Environmental Ethics

Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Catalog link: https://jainqq.org/explore/001347/1

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ENVIRONMENTAL
ETHICS
SAVE EARTH
NG LIFE
THE ONLY KNO
UN PLANET SU
SUPPORTING
BY S. M. JAIN

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Prakrit Bharati Pushpa- 198
ENVIRONMENTAL
ETHICS
S.M. Jain
PRAKRIT BHARTI ACADEMY, JAIPUR SOCIETY FOR SCIENTIFIC & ETHICAL LIVING, JAIPUR

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Publisher:
Prakrit Bharti Academy 13-A, Main Malviya Nagar, Jaipur - 302017 Phone : 0141-2524827, 2520230
Society for Scientific & Ethical Living 13-A, Main Malviya Nagar, Jaipur - 302017 Phone : 0141 -2524827, 2520230
© S.M. Jain
First Edition 2006
Price: 130/
Computerization: Shyam Agarwal Prakrit Bharti Academy, Jaipur
Printed at: Raj Printers, Ph. 2621774, M, 93145-11048 Jaipur
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS /
S.M. JAIN/ 2006

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PUBLISHER'S NOTE
Environmental degradation is the most serious and glaring problem causing a great concern in context of sustainable development, welfare and even very survival of mankind. In this book, the author Shri S.M. Jain, a retired forest officer with his long and varied experience in forestry and environment, has analyzed various aspects and causes of environmental degradation and has also suggested essential practical measures to check and improve the ambient environment for existing and future generations. His emphasis on symbiosis or mutualism as core principle for environment preservation is really enlightening. Rationality is another important principle discussed. He has expressed concern on problems of population explosion and galloping consumerism as the main twin problems for environmental degeneration. After analyzing almost all the aspects he has suggested environment friendly symbiotic life style, which will be conducive to create amicable physical and social environment.
Prakrit Bharati Academy and Society for Scientific and Ethical Living, Jaipur have been endeavouring their best to bring out literature, which will enlighten and persuade people to follow mutually beneficial moral code of conduct for happiness of one and all. It is hoped that the present publication “ Environmental Ethics” thoughtfully written by Shri Jain, will serve this purpose.
D. R. Mehta Founder and Chief Patron Prakrit Bharti Academy, Jaipur.
III

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Dr. Karan Singh Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
सत्यमेव जयते
FOREWORD

The realisation that the survival of the human race is inextricably interlinked with ecological security of our planet has gathered strength over the last few decades. The perception that development can take place without any concern for the appalling devastation that we have visited on our fragile biosphere over the past many decades is no longer acceptable. Humanity, in its long and tortuous journey through the millennia, is now poised at a critical crossroads. While science and technology have achieved unbelievable progress and breakthroughs, continuing environmental degradation, extinction of hundred and thousands of plant and animal species, global warming, attenuation of the ozone layer that are looming menacingly over us have become major threats to the future of human race.
The present paradigm of development has accentuated the asymmetry between technology and the environment, inflicting virtually irreversible damage to our ecological security. The emerging ecological crisis is, undoubtedly, the end result of a deeper cultural crisis. The fast spreading consumerist culture tends to reduce nature to an object shorn of its sacred purpose. It is increasingly clear that the survival not only of human race but also of all life forms on this planet now turns on a deeper spiritual and moral reawakening. There is the urgent need for humanity at large to draw upon the resources of its accumulated wisdom and cultural heritage that have for millennia guided great civilisations around the world.
3, Nyaya Marg, Chankyapuri New Delhi - 110 021
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From this perspective, the precepts of environmental ethics need to be re-inculcated in our lives and thoughts as a substantive underpinning of our worldly actions. That calls for a deeper understanding of these precepts and their intricate linkages with economic development. Implicit in the holistic vision of human development is the complementarity of environmental ethics together with social equity and economic growth. The subject of environmental ethics is of growing importance. In this context, Shri S.M. Jain's treatise on “Environmental Ethics” well serves the purpose of recreating the lost awareness about the ethical bases of the environment. I commend it to policy-makers, teachers and the general public.
Tuan
canlingh
Kartik Purnima 15 November 2005
OOD
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PEOPLE FOR ANIMALS 14, ASHOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI- 110001
S.M. Jain
7-B,
Talwandi College Road Kota Rajasthan 324005
14.03.2005 Dear Shri Jain,
Environmental awareness is not a subject that can be taught in isolation, it is a life ethic whose consciousness determines our every choice. What we wear, what we eat, how we live, the water we use and most importantly, the life that we aspire to. Our aspirations determine the way we live our lives. If one's goal is merely to own more and more things, then we destroy jungles and rivers. All marble comes from flattening mountains. All meat comes at the cost of lives and jungles where the animals are taken to graze, all leather destroys rivers..... each thing has a cost that is far more than of money. The environmental term “footprint” is an important moral and economic term. The more you use, the larger your footprint on the Earth. The less you use, the lighter you tread. One should come and go softly - gently, doing good, using little. This Earth is the only home we will ever know. Why not treat it with respect and all its inhabitants with love. That is the basis of all ethics.
With best wishes
Hanela Gandhi
(Smt. Maneka Gandhi)
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AUTHOR
Born on 8th September, 1928 Shri S.M. Jain had his education at the then Government Herbert College, Kota. From 1949 to 1951 he worked as teacher (Maths) in the then Govt. Girls Inter College, Kota and Govt. High School, Bhawanimandi. Selected by Rajasthan Public Service Commission he had his Forestry Training at Forest Research Institute & Colleges in 195153 and again in Refreshers Course in 1967.
Shri S.M. Jain, is a retired Forest Officer. He worked on responsible and challenging posts in State Forest Department, covering every sphere of forestry activity. After retirement he did his innings in a leading paper mill, Rajasthan Tribal Area Development Cooperative Corporation (RTADCC), Apex N.G.O. and Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), New Delhi. In RTADCC he started and organised first ever from the scratch the collection, storage and marketing of over forty different minor forest products in six tribal districts. In ISMA he planned, coordinated and guided various widely acclaimed rural development activities of 180 member sugar factories spread all over the country. He was member of four Sub Committees of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on behalf of ISMA and represented the President of FICCI in the Board of Governors of Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal. His project, "Forest for Food" was sanctioned by Department of Science and Technology and Ms. Sneh Sharma has done Ph.D. on it. Subsequently he started his consultancy services and worked as consultant in various industrial houses and mining firms and was instrumental in raising large scale plantations on wastelands, mined areas and waste dumps. The Government of Rajasthan awarded him and also the
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Associated Stone Industries Ltd., Ramganjmandi for the merritorious plantation work.
Since 1989 he is in the panel of Consultants in Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests (NAEB) and also in the Ministry of Rural Development and Employment. On assignments from these Ministries he has so far carried out thirty two evaluations and survival rate studies of tree planting, afforestation, soil conservation and watershed projects implemented by the District Rural Development Agencies, Divisional Forest Officers and Apex NGOs in Haryana, Punjab, Gujrat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. NAEB gives such assignments to retired forest officer not below the rank of Chief Conservator of Forests.
"Rajasthan Ke Vanya Pashu", a book written jointly by him and late Shri Mahendra Prakash was first ever pictorial and descriptive documentation of wild animals of Rajasthan and was published by Public Relations Department, Government of Rajasthan. His two more books "Pristine Jainism" and "Vanpal" have been published by Parshvanath Vidhyapeeth, Varanasi and Sahitayagar, Jaipur respectively. This “Environment Ethics” is his fourth book. He has written over seventy technical and general articles published in prestigious dailies and journals and have presented papers in national and international seminars. He is associated with charitable, social welfare and literary organisations.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am grateful to Dr. Karan Singhji, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University for taking the trouble of writing an enlightening 'FOREWORD' for this book. I am also grateful to Smt. Maneka Gandhi, former Union Minister, Government of India and Chairperson of People for Animals for sparing her valuable time to have gone through the manuscript of the book and sent her valuable brief coments. Mr. Edward Goldsmith, Editor of the prestigeous journal 'The Ecologist", U.K. took pains to read the manuscript and send his comments inspite of his illness. I thank him a lot.
I thank Dr. Dharam Chand Jain, Assistant Professor, Sanskrit, J.N.V. University, Jodhpur to have taken pains to read the manuscript and recommend it for publication to Prakrit Bharti Academy, Jaipur. I am thankful to Shri D.M. Jain, Freedom Fighter to write and personally speak to the Editor for expediting publication of the book.
I am highly obliged to Shri D.R. Mehta, Founder and Chief Patron Prakrit Bharti Academy, Jaipur for accepting the book for publication. I am thankful to Shri Surendra Bothra for expediting the publication of the book in such a presentable form.
I thank Dr. P.C. Vijayvargiya, former Dean and Head of the Department, Deemed University, Vanasthali; Dr. K.C. Rajoria, former Professor of Political Science; Dr. S.K. Verma, former Principal of Government College, Kota; Shri Shivnarain Upadhaya, a veteran learned vedic scholar and Shri Anand Raj Jain, Advocate for reading the manuscript and giving their suggestions.

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I must thank Shri K.B. Saxena of Logo Computers for assiduous typing work and his indefatigable perseverence in retyping and incorporating additions and modifications over and over again.
Lastly I shall fail in my duty if I do not thank my wife Smt. Sheela Jain for helping in all my activities with utmost sincerity and devotion.
sor
(S.M. Jain)
18.01.2006 7-B, Talwandi KOTA-324005
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S.No. Contents
1.
2.
Introduction
Symbiosis or Mutualism
3. Optimising population and consumerism
4.
Rationality
5. Forest-based life-style
6.
7.
1.
2.
3.
4.
CONTENTS
Environment-friendly conduct
Conclusion
Appendices
Bibliography

Brief outline of Author's project "Forest for food and development", Sanctioned by Department of Science and Technology and on which Ms. Sneh Sharma did Ph.D. and comments of eminent persons on this project.
Copy of letter from Edward Goldsmith, UK
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Copy of letter from S.M. Jain to Goldsmith, UK 149
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Page No.
1 - 10
11-29
30-55
5687
88 - 102
103 - 114
115-120

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1
INTRODUCTION
Concept :
The term "Environment" has wide connotations numerous facets and ramifications. It implies not only physical or natural environment but also social environment of multitudinous relationships between individual human beings, families, societies and nations. Similar relationships exist between various life-forms among different species and species to species. There are interdependent interactions among all members including humans of biosphere which interact with constituents of physical environment. Both physical and social environments are interactive and influence to mould each other. The commonest example is of wars because of social tensions which influence very adversely the physical or natural environment. Likewise physical or natural environment influences and modifies behaviour patterns of individuals and social norms. Both are interdependent. Environment is composite, aggregate whole almost as if a single organism or a complete system, comprising infinite number of subsystems and their parts both animate and inanimate.

