PREFACE

The only possible paradise that we know for real is planet Earth.  Human species started the process of losing it by exploiting his own kind and exploiting nature. The former being conspicuous, met with dissent from time to time. The accumulated scars of the latter began to appear only in the last couple of centuries. Presently, the extent and intensity of the phenomenon is such that it now endangers all life on Earth.

This book is about regaining this paradise. Hence it is about ending exploitation of man by man and exploitation of nature by man. The two being inseparable, neither can be achieved in isolation.

This book is about humility. It is about humility to accept we are part of all forms that belong here; to accept coexistence; to accept that science can assist us to live in harmony with nature, accepting and adapting to her ways.

This book is about struggle. It is about struggles to stop the exploitation of man and of nature.

And finally this book is about rebuilding communities. Being a social species, our survival is dependent on cooperation. This is possible only when there is individual freedom and mutual respect.

There is no copy right on this little book. It is copy left. You are welcome to use it in any way you like.

In writing this book I have received help, encouragement and love from innumerable friends. It is perhaps not possible to thank them all and if some names are left out it is unintentional.

To begin with I must thank Sagar Dhara of the Hyderabad Platform. It is his knowledge and constant concern on these issues that has inspired me to write this book. Usha Sriram, who managed the finances for the book, has been a constant source of support and a good critique of everything I do. Nyla Coelho has shown enormous patience and a sense of humour in making the text readable with her editing skills. Suresh Kosaraju has taken the entire responsibility of publishing including the cover design.

I have received valuable comments and feedback from: Alka Saraogi, Arun Bidani, Binayak Sen, Ilina Sen, V. Janardan, Jasween Jairath, Lina Krishnan, Madhu Sarin, Meher Engineer, Mohan Mani, Nagaraj Adve, Pratap Antony, Priti Anand, K. Sahadevan, Sanjeev Ghotge, Satya, Shreekumar, Soumya Dutta, Suyodh Rao, Usha Rao, Vasant Bawa, Venkat and Vinod Raina.

Timir Basu of Frontier, Kolkata, S. Srivnasan of Medico Friends Circle and M.R. Rajagopalan of Gandhigram have published some of the papers that have ended up as chapters in this book.

The book has been co-published by a publishing collective of seven organisations who in their goodness have taken the bothersome business of raising funds and book distribution off my hands. I acknowledge their kindness with all humility.

Major part of the work on the book was done at Cerana Foundaton, Hyderabad. I am grateful for the help and support received from Sagar, Radhika and Navaneetha. While working on this book, in its final stages, I have stayed at an organic farm collective on the foothills of the Western Ghats. I am grateful to the members of the commune - Manna, Milan, Svetlana, Sandhya, Ranjana, Binu, Sahadevan, Vinay and Shreekumar for the support and love they have given me.

I thank them all.

 T. Vijayendra

 November 11, 2009