Page 103 - Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 21st Century ISBN

21oha “krkCnh esa vkpk;Z fouksck Hkkos dh izklafxdrk

a team of Austrian agronomists lists the main points of Fukuoka’s natural farming method, which it also
identifies as rishi-kheti:

· no tillage,
· no chemical fertilizers or prepared compost,

· no weeding by tillage or herbicides,
· no chemical pesticides.

The association between Vinoba and the contemporary organic and natural farming movement
is well illustrated by the story of Bhaskar Save (1922-2015) , the “Gandhi of natural farming” and a

man who won world-wide recognition for his innovative farm in southern Gujarat, about 100 km due
north of Mumbai. Most of what Save learned comes from his own experience, but he credits Gandhi

and Vinoba for inspiration and some of the “big-picture” thinking. For example: 19
Gandhi believed in gram swaraj (or village self-governance). Central to his vision was complete

self-reliance at the village level in all the basics needed for a healthy life. He had confidence in the
strength of organic farming in this country... but we have strayed far from this path. Vinoba Bhave too

pointed out that industries merely transform ‘raw materials’ sourced from Nature. They cannot create
anew. Only Nature is truly creative and self-regenerating – through synergy with the fresh daily inflow

of the sun’s energy.
. . . .

Gandhi declared, ‘Where there is soshan, or oppression, there can be no poshan, or nurture!’
Vinoba Bhave added, ‘Science wedded to compassion can bring about a paradise on earth. But

divorced from ahimsa, or non-violence, it can only cause a massive conflagration that swallows us in its
flames.’

Trying to increase Nature’s ‘productivity,’ is the fundamental blunder that highlights the arrogant
ignorance of agricultural scientists. Nature, unspoiled by man, is already most abundant in her yield.

When a grain of rice can reproduce a thousand-fold within months, where is the need to increase its
productivity! What is required at most is to help ensure the necessary natural conditions for optimal,

wholesome yield.
In all the years a student spends for an M. Sc. or Ph.D. in agriculture, the only goal is short-

term – and narrowly perceived – economic (rather than nutritional) ‘productivity’. For this, the farmer
is urged to buy and do a hundred things, greatly increasing his costs. But not a thought is spared to what

a farmer must never do so that the land remains unharmed for future generations and other creatures.

Concluding observations
When I began this paper, I thought the writing and conclusions would be fairly straight-forward.

Kânchan-mukti and rishi-kheti were closely linked in my mind and were intended for practical action,

103