Man being at the top of pyramid in hierarchy of living beings has played maximum role in all aspects of environmental manifestations, affecting all other constituents, their systems, subsystems and parts. Initially man was influenced by physical environmental factors of climate, soil, water, air, place etc. and his behaviour as an individual or family, race, or nation and the various customs and cultures evolved accordingly. But with increasing exercise of his superior brain power the process reversed. The relationship
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between man and other life forms and also with inanimate physical constituents got changed from initially symbiotic to predatory. His approach, behaviour and interactions became more and more anthropocentric, arrogating to himself the exclusive rights to use, exploit all others for his own pleasures and increasing greed. The whole environment has been so much subjugated by man that it became just anthroposphere. The human brain power is increasing by leaps and bounds extending far beyond the earth planet into the infinite space-time-continuum of universe (cosmonautics) so much so that environment has become noosphere i.e. domain of human mind (the term coined by scientist V.I. Vernadsky). Excesses by mankind in overexploitation of environmental constituents are polluting and endangering not only the earth but outer space also.
Mankind itself has numerous social, political, economic, religious and racial micro-environments interacting with each other mutually beneficial if symbiotic and destructive (e.g. wars) if predatory, greedy and selfish. The various customs, beliefs, dogmas and superstitions have their deleterious impact not only on man but entire environment at macrolevels also. An individual's behaviour is as conditioned by his family, social, racial, religious and national environment, the respective ethos, values beliefs, vices, rituals and practices. The physical environment climate and place also have significant impact. Ideally the interactions should be symbiotic for welfare of one and all and it is always so in the beginning in all systems and subsystems. But with increasing anthropocentric attitude mankind gradually became predatory initially against other life forms and physical constituents and subsequently amongst itself, man against family against family, race against race, nation against nation because it triggered individualism with inherent tendencies of greed and selfishness. Such predatory models have in-built mechanism for self-destruction. Even the primitive predator hunter man realised this and substituted the predatory occupation of
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hunting by symbiotic domestication of various animals which was good for both man as well as animals. Otherwise with extinction of prey (animals) man would have annihilated himself also. Environmental concept envisages symbiotic and rational behaviour in human beings.
Spectre :
The scenario as of now and evolving the same way, is dismal. The continuing degradation of environment and depletion of life-supporting natural resources by exploding population and its reckless consumerism are matters of serious concern. The air we breathe, water we drink and the soil which produce our food are getting more and more polluted. In many cities air has become so much polluted by vehicular and industrial emissions that people require masks and frequent oxygen intake. The water in most of rivers and other surface and underground water bodies is so dangerously polluted by industrial, household and other effluents that it is not even safe for bathing, much less for drinking. Technologies and processes which are very costly and not affordable by poor and developing nations are required to purify water for drinking and even for industrial and other household uses. Within last five decades the requirement of water has increased so much that its per capita availability is reduced to one third from 6000 cum to 2200 cum just little above critical limit of 1700 cum. Experts fear that if population and consumerism continue to rise there will be fierce wars for water in near future. Because of over exploitation of underground water the water table is receding fast and has gone down at many places from few metres to hundreds of metres. This has also increased the fluoride content in water at several places causing fluorosis. Even the largest water bodies, the seas surrounding the planet earth are getting polluted by oil spills and other wastes including the hazardous atomic waste. Because of pollution and over exploitation of various products from the sea, its fishes, corals, shells, minerals and others, this eco-system

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so important for climatic balance on earth is being damaged dangerously.
The health of the soil is getting more and more precarious being over exploited for feeding increasing number of mouths. Its natural productivity because of its multiple organic constituents, the numerous microorganisms have almost been decimated. The living soil has been turned into an inorganic machine requiring more and more doses of chemical fertilisers to produce same quantity and pesticides to protect monoculture crops from pests and these are poisoning the air, soil and water bodies more and more. The poisonous pesticides are getting into human system through food chain with biological magnification almost ten times more in quantity then in soil and it is increasing the incidence of various asthmatic, psychiatric, cardiac, other serious diseases and even cancer.
Forests, the important renewable natural resource are greatest casualty of galloping increase in population and consumerism. This has resulted in increasing erosion and consequent silting of important dams and rivers. In absence of forests, infiltration of rain water is reduced and run off increased and there are devastating floods during rains and the rivers are then dry for rest of the year. Every tree is a dam more efficient than concrete ones to conserve and store water. Forests work as sinks by absorbing obnoxious and polluting gases, convert them in useful products and purify the air. They ameliorate climate, regulate rainfall, protect from fury of devastating storms, provide a host of products to fulfil human needs. The erratic climatic changes, green house effects, widening ozone hole, melting of Arctic ice-caps (already more than 48%) and glaciers are all threatening our health and even survival. These renewable resources of nature rejuvenate if exploited within the carrying capacity but unfortunately forests are being exploited many times more.
Likewise non-renewable resources the various minerals

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most importantly the oil on which is based most of the economy and even agriculture all over the globe are being exploited so much that their known reserves may not last for over 200-300 years. Then the entire edifice of our civilisation will crumble down as the cracks are already visible. The present level of exploitation is so high that nothing will be left for future generations though it is the duty of every generation to pass on the treasures of nature for future generations as they got it. It is paradoxical rather oxymoron that on the one hand we love our future progenies and on the other hand we are accentuating the adverse conditions for them. The natural resources are finite and demands to satisfy increasing greed and consumerism of fast multiplying people are infinite. The mismatch between demand and carrying capacity of natural resources is increasing and is eating away the very resource base for all life-forms including humans.
Paradox:
Though we humans are biologically the best and highest evolved species at the top on biospheric pyramid, endowed with maximum size of brain and clinical power of reasoning and have made phenomenal advance in science and technology with formidable wealth of knowledge as never before yet our hedonist disposition with built-in mechanism for self-destruction brings us down to the level of a greatest fool of a parable who was cutting the same branch of the tree on which he was sitting and also like the greedy person in another popular story who butchered the hen which was laying one golden egg every day. Unfortunately the prevalent, recognised and established economic theories prescribe consumerism as an index of development. Nations, societies and people are considered developed and even more civilised on the basis of their scale of consumption. This has triggered mad race for more and more consumerism in tendentious pursuit of unsatiable sensuous pleasures ignoring the fundamental

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principle of sustainability which has remained a mere slogan and has not been adopted in practice. It is simplest primary mathematics that more the consumption, more will be the pressure on renewable and nonrenewable resources. Any development can be sustainable only if the consumption inter-alia exploitation of resources is limited to their carrying capacity and renewability. Otherwise any talk of sustainability is farcical.
Enlightened Personalities, Sects and Religions :
Fortunately there have been saner and enlightened people, saints, sages, avtars, buddhas, prophets, tirthankaras in all ages. at different places in all societies who have been cautioning against reckless consumerism for sensuous pleasures. They advocated rationality and advised concern, love and compassion for all living beings from minutest micro-organism to insects, birds, higher forms of animals including humans. They analysed the root causes triggering transgressions on nature. These are greed, ego, lust and infatuation for sensuous pleasures which have no limits or points of satiety as more they are provided for more they increase and continue to multiply ultimately eating away the very basic resources necessary for survival of all life forms including humans. They evolved and prescribed codes of conduct to keep wants of people minimum so that demands or pressure on resources remain within the carrying capacity and renewability of resources and such societies and people under their influence lived in harmony with ambient environment in a given situation. Such personalities lived exemplary life styles and followed themselves what they preached. The term religion or Dharma has been coined for such codes of conduct. All these were good and relevant in particular situations for particular periods of time at particular places but not for all the times and all the situations. The time, space, people and other parameters on their canvas was limited. The world was fragmented in sparsely spread, widely separated pockets under influences of different sects and religions.
In most of these religions aberrations and distortions crept

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in after the passing away of their founding fathers because of subjective and selfish interpretations of their preachings by their successors. The religions based on love and compassion for all got impregnated with arrogant and abhorant variety of ill conceived superiority over other religions. This resulted in fierce competition for imposing one's interpretations over others by enticements and brute force also and relative success of one over others was proportional to military and money power. There was spate of conversions and fierce battles. History is full of cruelties, mass massacres, slavery and exploitation in the name of religion. The obscurantism of bygone medieval era is still persisting in some sects and their fanatics who hold the whole civilised society in ransom from time to time. Wars and conflicts in any form are far more destructive for environment than any other factor.
Perspective :
Whatever be the beliefs and perceptions of any individual, society or nation, there is unequivocal convergence that all need good air to breathe, unpolluted water to drink and healthy soil to produce healthy food. Gone are the days when pollution at one place did not have significant adverse effect on other place because it was very low in intensity. The degree of pollution now is so high that it is affecting everyone, everywhere. The clouds carrying acid rains because of industrial pollutants from any country can drift and harm anywhere. The widening ozone hole, thinning of icecaps, greenhouse effects, poisonous pesticides are harming all and all over. The ideological pollution of minds manifest in consumerism and hedonism is spreading fast even in hitherto conservative societies because of modern telecommunication networks which have shrunk the world in almost one compact village. This has necessitated convergence of some basic perceptions, concepts and commensurate minimum ethical code of conduct in respect of environmental protection. Every individual young or old, group of people, societies, nations big or small, high or low, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, strong or

