia Auriculiformis) trees on an eroded landscape of red laterite soil on the other side. Sonajhuri literally means “droplets of gold”.
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International Day for Biological Diversity and 24 Gurus of Avaduta from Bhagavat Purana
He was Lord Dattatreya, an Abadhuta, a great scholar and whose personality was enough to brighten up the whole surrounding but his mind was still innocent like a kid. He replied, - O Rajan, look at this entire creation! I am glad to tell you the way I have accepted and followed the characteristics and natures of different creations through my thorough observation and self-surrender!
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‘Vanamuthassi’: The Grandmother of Forest
Lakshmikutty, a member of the Kani tribe, lives in a small, thatched hut in the forests of Kallar near Ponmudi, Thiruvananthapuram. Even at the age of 75, she ventures into the woods to collect herbs needed for treatment. Lakshmikutty Amma is an inspiration for the coming generation devoting her life to preserving traditional knowledge of medicine and natural healers.
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Holobionts: A Theory that Shatters the Myth of ‘Biological Individual’
We often tend to study nature from our perspective but what if we reverse the gaze. We then discover that we cannot define ourselves as biological individuals. What then are we? Read on to find out.
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ऋत Ṛta: Nature’s Cycles and Biodiversity
Life evolves, enriching Earth to make up Nature, and why we must maintain eternal obligation towards Earth and Nature. What plays out in this interaction of the living and non-living was the merging of the amazing cycles of living and non-living components of Nature, as cycles of Living Nature got aligned with the preexisting pre-Life cycles of Earth. In this article, we shall discover these amazingly beautiful cycles, periodicities and rhythms of Earth and Nature (which Vaidiks normatively call ṚTA). We shall also study habitats and biodiversity.
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How Secularization leads to Ecological Degradation
Secularism is a western notion that historically arose in response to European problems. It is not only alien to Indian society, it is highly unsuitable as it completely ignores Indian ethos that are rooted in the notion of ‘dharma’ (duty/righteousness). Hence, the secularization of Indian life and society that has been carried out in the last many decades has resulted in disastrous consequences. One such area where secularization has distorted the issue and has caused enormous damage is ecology and environment.
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Bonding to the Land: A Pagan view of Ecology
In deep ecology, bonding to the land is the first condition for an ecologically sane society. “The first thing to do is to choose a sacred place and live in it.” So advised Pawnee tribe elder, Tahirussawichi, to writer Dolores LaChapelle. The Pagan pact with the land can be regarded as what is today called bioregionalism. Relation to a place perceived as sacred is not, however, possession of place; in fact, such relationship impedes the drive to possess. Native Americans frequently insist that they belong to the land, the land does not belong to them.
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ऋत (ṚTA): Nature’s Amazing Cycles, Wildernesses and Biodiversity – 1
Life evolved, enriching Earth to make up Nature, and why we must maintain eternal obligation towards Earth and Nature. What played out in this interaction of the living and non-living was the merging of the amazing cycles of living and non-living components of Nature, as cycles of Living Nature got aligned with the preexisting pre-Life cycles of Earth. In this article, we shall discover these amazingly beautiful cycles, periodicities and rhythms of Earth and Nature (which Vaidiks normatively call ṚTA). We shall also study habitats and biodiversity.
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Ecology vs. Development
In this article, Nithin Sridhar discusses whether the dichotomy of Ecology vs. Development that has been created is real or not. It is often argued by opposite lobbies that either ecology can be cared about or development can be pursued. Nithin Sridhar tells us that there is a third way possible.
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Dharma, Nature and Agro-Ecology – 1
In this first part of a series, agro-ecologist Dr. Aditya Dhopatkar explains the origin of life on earth and how everything is interconnecetd. He tells us the interconnectedness and the functions of not only the living beings but also the part that the inanimate material plays in the greater ecological scheme.
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