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weak, are responsible for environmental degradation. It should therefore, be not only necessary but mandatory for all to follow the fundamental principles for environmental restoration and sustainable maintenance.
Mankind must learn, understand, imbibe and follow the principle and rules of mutualism or symbiosis as it has to live in harmony for mutual benefits with all other constituents of environment, animate and inanimate. While it is important to educate people about environment it has to be followed by required measures voluntary or by law. The persuasive measures of educating people, motivating them by creating awareness have not succeeded to the extent necessary in the fast deteriorating scenario. The belief that people will voluntarily adopt and modify life styles for the sake of environment has been belied as manifest in even simple examples. People for instant selfish objective do not follow traffic rules, voluntarily though for their own safety and even if they are well aware and educated and so punitive measures are necessary. Regarding impact of education no one knows better about the importance of forests than a trained educated forest officer but he too indulges in destruction of forests for his own greed. So is the case of a engineer who knows best about quality and proportion of materials to be used, but ignores everything for his vested self interest. Pharmacists are making fake drugs. Even scientists sell technologies to dangerous terrorists. The persons responsible and trained to check crimes are partners of criminals. Judges too are selling judgements. The malaise of selfishness for one's sensuous pleasures is so rampant that some element of compulsion, effective enforcement and exemplary punishment is necessary so that all people, all over abide by basic ethical code for environmental safety as bitter pills and operations (cutting away of bad parts, organs) are also necessary to cure ailments. The malignant belligerent cancer cells have to be destroyed.
There are instances that persons brought up in a very good
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family environment free of vices of smoking, wine and other narcotic drugs, when in professional colleges and subsequently in professional services fall prey to vices because of the prevailing environment there. People in India spit pan (betel leaf) and tobacco and spoil roads, hospitals, public laterines, offices, class rooms but they do not do so in Singapore or other countries where there is stringent enforcement of laws and rules. The same doctors, engineers and other professionals, irresponsible and corrupt in India work efficiently, honestly and shine in other countries. Stringent laws and effective implementation is necessary. Education though fundamental to create awareness, it alone does not work unless concepts are assimilated and translated into action. The environmental ethical code must be enforced uniformly the world over without any distinction or exception for any nation, religion or race lest it is too late to save mankind and all life forms, from catastrophic doom and eventual extinction. The principle of individual liberty in vogue and being advocated more and more should conform to welfare of others also. Individual rights and responsibilities need to be integrated.
Environmental Ethics :
The various aspects of environmental ethics have now been scientifically rationalised. The symbiotic, integrated and interdependent complex matrix of environment has been scientifically studied and documented. There have been numerous conferences, symposia and seminars in various fora from local, regional, national to international levels involving people from grass root levels to highest and powerful heads of all nations of world (Earth Summits). Much have been talked about and agreed. There are resolutions galore and even stringent laws but without significant impact. There is no further need for verbose deliberations. It is now time to act in the fast evolving do or die situation. It is high time that human kind finally decide to enact comprehensive code of appropriate behaviour towards

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environment i.e. environmental ethics. There are various concepts of environmental ethics from shallow to deeper, from anthropocentric to eco-centric and in between intermediate ones. In 1980 Singer stressed animal rights. Regan in 1987 limited it to mammals only. Baxi in 1992 evolved the term deeper environmental ethics which stress on rights of all natural entities, humans, animals, plants and inanimate objects, hills, water bodies, atmosphere lithosphere etc. The shallow and intermediate concepts are not relevant anymore. The holistic deeper eco-centric environmental ethics only is relevant now for the very basic instinct of survival and survive we must. Survival means survival of not only present generation but of infinite future generations too. If we continue to exhaust and pollute natural resources as of now the lives of future generations will not only be miserable but their survival may be at stake. No living being lest the human beings intend ill for its future progenies. To make life better and worth living for present and future generations a minimum ethical code for good environment is essential. The apex organisation the United Nations should be empowered with adequate means educative, legal and even punitive. The necessary steps, without variants whatsoever, should be taken up urgently and pursued vigorously all over and by everyone irrespective of caste, creed, race, nation or place voluntarily and compulsorily, if need be.
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SYMBIOSIS OR MUTUALISM
Core Principle :
The first and foremost principle for environment is symbiosis or mutualism. It is fundamental and foundation of other core principles. The environmental matrix is such that all constituents are interdependent. No one constituent including human kind and no single component in one kind of constituents e.g. a person in human society, a bird, an animal of any sort, an insect and even an atom functions in isolation. Every atom in a molecule is important for proper functioning of its all other atoms and viceversa all other atoms are important for functioning of every single atom. In human body there are trillions of living cells. Each cell works in conformity, in cooperation with all other cells, for mutual benefit. A single errant cell causes cancer or other malfunctioning in the entire body and endangers its existence. Within a living cell there are other organelle mitochondria and others which work in conformity to enable the cell to function properly. Within each organelle in a cell there are numerous molecules and within a molecule there are atoms and within an atom are protons, neutrons, electrons and quarks, all functioning in conformity and harmony with each other. In any inanimate man-made machine also every component however small or big is important for the proper functioning of the whole machine and function of any component is dependent on all other components. The entire fabric or matrix is so intrinsically integrated that nothing happens or exists in isolation at all micro or macro levels. Mankind must learn, understand, imbibe and follow the principle of mutualism or
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symbiosis as it has to live in harmony for mutual benefits, with all other constituents of environment.
Manifestations :
The principle of symbiosis or mutualism as manifest in human body or a man-made machine is true at macro levels also between man and man, animal and animals, tiniest insect and insects and interalią between man and animals and insects and all life forms. All life forms are interdependent and must function symbiotically for existence and welfare of each other. Life forms are integrated not only amongst themselves but also with all other physical constituents viz. air, water, soil, minerals and others. The boot-strap principle of Dr. Geofrey Chew rejects singularity or isolated capability. The manifested properties of any biological or physical unit is because of presence of and cooperation of others. David Bam has also authenticated the principle of undivided whole. Even genes in living organism manifest in response to environment by their on and off mechanism. Genes communicate and cooperate with each other and synthesise required proteins symbiotically. Like wise the atoms and even subatomic particles electrons, protons, neutrons and quarks behave in response to environment. Particles appear as objects with certain mass in their space aspect and in their time aspect as process involving equivalent energy. Neither the electron nor any other object has any intrinsic properties independent of environment according to the Quantum Theory. According to Wheeler there is “Quantum Foam" in which every particle is connected with every other particle with a quantum interconnectedness, all of which is also subjected to super space. The first spark of life in organic molecules evolved and was possible only because of ambient environment, favourable and conducive for it. The single fertilised egg develops into a full complete human or animal because the environment in womb is amicable. The life forms are conditioned by physical environment the air, water, soil, temperature, atmospheric pressure etc. and the physical environment is also
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modified by life forms. The earliest life forms the Prokaryotes, the microbes, bacteria without cell nucleus lived without oxygen. These began to modify environment, produced oxygen by photosynthesis and stage was set for emergence/evolution of Eukaryotes, the single celled microbes with nucleus containing chromosomes, the genetic code. Eukaryotic cells are result of symbiosis between prokaryotes viz. mitochondria, chloroplasts which are continuing to live as organelles in the cells of various organisms.
All constituents of the environment singularly and collectively, animate or inanimate, assemble and disintegrate, take birth and die in a continuous and harmonius process symbiotically not only for its own kind but for the whole complex of the environment. In "I CHING" the Chinese book of wisdom this process has been mentioned very beautifully
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the powerful light that has been banished, returns. After a time of decay comes turning point. There is movement but it is brought not by force. The movement is natural arriving spontaneously - transformation of old becomes easy. The old is discarded and new is introduced. Both measures accord with time, therefore no harm results". Even the "Big Bang" theorists wonder that after initial chaotic conditions, the universe that evolved is so smooth, harmonious and regular. Einstein believed in inherent harmony in nature. Such is the nature of things, their actions and interactions, symbiotic and harmonious, integrated and interdependent, contributing to the environment which is a composite system, a big organism, comprising multitude of subsystems, ecosystems, climaxes, succession stages of species, subspecies which are like organelles in a organism. Every subsystem is whole of its parts but part of the bigger system and functions as such. Human beings are part of this system and must function accordingly and symbiotically. Scientific research has substantiated that cooperating with others is hardwired into humans also. In a study of brain activity scientists found that longer the

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participants of experiment helped each other, the stronger the flow of blood to the pathway of pleasure in brain. Evolutionary psychology, the science of how human moral sentiments and behaviour evolve over generations maintain that daily life of every human society rests on reciprocal altruism and one's happiness is designed and integrated with the happiness of others. The golden rule is that it is necessary to be nice, holding door open for those behind. Different people, animals, birds, insects, bacteria, plants have different sensory and other capabilities which are complementary, supplementary and reinforcing for mutual benefit and should be utilized e.g. sensory premonition of calamities like earthquakes by animals and birds.
Darwin's Theory:
There are arguments and counter arguments about Darwin's theory of survival for the fittest. Darwin studied, emphasised and subjected to quantitative analysis only the competitive aspects and not the cooperative aspects in nature. In spite of this he himself could not ignore these and expounded benefits of biodiversity in his monumental work "Origin of species", citing experiments that varieties of crops grown together produced greater yields. He did not name the experimenter who was later identified by researchers. The experimenter whose experiments Darwin cited was George Sinclair, head gardener for duke of Bedford. Darwin mistakenly considered the species or subspecies as unit of survival in his proposed theory of evolution. Within a century it became quite clear that it was the organism not alone but in relation with the whole environment. Any organism which thinks only in terms of its own survival will invariably destroy the environment and thus destroy itself. Darwin's theory was questioned by noted scientists James Live-stock, Ily Prigoginet, Manfued Eigen (Chemists); Paul Weiss, Lynn Margulis (microbiologists); Gregory Batson (anthropologist), Erich Jantsch, Eruin Laszlo (System theorists) and many others. It has now been established that most

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relationships amongst living beings are essentially cooperative, symbiotic, interdependent and co-existent. Even competition is cooperation in wider context. When there is room only for one, the other, the smaller one will disintegrate by its own mechanism, it is not thrown out, it simply bows out.
Examples of Mutualism (Symbiosis) :
In nature mutualism, cooperation and positive interactions are wide spread. The negative interactions or aberrations are stray and few and are mostly because of anthropocentric attitude of mankind. Mutualism is manifest in numerous associations. Intestinal bacteria notably (Escherichia coli) lives symbiotically in digestive tracts of humans, derive nutrition but simultaneously help in digestion of food. Ruman bacteria in ungulates, flagellates in termites only can digest food as animals do not have necessary enzymes. Lichens are associations of fungi and algae and live in such a symbiotic relationship that it is not two but one new organism. In lichens fungi absorb and hold moisture and break minerals from rocks and make it available for algae which in turn prepare food for both by photosynthesis. It is only by action of multitude of microorganisms in soil that make nutrition available to plants and it is plants that prepare food for animals and humans. One kilogram of fertile soil may contain a few trillion decomposer organisms, fixing nitrogen, breaking rocks, making minerals available to plants, retaining moisture and aerating soil. Unfortunately the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides are almost annihilating these and thus affecting the natural fertility of soil.
Coral reefs are an excellent example of mutualism amongst several life forms. Individual coral polyps join to form coral reefs, sharing nervous network and reproductive capabilities so cohesively that it is difficult to consider them individual organisms. In addition innumerable bacteria, plants and animals live on their top, fishes and invertebrates in their nooks. Over 60% energy requirements of coral reef is from
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photosynthesis by algae living in coral tissue. Human body is combination of trillions of cells and a singular cell of smaller organelles (mitochondria) and others, all living symbiotically. Chloroplasts in green leaves, apparatus for photosynthesis are complete smaller organisms like cells and mitochondria, capable for self replication. Then there is purple bacteria, the photosynthetic bacteria that employs its extremely sensitive molecular antenna system that absorbs individual photons and passes on to reaction centre the green chloroplasts where splitting of water molecules and synthesis of various products. proteins, carbohydrates etc. takes place. Large number of green algae grow in tissues of the worm (Convoluta roncoffensis), releasing nitrogen and preparing nitrogen compounds for host and in return get suitable matrix for its growth. Sea anemome (Adamsia palliata) grows on shell of the hermit crab (Eupagurs pridaux) and serve as powerful deterrent against predacious fish, A worm Neresis also lives inside the shell and helps to keep it clean and in return gets food. The crocodile bird fearlessly enters the mouth of crocodile, removes leeches around teeth, the ferocious crocodile does not harm it. A long tube worm of genus Riftia possesses no mouth, stomach, intestines or annus and the bacteria living in its inner nutritional tissue provide it the primitive circulatory systems. Nitrogen fixing bacteria in roots of leguminous plants fix nitrogen directly and make it available to plant. Likewise Mycorrhiza fungus make nutrients from soil available to plants. Green algae grows on long groove hair of sloth bear making it turn almost green and help in camouflaging. In crab-coelentrate relationship the later helps to camouflage and in return gets food. Mixed groups of zebras and ostriches derive mutual benefit by virtue of keen sight of ostriches and greater power of scent of zebras.
There is an intricate symbiotic relationship between the tree Colvillea major and the Dodo bird. The seeds of this tree would germinate only after passing through the gut of
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the Dodo. Since the bird has become extinct, only a few old trees of this species are now left and their seeds are not germinating. Seeds of many other trees germinate only after passing through guts of certain animals. Microorganisms are main producers of vitamin B-12. Microphytes, macrophites, algae, fungii, crabs, larva, planktons were brought from natural water source to clean Susan lagoon by their interacting food chain. Halophytes, Haloxylan recurvum (Lana), Sasoda harrorosona (Sajji), Suada nudifora (Lunia) accumulate salts from saline water upto 40-50% and contain 20-30% oil and 10-20% protein, are good fodder and poultry feed. Phytoremediation of fluoride contaminated ground water can effectively be done by the aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata and the plant does not show any toxity symptoms, grows and multiplies normally in presence of fluoride (S.R. Ambika and S. Sumanlatha, Bangalore University). Likewise symbiotic association in root zone of bacteria and micorrhiza fungi is an effective rhizosphere bioremediation of soil contaminated with xenobiotics being increasingly released eversince industrial revolution (Bidisha Ghosh, University of Bombay). Various insects, butterflies, honey bees etc. take nectar from flowers of trees and plants and help in pollination. Human beings, animals, birds etc. by eating fruits of trees and then carrying, dispersing the seeds help trees in dispersal of their seeds. Deep sea creatures detrites live on detritus of food, plants, dead bodies etc. from above, filter the detritus and maintain cleanliness. Many animals and birds, hyena, vulture etc. are scavengers and eat left over by others and also dead bodies and help in maintaining cleanliness.
Many microorganisms also break up and decompose toxic pollutants as found in guts of whales, digesting naphthalene and anthracene petroleum products. Extremophiles, the bacteria living in extremely hot boiling volcano vent, convert poisonous hydrogen sulphide into organic matter. Professor Darrek Lovely has diverted power of extremophiles in turning
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dissolved gold into solid gold through an enzyme that coats microbes. Bacterium Alcaligens is used for biodegradable mouldable polymer polyhexamurates. The DRDO scientists in India have developed microbes that clean wastes at Siachin glacier. The bateria Agrobacterium radobactor degrade explosives down to natural compounds and minerals. Bacteria Dehalococcodies ethenogenes is a pollution eating bacteria which was first found in sewage sludge (Research Scholar Rekha Sesdhari of the Institute of Genomic Research in Mary Land). The bug has different strains eating different pollutants. Dermestid beetles are used to clean bones because of their unmatched ability to strip bones off desiccated flesh of mammal carcasses without damaging even the smallest most delicate specimens for long term archival preservation. Several bacteria, fungus and virus are used for manufacture of various medicines. Yesti fungus is used in medicine for cancer. In genetic engineering protein is carried through virus. New chemicals are being developed through bacteria. There are numerous examples in nature of symbiotic mutually beneficial relationships.
In human society mutually beneficial, complementary, supplementary relationships between individuals, groups and nations are necessary for peace, happiness and even efficiency of any activity. Symbiotic relationship also implies obligation and duty to help weak, disabled, poor, sick and old. Such conditions are generally inevitable and every one is prone to these. It is not out of compassion but as a duty that society should take care of such people because any one, any time may get afflicted needing care and help. Old people have given a lot to society and their experience can be gainfully utilised and therefore should be cared not out of pity but as duty in lieu of their contribution. Joint family system is an ideal example where young, adult and old contribute for mutual benefits.
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Aberrations :
It is a serious aberration, a flaw in the basic human nature to be predatory and exploitative. The anthropocentric approach that mankind is supreme and every thing is for its use, pleasure and consumption has been introduced and propagated by force and inducements by eccentric individuals with vested interests, who misinterpreted the natural laws and phenomena under the garb of religion and pseudo scientific theories. The modern society well informed and with abundant knowledge well aware of consequences, continues to follow the medieval anthropocentric approach and is indulging in indiscriminate over consumption of resources accepting it as an index of development. It is suicidal and must be stopped, reversed and set right in time with natural law of mutualism (Symbiosis).
It is also fallacious to assume that microbes, bacteria, virus, fungi, insects or any other living beings big or small are harmful to human beings or to any other within the species or with other species. There are numerous microbes on the skin of human body more than the total population of the globe, but they do not harm. There are microbes inside the body living symbiotically. It is only when the system or subsystem is disturbed that beneficial life forms become harmful in the same way as a good friend may turn into a foe because of wrong behaviour. Appendicitis is caused by bacteria, otherwise living symbiotically, beneficially in intestines but because of closure of opening as a result of wrong dietary habits. The plague bacillus Yerisina pestis earlier known as Pseudo tuberculosis was living harmlessly in the intestines but turned harmful by mutation as a result of wrong life styles few thousand years back. Same is true about HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) which causes deadly so far incurable AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome). This virus was existing, living harmlessly in animals and humans for several years but turned harmful by mutations triggered by inoculation of Hepatitis-B and Smallpox vaccines in America and Africa (Scientist Wiles
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Delede of Sweden). A harmless virus changes into a dangerous variety in mice tissue whose diet lack salenium. Septic shock syndrome is caused by harmless intestinal bacteria only when there is external injury. The diseases are because of weakening of body's internal defence mechanism, the immune system which is result of one's own wrongs than of others. There are trillions and trillions of microbes all around but all are not affected and only weak gets diseases. It has been established that all mature systems are symbiotic and there is competition or predation only in immature systems. Predatory life styles of mankind are indicative of its immaturity. Before advent of agriculture the carnivores were just scavengers and not predators or killers. In humans it has been experimentally proved that diets play an important role in moulding behaviour good or bad in addition to other physical environmental factors. Criminals can be improved by good balanced diet of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids etc. When the earth surface was all covered with climax, dense polyculture, multicanopied forest, all sorts of wild animals both the herbivores and carnivores lived symbiotically. There were plenty of naturally dead bodies of herbivores which were food for carnivores, animals, tigers, birds, vultures etc. and variety of microbes and insects which worked as scavangers and kept the environment clean. There is never any sort of pollution by untreated waste in good natural forest.
Competition v/s Cooperation :
It is generally argued that competition in business, industries etc. is necessary for better quality and performance. It may appear beneficial initially but is harmful in long run. Competition is based en selfish gain at the cost of others. It is like a war in which both the victorious and vanquished suffer. Competition is suicidal in long run. Many small scale industries get closed down as they can not compete with bigger ones because of costs involved in advertising, marketing and other infrastructure. But bigger
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industries also suffer as their cost of production is higher. There can be cooperation between big and small by ancillarisation which will benefit both. Cooperation rather than competition will likewise be beneficial in other human activities. The principle is that every one should contribute according to his fullest ability and take in return only what is essential and should not usurp the share of others depriving the weaker ones from their basic needs.
Symbiotic Physical Constituents Earth, Water etc. :
In prevedic shramanik postulations earth forms, the rocks and mountains, water forms the rivers, lakes and other water bodies, fire and air have also been included in life forms. This does not imply the organisms living in them but their molecules themselves are considered living in the same way as molecules constituting the cells of other organisms. The shramanik code of conduct lays down elaborate rules for the most frugal, austere minimum use of these resources so that no or least harm is done. Like humans, other life forms including earth, water, air and fire also have rights. The mountains also have rights and should not be deprived of their green cover resulting in erosion. Likewise the rivers have rights to be free from dirt and fifth and keep on flowing. In shramanik literature there is mention that minerals also keep growing and will not be exhausted if taken within limit of growth rate as is the case of forest which will not diminish if their produce (wood etc.) is taken within their carrying capacity i.e. the growth rate. The trees themselves drop their fruits for humans and animals. Like wise naturally dead branches are continuously dropped and trees also have age and die and can then be used. Rocks, minerals etc., likewise naturally disintegrate into lifeless molecules and can then be utilised.
Janathan Turk in his work "Introduction to environmental studies" has mentioned that coal, iron, oil, nitrogen, oxygen etc. are also renewable like trees and plants, of course on a longer time scale and will never be exhausted if human numbers and needs are kept below the level that allows the

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biochemical sizes to operate in such a way that materials and organisms are reassembled as fast as they are dispersed. Shramanik thinkers realised need of symbiotic utilisation long ago and postulated the principle of "APARIGRAH" i.e. nonacquisition beyond bare necessities, austerity and utilisation of natural resources, services of living beings animals etc. including humans with in their carrying capacity and formulated elaborate and stringent rules of do's and don'ts. The shramanik principle of aparigrah can be an effective instrument to inculcate symbiotic attitude. Every organism, its components, organelles, cells and smaller and larger subsystems and systems have built in carrying capacity to interact symbiotically. This can be illustrated comprehensively by the example of grasslands and grazing animals. Different grasslands in different climatic and edaphic conditions have different varieties (species) of grasses both annual and perennial in different proportions. Their capacities to support grazing animals also varies. Generally cow is taken as one unit and buffalos two units. In case of a grassland with carrying capacity of one cow only if two or more are grazed then it will deteriorate and ultimately get destroyed completely paving way for subsequent deterioration of land by erosion. The grassland will deteriorate if it is completely closed to grazing by one cow unit which is its carrying capacity. Cow eats grass, enriches the land by its droppings (cow dung) and urine. This is symbiotic relationship. The status quo of grassland, a subclimax is maintained indefinitely. There is neither progression and succession by other species, the shrubs and trees which would eventually encroach on grass which would deteriorate it.
Similar is the case with forest lands which if utilised within their carrying capacity which is the annual growth rate of the forests. It is like harvesting only the interest from a bank account which keeps the principal amount intact. If forest produce is harvested within carrying capacity i.e. its M.A.I. (Mean Annual Increment) then the forest as such remains
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healthy and productive indefinitely. Over exploitation will result in its deterioration and ultimate destruction. Like wise under utilisation or no utilisation i.e. total stoppage of interaction between humans and animals etc. with forest would result in succession by uneconomic species
Likewise the rivers and other water bodies (hydrosphere), air (atmosphere), biosphere, lithosphere etc. have their carrying capacities to clean impurities and depredations but not if these are beyond their capacities as has happened in case of many rivers in India and other developing countries the water of which have been polluted to such an extent that they are not fit even for bathing and not at all for drinking. There is already scarcity of drinking and irrigation water and it will accentuate further. This is result of over exploitation, uncontrolled discharge of household and industrial pollutants. The same is the plight of atmosphere which is getting more and more polluted every passing day and people need breathing oxygen cylinders and masks. As a matter of fact normal pollution by optimum populations is beneficial e.g. in rivers for flora and fauna, in air CO, for plants. The methodology and indices to measure carrying capacities and health of various eco-systems have been well researched, documented, standardized and established.
Symbiosis at Planetary Level :
There is symbiosis, mutualism, harmony in all interrelations of all the constituents of environments not only at the levels of larger and smaller systems and subsystems but also at universal level between different planets, galaxies orbiting in their own orbits. Earth's moon may be cited as an example. It exerts a considerable influence on climate of the earth and thus on the inhabitants, its tidal influence is well known. It is the presence of moon that exerts stabilising effect on inclination of earth at 23°27' with its orbital plane around sun keeping the variation within 1°3' and it is because of this that there are regular seasons and climate
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on earth congenial for inhabitants. The variation in case of mercury is 90° and that of Mars is 60°, resulting in extremes of harsh climatic conditions. The Steady State Theory of Universe i.e. its timelessness without beginning and end, assembling of new and disintegration of old in a harmonous way continuously still holds its ground. According to Prof. Jayant Narlikar the Big Bang Theory is not confirmed and each time new observations are made there are stronger reasons to look for alternative cosmologies. There is a perfect cosmic symbosis also in space-time and matter. According to Einstein gravity is consequence of the fact that spacetime is not flat but curved and warped by distribution of mass and energy in its bodies like earth. The mass of sun curves spacetime in such a way that although earth follows a straight path in four dimensional space-time, it appears to move along a circular orbit in three dimensional space. Thus matter and energy affect space-time and also vice versa.
Experimented illustration of Symbiosis :
The symbiotic relationship can be demonstrated by a simple .experiment. If a jar of glass is filled with pure water and algae is put in it and is sealed and put in sun light then algae will die after using and exhausting all the carbon-di-oxide (CO) available in the jar. In addition to algae if some snails are also put in it then snails will produce CO, by their metabolism and algae will be producing O, by photosynthesis. It will last for longer time. The system does not have mechanism to disintegrate the dead bodies of snails and will therefore collapse. Instead of pure water if water from a natural pond containing microorganisms is filled in the jar, it will become sustainable for indefinite period. The algae is producing oxygen (0) by photosynthesis which is necessary for snails. Snails are producing Co, for algae. Microorganisms in water will disintegrate dead bodies of snails and algae and turn into organic compounds required by algae and snails. There will be perfect balance, keeping populations of all the three symbionts constant
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according to availability of constant quantity of food for each other. The status quo and survival and well being of all will be maintained indefinitely. This is how all the systems and subsystems are working symbiotically, disturbed and harmed only when run-aways of any one of constituents in population and demand occur. Mankind with its superior brain power, anthroprocentric attitude, uncontrolled proliferation in numbers, and rising demands has caused greatest harm.
Consequence and Redemption :
Mankind itself has suffered from conflicts of all sorts, wars big and small, calamities of famine, drought and pestileneces because of lack of symbiotic attitude and relationships within itself and with other life forms and physical environment. The known history of mankind is written more with blood-shed, predations, exploitation and subjugation of one another than in brief green spaces of peace and harmony. There is no such rivalry or exploitation anywhere in nature if not disturbed by human greed, exploitation and encroachment. Mankind is bestowed with most superior brain power in the entire biome, has capacity to judge between right and wrongs, good and bad, beneficial and harmful, yet man indulges in all sorts of wrongs inspite of abundant knowledge, information and stark warning scientific facts. Even rudimentary life forms with infinitesimal mentation capacity do not commit such wrongs. Obviously mankind is yet immature in evolving ethical process. There cannot be maturity without symbiosis.
Every component of the environment physical or life-form is integrated and interdependent. For harmony and welfare there has to be symbiotic relationship between individual to individuals, individual to systems and system to system/s. Aberration on the part of an individual create problems for the individuals, the society, the system and the whole environment. This is evident in case of human domain, the anthroposphere. A simple example is disposal of waste
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generated by individuals, groups, industrialists, agriculturists etc. People are so selfish and individualistic that they do clean their own places but through away the garbage at others places or public places like roads, parks, drains, rivers etc. They are concerned with their own self-interest and are indifferent to harm to others and society (which includes themselves). It is getting more and more formidable even in the most advanced societies. Unless each individual or group has symbiotic attitude and disposition, free from personal greed, infatuation and lust for material pleasures the problem would not be solved whatever be the strategies and methodologies. This is one important factor responsible for pollution of soil, water and entire environment causing various endemic and epidemic diseases. It is individualistic tendency which generates personal and social conflicts in families, societies and even nations many times of horrendous and catastrophic nature. Mental disorders stress, tension and even schizophrnia is generally because of lack of congenial atmosphere in families and societies. It is lack of harmony (symbiotic environment) that triggers biological malfunctioning, chemical imbalances of sarotonin, dopamine etc. which are secreted in excess or short amounts by neurons and other glands and cells. If there is symbiotic environment there will be no psycho-somatic problems and also other conflicts and wars.
Most ills in human society are because of lack of symbiotic relationship, and growing individualism, personal greed and self-interest at cost of others. The growing individualistic attitude has almost destroyed old symbiotic, harmonious joint family system. The hype about rights of individual has also aggravated the situation. Individual rights must be subordinate to community rights. Most criminals are individualstic as they are not concerned about harm to others. A pharmacist manufactures fake drugs knowingly as he is concerned with his own profits oblivious of harm even death of others. Traders adutlerate eatables. Engineers condone sub

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standard construction and materials even in structures of national and international importance, viz. dams, canals, railways, bridges and roads although fully aware of the harmful consequences. A forest officer who knows maximum about importance of forests, indulges in illicit fellings for personal greed. A drug addict even kills a person, steals costly ornaments and sells them for pittance just to satisfy his immediate need. The main cause of growing corruption is alienation of individual from society i.e. from symbiotic to predatory attitude and action. The malaise is so wide-spread that law enforcing agencies collaborate and connive with law breakers, thieves and murderers and industrialists who spill pollutants all over. Even the judges sell justice and outstanding scientists trade in nuclear arm secrets. Teachers getting hefty salaries do not teach in classes but force students to pay them heavily for private tutions. Eminent educationists leak papers and take bribes to award Ph.Ds. and even from examinees. There are cases of abetment with terrorists, criminals by politicians, security agencies and others. This is all because of individualism, personal greed without any concern for harm to others, society, nation or even entire mankind.
There are innumerable examples in day to day life. Even an ordinary clerk can do incalculable harm if not paid bribe even for genuine work of persons. Personal greed is so pervading that even life-saving drugs, instruments etc. purchased in hospitals are substandard and then not maintained or utilised. There is lot of corruption in defence purchases where officers take bribes even in supply of rations for jawans and horses and even in ammunition and other arms. The corruption has grown so much that only 15% of development funds reach the beneficiaries and rest are pocketed by functionaries, government servants and even by cooperatives and gram panchayat executives (Late Rajiv Gandhi PM of India corroborated this). The knowledge and expertise by selfish persons is utilised more for personal greed devising
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methodologies for safety from laws and rules than for the purpose they are educated and trained. It is because of selfishness that engineers, doctors and other specialists trained at considerable cost from public funds for special services shift to lucrative generalist administrative jobs or even leave the country to serve elsewhere. Even politicians change ideologies and parties for selfish gains. Politicians as individuals and as a group and party are so selfish and greedy, for their chairs, power and position that they can go to any extent to harm others and more so the country which they swear to serve. There are political murders. The increasing use of money and muscle power in elections and criminalisation of politics, corruption at all levels is largely because of politicians' selfishness. There is emphasis on principle of one nation one people but only in statue books and lectures and in actual practice politicians and political parties are dividing people on basis of caste and religion. Mankind has been predatory and exploitative within itself and also with other life forms and physical environment. It has inflicted wounds on itself, its own species and also others. It is high time the suicidal path is abandoned and sooner the better. For this symbiotic altitude needs to be inculcated in all and all over. Even if historical, archaeological or other evidences, are not available to support symbiosis conclusively, the human wisdom should accept it for its own survival in view of facts cited have.
The globalisation process being pursued by world community is the step in right direction. It should be expedited by removing hurdles being put because of vested interests of individual nations if necessary by mandatory resolutions at United Nations. Technological advances, particularly in telecommunications have made the whole earth planet as one global village. It is now high time to break ethnic, religious, casteist and other national barriers. World would be much better place to live in if all people of all nations plan to evolve a cooperative model of various relationships rather competitive

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which is ultimately harmful to all. The planet earth comprises variety of climatic conditions, soils, minerals, plants, animals, ethnic groups of people, each type suitable for producing different things which are mutually complementary and supplementary to be exchanged to meet diverse needs. Symbiotic diversity is the essence of coexistence. Globalisation should be in global interest and not shackled by individual national interests. Unfortunately it is local in its track and deviating from its basic objective of common good of all people of all nations. It is getting more and more restrictive than liberalised because of vested interests of individual nations. The rich, powerful and developed nations are continuing to exploit the poor and weak nations. Globalisation as of now is same continuing exploitation in new garb. Rich and powerful should understand that all mankind is one and exploitation in any form must end. World community should now take conscientious steps through the UN resolutions and enforcement to put it on right track to meet its basic objective of mutual good.
In the common interest of all nations and all people the United Nations should be empowered to function as federation with adequate administrative, economic, political and military powers to enforce common environmental ethics. Individual nations however big and powerful should not be allowed to dominate and exploit others. Variety is the essence of life. All individual nations, ethnic groups and societies while maintaining their cultures and identities should function as one united interdependent symbiotic whole following the uniform environmental ethical code and ideally United Nations should have sufficient military and economic resources to establish symbiotic model in place of prevailing exploitative interactions.
JOO
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3
OPTIMISING POPULATION AND CONSUMERISM
Stress:
Population explosion has direct impact on environmental degradation. The more the number the more the requirement of food, putting more and more stress on soil, beyond its carrying capacity. Soil is not renewable on the time scale as biomass grown to meet growing needs and is therefore degraded continuously with each crop and ultimately becomes infertile. The unbearable pressure on soil has turned vast stretches of land into wastelands. The growing numbers need more and more water for meeting drinking, household, washing, agricultural and industrial needs. As a result water sources deplete fast ultimately getting completely dry as has happened in many places. For increasing numbers there are increasing needs for clothing, other household goods, transport, schools and colleges, electricity and therefore there is more and more pressure on natural resources both renewable and non-renewable. Most of non renewable resources particularly oil and minerals are being exploited in such huge quantities that all the known resources will be completely exhausted within a century or so and nothing will be left for future generations. This will be the cruelty of most abominable form inflicted by present generation on its own future progeny. Greater numbers will generate more waste and pollute soil, water and air more and more by increasing amount of household, agricultural and industrial pollutants.
Fruitarian Era:
Homosapiens (mankind) are supposed to be on this planet

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earth since about 3 lakh years and for 99% of this time human population has been very limited within carrying capacity of the ambient environment and its constituents, the natural sources. Before advent of agriculture mankind lived on products of natural forests and the population was conditioned by naturally available food. Recent experiments in Germany on wolves have proved that their fertility was controlled according to food available in their forest habitat. During food scarcity due to natural or other causes fertility or birth rate was reduced proportionately. The same was true for humans when they lived on naturally available food. Dr. Robert Dudley of the University of California has categorically stated that primate ancestors of homosapiens were dependent on fruits of variety of species available abundantly in natural forest and this predilection was passed on to humans. Paleolithic man was purely fruitarian. It was neolithic man who became partially hunter. The assumption that man was initially hunter and subsequently turned fruitarian is fallacious and wrong. It did take time to develop implements for hunting even of stone. Obviously the humans fed themselves on abundantly available fruits, nuts, seeds, flowers, leaves etc. from forests.
Birth and onslaught of agriculture :
The population started rising with advent of agriculture about 10000 years ago. The beginning of agriculture was accidental when some ancestor of ours accidentally dropped edible seeds of grasses collected by him from forests, around his hamlet nearby a water source a stream or so. He was amazed to see around his hamlet the same grasses and their seeds which he was collecting from forest within 3 months. He reflected and thought that it would be easier and less laborious to grow seeds nearby than to go round and collect these from forests. It was this sense of lethargy that gave birth to agriculture and subsequent sense of greed to grow more and more that triggered rapid extension of agriculture. More and more people followed the man who first discovered agriculture. As food supplies increased population also increased
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requiring more and more land for growing edible seeds. Initially it was naturally available flat vacant or grasslands. Subsequently it was extended to forest areas. Trees were cut, burnt and land cleared for cultivation. The virgin lands of forest thus cleared gave bumper crops of edible seeds for 5-6 years and as the yields declined subsequently, people cleared new areas of forests more and more to meet growing needs of food of increasing population. There was a crusade against forest. There is mention of KHANDAV DAH i.e. clearance of vast stretch of forests by PANDAVAS in the famous epic MAHABHARAT in India. It continued till recently all over the world when people were given free licence and even rewards for clearing more and more natural forest and making the land cultivable even in America, Europe and elsewhere. In hilly areas the practice of shifting cultivation has denuded vast areas which are now stark barren, badly eroded, rocky and without even a blade of grass. Initially when population was small people went on practising shifting cultivation from one end to last end of forests of their village boundaries and returned back to the same point after 30-40 years as by then the land left fallow was again covered back by the same natural forest and became fertile. But as population increased the cycle of 3040 years gradually decreased to 10-20 years and eventually to 56 years which did not allow forest to grow and make lands fertile. This necessitated shifting of whole villages to remaining forests and eventually denuding the entire landscape.
Futile Laws :
It was only during last century that restrictions were put on destruction of forest by enacting laws. In areas classified as reserve forests no rights of cutting, grazing etc. were allowed unless perinitted. In protected forest areas rights were given according to agreements with people and recorded in settlement records. In remaining unclassified forest areas unrestricted rights were allowed. The unclassified forests vanished with in a few years and cultivation was extended to demarcation lines of protected
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and reserve forests. The burden of meeting timber, fuel and fodder needs increased on protected and even on reserved forests. In spite of stringent laws to prevent encroachments on forest lands under Forest Conservation Act of 1980 in India and interventions, injunctions by apex court encroachments are continuing and being encouraged by politicians by regularising the illegal encroachments. If the population continues exploding it is impossible to control encroachments by any law howsoever stringent. In Rajasthan (India) a high level committee was formed in 1959 to advise about stopping the practice of shifting cultivation. Accordingly the tribals were allotted plain forest areas for their agricultural needs. By 1980 the population of tribals increased so much that they started shifting cultivation again in these tribal regions and other districts and when action was taken by law enforcing agencies of forest and police departments, there was lot of hue and cry in legislature. This is the story all over the developing countries of Africa, South America and Asia. The few remnant rain forests of Amazon, Sunderbans etc. which are the storehouse and gene pools of vast variety of species of flora and fauna and with maximum bio-mass productivity and are an ideal example of symbiotic interactions between animate and inanimate constituent, are also under considerable threat of total extinction because of increasing biotic pressure of humans and their domestic animals. Recently Naxalite terrorists in India have started playing Robinhoods by opposing and retaliating against anti-encroachment actions of forest and police department to gain sympathies of exploding masses which continue to encroach more and more forest land. All laws, rules and even directions of Apex court are consigned to dustbins. This will continue if population continues to explode.
Tribals and Forests :
Inspite of glaring stark facts on record many voluntary agencies, self styled intellectuals and socialists surprisingly assert that tribals do not destroy forests. The fact is that the
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tribals have done maximum harm to forests and wild life. While demarcating the forest areas as reserved and protected forests more than one third of forests were left outside the demarcation lines as unclassed forests which were all decimated within a span of 5-10 years. The burden then shifted to reserve and protected forests. Tribals cut away the trees and after that dug away even the roots, thus destroying the very base for natural regeneration by coppice. They killed every animal and bird they could see. The reason was exploding population. If the forests would have not been demarcated, the tribals would have destroyed much more rapidly. The faulty land use of cultivation on steep slopes in hilly and undulating landscape in tribal regions has resulted in severe degradation by erosion. Tribals are given fertilisers and other inputs on highly subsidised rates for faulty agriculture on steep slopes. They do not use it but sell it on throw away prices. Tribals are allowed to collect non timber forest products fruits, seeds, gums, resins, honey, medicines free of cost and these are purchased by forest or tribal corporations at remunerative prices. Though they get sustained income year after year from these products of forests, they cut away the very trees which provide them the benefits. They have over exploited honey and medicinal plants and the availability has now declined considerably. This author during his tenure in Rajasthan Tribal Development Corporation has a very sad experience of facing wrath of politicians when he insisted on restricted exploitation of a valuable medicinal herb Safed Musli (Chlorophytum tuberosum). The yield has come down from hundred quintals to 20 quintals per year.
Mahuwa (Madhuca latifalia) trees were abundant in forest and also private lands in tribal regions in India. It provided nutritious food from its flowers and oil from seeds. Every mature tree of Mahuwa yields about 10-20 kg of flowers and same amount of seeds giving sustained net income of about Rs. 200/- per tree per year. In Shahabad area of then Kota District of Rajasthan with predominant primitive Saharia tribal population, thousands

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of Mahuwa trees were cut away by tribals from their own fields and sold for paltry sum of Rs. 200/- which was one time income against about same amount from flowers and seed's every year over and over again. When this author intervened and objected to permission by revenue officials to fell green trees against rules, the argument was that tribals approach the revenue officials with request that mahuwa tree is shading and affecting the yield of his agricultural crop maize, they have to allow its removal. The value of maize grown in limited area under the mahuwa tree was hardly Rs. 10/-. Such is the apathy of tribals for trees. When forest villages in Madhya Pradesh (India) and elsewhere were converted into revenue villages under political expediency of vote banking the first thing the tribals did was to cut away and sell the magnificent sal trees which were giving sustained income from sal seeds much more than from agriculture crops.
Planned scientific forest harvesting:
It is also argued that commercial exploitation of forests by government have resulted in their destruction. This is also not correct. Most of the trees in tropical and sub-tropical regions are very good coppicers. If the tree is properly cut and stump is dressed, it will produce good coppice shoots and forest will rejuvenate over and over again from coppice and also from seeds of seed-bearers left uniformly all over the worked area. The commercial cuttings by government agencies were on scientific lines under judiciously prepared working plans. There were no restrictions on tribals for the domestic needs of fuel, timber and fuel. They were given remunerative wages. All forest areas worked by government agencies produced good coppice shoots and forest rejuvenated better than the crooked and malformed trees because of cutting of trees by tribals at height of 3'-4' and more from ground. The cutting of trees under government agencies was proper and scientific at 3"-4" height. However the good coppice shoots from such cuttings were soon destroyed deliberately by tribals by grazing their rampaging cattle, goat and sheep. The
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reason is increasing population and increasing demands on resources to eke out existence.
Naturalists Vis Agriculturists:
When agriculture was first started accidentally by one person many people started following him. But some opposed it as they stuck to their forest based life style and were determined to preserve the natural forests from which they were getting food, clothing and everything they needed. These people were known as RAKSHASAS, which was derived from the word RAKSHA meaning protection of natural forests. The others who adopted agriculture were known as Suras from the world SUR meaning activity of cultivation. The society was then divided in two groups of SURAS or DEVAS and ASURAS or RAKSHASAS. The entire Indian mythology from Rigveda to Puranas is full of fierce battles between these two groups and atrocities of Devas or Suras, their chieftain the INDRA against Rakshasas or Asuras. Though Rakshasas were, if not better, equally powerful and more cultured, they were defeated gradually by Devas not because of superior might of Devas but by treacherous means. Devas would set fire to forests and consequently Rakshasas had to retreat to undestroyed forest areas but were eventually conquered and ideal civilisation and culture based on natural forests was destroyed for ever. Unfortunately history has always praised the conqueror and abused the conquered. It is why Vedas and Puranas of Indian mythology are full of praise for Devas and abuses for Rakshasas though the former were treacherous and destructive. In his research thesis, "Harappa culture and Vedic Literature" Bhagwan Singh has elaborately discussed the conflicts between the then agriculturist and non-agrilcutrist societies, known as Suras and Asuras or Devas and Rakshasas respectively. The ritual of 'yagna' or 'havan' (burning of wood, butter, cereals etc.) is reminiscent token of burning of forests by Devas or Suras for extending agriculture. The ritual is so much entrenched that it is essential prerequisite on most of religious and social functions in India.

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Rishabha an Agro - Forestry Icon :
In that era of fierce battles between Devas and Rakshasas there had been saner towering personalities who brought rapprochement between the two warring groups or cultures and civilisations. The first such towering personality was RISHABH who has been given incarnation status of VISHNU in Brahmanic and of first Tirthankara (Enlightened) in Shramanik Chronology. He introduced and advised Agro-forestry i.e. planting of rows of trees and cultivation of land intermittently. The trees were so planted in the direction that their shade did not affect the agricultural crops in between. This has been substantiated by recent detailed research of Harappan and Sindhu culture. This practice of Agro-forestry now called “Taungya system' in forestry was adopted in India during world war-II when the then British rulers extracted more timber from forests than prescribed in working plans. To compensate the excess fellings compensatory plantations were raised by adopting agro-forestry and excellent plantations were raised free of cost e.g. teak plantations of Gorakhpur in UP. The methodology was to allot degraded forest lands to landless people, supply them seedlings of trees to plant at 15' spacing and in between allowed them to grow their agriculture crops and when trees grew taller and started shading agriculture crops, these people were shifted to other areas to practice agro-forestry. This practice continued till late fifties in India but had to be stopped by forest department because of malicious designs of so called leaders who instigated the people engaged in agro-forestry to claim permanent tenancy rights in such lands under tenancy acts and rules. It is worth mentioning here that plantations now being raised at the cost of several hundreds crores of rupees are not as successful as those from the above agro-forestry which were free of cost. The author has on assignment from Government of India evaluated till date tree planting and afforestation activities in 32 projects in various states and have concluded on the basis of recorded facts that 90% of
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plantations are decimated within 5-10 years and plantations are raised over and over again on the areas of earlier plantations. Hardly 10% of the plantations survive upto rotation age and that too because of special effort and enthusiasm of some good individual forest officers or the samaritan social workers like Anna Hazare. If the tenancy and revenue laws are suitably amended and agro-forestry mentioned above is restored forest cover may be successfully increased free of cost, but it seems unlikely in the prevailing socio-political situation when self interest of vote banks by politicians get priority and preference to national interests.
Agriculture and Population Growth :
The birth of agriculture gave impetus to increase in population which then needed more and more expansion of agriculture which further triggered more and more rapid population growth and the vicious cycle continues till now particularly in predominantly agriculture based societies in developing countries. As a result all available land upto 90% has been brought under agriculture at many places. When no land is available for further expansion there is now fragmentation of land into small holdings. The land holding of say 100 hectares of person with four or five sons gets divided in 20 to 25 hectares for each son. Each son with as many or more sons gets further smaller holding of 4-5 hectare and subsequently less than a hectare. Since the reduced land area is not sufficient to produce sufficient to sustain the divided families, the effort to produce more from smaller and smaller holding results in more intensive agriculture, using more and more chemical fertilisers and water for irrigation. In several villages where there were only one or two tube wells, there are now over 50 and more tube wells. There is so much pressure of population and shortage of land and personal greed that farmers even break open the dams of tanks, allow the precious water to go waste and cultivate the land in the areas of such water bodies. This affects the whole village including the persons who do the mischief. This lowers the water table in the whole area. Wasting of water and destroying the water storage tanks ultimately
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leads to drying of wells and other resources of water. Water is one of the most essential components for agriculture. This nefarious foolish activity is like cutting of the same branch of tree on which the person himself is sitting.
Exodus from villages and mushroom growth of city
slums:
The continuous fragmentation of individual land holdings into smaller and smaller area is also the main cause of exodus from villages to cities, creating serious problem of mushrooming slums where people live in abominably subhuman conditions without proper sanitation, drinking water and other basic facilities. Earlier hardly 5-10% of population was in cities, now it is 30% and more and within a decade or so it will be over 50% which will further accentuate the problems of slums and with it the law and order problems also. There is much ado about human dignity and human rights but these are non-existent in slums. Slum dwellers reconcile to the conditions they are forced to live in and are even inert to disasters like frequent fires, floods, epidemics and consequent loss of life and property over and over again.
Water Famine and Floods :
The increasing need of water more and more, deeper and deeper tube wells are being dug, resulting not only in its fast depletion but also in increasing the flouride content causing debilitating fluorosis disease in many areas. As a result of shrinking forest cover and its absence over vast catchment areas of rivers and streams the infiltration rate of precipitation has decreased to almost less than 1% from over 99% on well forested areas, conversely the surface run off has increased to more than 99% against less than 1% on wooded lands. Consequently there is more and more soil erosion, silting of dams, tanks and other reservoirs and there are devastating floods during rains and then there is scarcity of water for rest of the year because of lack of recharge of underground water through infiltration of precipitation.

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The underground water stored as a result of accumulation over thousand of years has been exhausted with in few decades and several areas are now without water. Unless population is controlled there will be a serious crisis of water. Population explosion, has resulted in occupation or encroachment of areas along river banks, sea-shores, steep hill slopes which should have been reserved exclusively for forests and as a result there is heavy loss of life and property by storms, floods, landslides etc.
The recent Tsunami (26-12-04) catastrophy and others like it are as much a result of human choices as of geology and hydrology because of increasing population and consequent rise in consumerism and industralisation resulting in over exploitation of natural resources, encroachment on uninhabitable areas, the sea shores, steep slopes, sesmic zones (susceptible to earthquake), volcano regions etc. The green house effect and global warming and other harmful consequences of population increase and consumerism are redefining climatology, anthropology and even space. Like Tsunami future catastrophes will be far grimmer with many more disasters from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, mud slides, droughts etc. There is sharp increase, in such natural disasters from about 100 per year in early 1960's to 500 per year by early 2000's. More and more people will be pushed into dangerous zones, flood plains, drought ridden deserts, along fault lines (prone to earthquakes) etc. People will suffer more and more if population and consumerism are not checked. The congested cities like Delhi, Istanbul, Tehran and other increasingly dense and shabbily constructed cities are rubble in waiting. It is population explosion that turned the fruitarian mankind to hunters, non vegetarian and fish eaters because after destruction or depletion of food providing trees as a result of expansion of agriculture which is erratic and inconsistent in providing enough food. Fishes are great scavengers of water bodies, lakes, rivers and even seas and maintaining their cleanliness and eco-system. Fishes generally live on detritus through their filtering fins. Fishing has augmented problems of pollution of water bodies.

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Soil renewability :
Earlier when individual land holdings were large enough farmers would cultivate half the land in a year and leave other half fallow to allow it to recuperate and rejuvenate. Subsequently with rise in population entire land had to be cultivated but only one crop was raised and it was allowed to lie fallow during other crop season. Now the land is continuously cultivated with three crops all the year round giving no respite. The land also has renewability capacity but at a time scale very much greater (500 to 1000 years) than that of food crops or other biomass from few months to 5-20 years. As a result of over exploitation many areas are now converted into wastelands and remaining areas are also sustained by heavier and heavier doses of artificial fertilisers, hybrid varieties of crops, requiring more and more fertilisers and water. As a result vast areas of land has lost its natural fertility and the microorganisms which maintained its health and fertility. The land has been depleted into almost a machine requiring as much inputs as its output and is now uneconomic and is sustained on the crutches of huge subsidies all over the world.
Biological magnification of pesticides :
Even the farmers with larger land holdings cultivate land intensively growing three crops continuously year after year and because of greed use more and more poisonous pesticides, fertilisers and water. Earlier the farmers even with smaller land holdings were growing mix of crops at a time i.e. dividing the land for different crops and there was polyculture which was a natural method of pest control. Now single crop or monoculture is practised over miles and miles, making crops more and more susceptible to pests and requiring higher and higher doses of poisonous pesticides which are not only polluting the environment, the soil, water and air but also accumulating in animals and humans to limits beyond tolerance by biological magnification and is cause of several endemic diseases. Pesticides and fertiliser
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pollution of 10 ppm in soil is magnified to 100 ppm when absorbed by plants and 1000 ppm when eaten by animals or humans.
The individual greed is so intense that it is totally insensitive to any amount of harm even death to others. In a T.V. interview when farmers were asked whether they were abiding by the rules that pesticides should not be sprayed at least a fortnight before vegetables or fruits are harvested for marketing the reply was that they were spraying pesticides deliberately a day before and even on same day because the products looked fresher and brighter in colour and fetched better prices. The farmers however told that they themselves were not using such products. Obviously they do care for their own families but not for others who may get any harm or even die. Most of the chemicals used in agriculture are persistent and remain in environment for several years with their harmful effects. The persistence of commonly used organochlorides (Aldrein, Dieldrin, DDT, Chlorodane, Endosulfan, Endrin, Heptachlor, Kepone, Lindane, Mirex, Toxaphene, Azodrin, Diaziman etc.) and organophosphates (Melathion, Parathion, Phosdrin, Carberyl or Sevin, Metacil etc.) is 5 to 10 years.
Extinction of Species :
The indiscriminate use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers has also resulted in extinction of several thousand species of useful micro-organisms, insects, birds, animals and plants, disturbing the natural ecological balance. With the birth of agriculture started the violation of symbiotic rules of nature. Any organism, insect, bird or animal causing slightest damage to crop, may be for a short while and may be useful in the long run, was considered enemy and killed and annihilated. In several scientific studies it has been observed that out of total number of organisims, insects, birds or animals only a fraction hardly 5% cause certain temporary damage but the use of chemicals to eliminate these, kills all other useful ones also. With increase in population and consequent increase in extension of agriculture in area, combined with
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increasing intensity of cropping, more and more species of flora and fauna were annihilated and the process is continuing even now. According to the recent report of International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 15589 species of mammals, amphibians, turtles, tortoises, fishes and plants are threatened with extinction, mainly because of environmental damage caused by 'mankind. Craig Hilton Taylor of IUCN said that this number is greatly underestimated as only a fraction of known species have been assessed. Even apparently robust species from tigers to horse, sparrows are threatened because of habitat destruction from depredations by humans. Extinction rates have increased 1000 fold in last few decades.
Erosion, water logging, salinity-alkalinity, water pollution:
The extent of damage done to environment in disturbing its ecological symbiotic balance, decreasing the diversity and more so by severe pollution of soil, water and air, is so immense that if quantified in terms of money it will be several hundred trillions of dollars every year. The tilling of soil for cultivation dislodges soil and accelerates erosion by water and wind in absence of permanent green cover of forests. The annual loss of soil by erosion is colossal. Indiscriminate irrigation has rendered vast areas useless as a result of water logging, salinity and alkalinity. The use of chemical fertilisers particularly those containing nitrogen has polluted not only rivers, wells, tanks and other water sources but also the oceans where the number and size of oxygen starved dead zones is increasing and almost doubled to 150 since 1990. The size of the dead zones in oceans varies from one sq km to several thousand sq kms. These are graveyards for fish and plant life. According to Klans Toepfer and Marion Cheatle of UNEP the problem is escalating with serious economic and climatic consequence for the planet earth. Most of the water sources, rivers, lakes, tanks, wells are polluted many times more than permissible or tolerance limits with harmful metals viz. lead

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which cause mental redardation, sodium which cause heart diseases, calcium which is responsible for kidney stones, magnesium which may cause bladder stones, iron causing constipation, arsenic which is poisonous and insecticides which are cause of even deadly cancer.
Hybrids and G.M. Varieties ::
In order to feed the increasing numbers it is increasingly necessary to increase production of food per unit area of land beyond its carrying capacity by artificial supplements. After chemical fertilisers and pesticides now the hybrid varieties of crops wheat, rice, maize etc. are threatening eco-systems. These reduced the biodiversity of food crops to 10-15 in place of thousands earlier. In India alone there used to be over 2500 varieties of wheat and about 3000 varieties of rice in different edapho-climatic zones, suited to particular environment and were resistant to pests. Most of these are extinct now. The hybrid varieties not only replaced the less demanding varieties but required more water and artificial fertilisers and pesticides thus further accentuating the environmental pollution. After hybrids a new danger is looming farge by genetically engineered or manipulated (GM) varieties of food crops. Since powerful Corporates and multinational companies are promoting the GM food crops, it is being thrust on developing and poor countries with a view to monopolise food production world over. The GM varieties will be terminal i.e. the seeds will germinate only once and the grains produced from GM seeds will not germinate and can not be used as seeds as at present. The farmers will therefore depend for seeds every time on Corporates. The harmful effects of GM food crops on humans, animals and birds have not yet been fully studied. There are already distressing reports from several studies. There is every possibility that it may be disastrous for biosphere as a whole. But the mad race to feed increasing mouths continues.
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Industrial onslaught :
After agriculture came the industrial revolution which further ruined the environmental conditions. In addition to direct pollution of environment by industrial emissions of poisonons gases into atmosphere and toxic effluents into water systems and soil the most harmful impact of industrialisation is that it is triggering consumerison more and more and to meet the increasing demands, more and more industries are coming up which further triggers consumerism and the vicious cycle is going on. Before industrialisation it was only increasing number of people that was adversely affecting the environment. Now it is double edged sword i.e. of population increase and consumerism that is cutting ruthlessly the very fabric of environmental safety.
Earlier the requirements for food, clothing and shelter were very limited and so also the energy requirements. Most of the items whether food, cloth, houses, implements were hand made. It was cottage industry of almost every household that supplied all requirements. This provided employment to most of the people both males and females. Cottage industry is almost in doldrums because of more and more mechanisation and automation in industries. Even small scale industries are unable to compete with the big ones owned by corporate giants. The technology used and quality of goods produced by cottage industry were quite superior. The fabulous fineness of Dhaka muslin is well authenticated in factual historical records. The iron pillar of Delhi, its stainless quality is still puzzling the scientists. The temple architecture of Hindu period and Mugal architecture of red fort and of fairy wonder in marble of Taj are envy of even most modern architectural technology. The point is that technologies should be such that they are harmless and benevolent for short as well as long terms and for all people for all time i.e. present and future generations. The destructive technologies such as that of atom bombs, biological and chemical weapons should be discarded. Energy intensive technologies based on fossil fuels should be

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replaced by those which are manual or based on solar, wind, tide or other forms of natural energies and others which are environment friendly. Most of the technologies create problems and new ones developed to solve these also create problems and there is an unending technology trap e.g. water pollution. Water is polluted as an impact of polluting industrial and agricultural technologies and then technologies to purefy water are evolved which also need industries adding and accentuating pollution, necessitating newer and newer technologies. Similar is the story in case of pollution of air and soil. The most harmful effect of pollution is on the health of people domestic and wild animals, plants and all other life forms. The remedial measures need more and more pharmaceutical, instrumental appliances and other industries which further aggravate pollution. However the technologies that conform to the principal of utilisation of natural resources within their carrying capacities are not at all harmful. Of course development of technologies is a continuous process and is an essential ingredient for human progress but these should be within the ambit of the cardinal principal of symbiosis.
Galloping Consumerism :
The consumption levels are increasing by leaps and bounds. The thrust of alluring and sensuous advertisements through audiovisual electronic media is polluting the minds of young and old for more and more consumption. The production of more and more consumer goods ultimately puts stress on natural resources soil, water, minerals etc. and these are getting depleted faster than ever before. It requires 1000 tonnes of water to produce 1 tonne of steel. A 1000 megawatt thermal power plant of 40% efficiency heats up 10 million litres of water by 35°C. This suffocates fish and other fauna and is harmful to aquatic flora also. Construction, of 24 kg computer along with 27cm cathod ray tube requires 230 kg of fossil fuels, 22 kg chemicals, 1500 kg of water. To produce 32 Mb DRAM memory chip it requires 1.7 kg fossil fuel and chemicals and 32 kg of water. The requirement of water and energy
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(electric or fossil fuel) for sugar, textile, automobile, chemical and other industries is colossal and so are the billowing poisonous fumes and gushing toxic effluents from mushrooming fast industrial growth.
E. Cook in 1975 gave elaborate calculations about growth of daily energy consumption per capita in K Cals-' day' from Paleolithic to present era. The Paleolithic man 106 years ago needed only 2000 units of energy for his requirements then and that was food only. In middle Paleolithic era 10% year ago the need doubled to 4000 units because of requirements for other domestic purposes, building shelter etc. In early Neolithic period 104 years ago the energy requirement increased to 12000 units with break up of 4000 for food, 4000 for domestic needs and 4000 for agriculture and cottage industry. By end of middle ages about 600 years ago the energy need was 26000 units (6000 for food, 12000 for domestic purposes, 8000 for agriculture and industry). The early industrial society 100 years ago consumed 77000 units (7000 for food, 32000 for domestic needs, 24000 for industry and agriculture and 14000 for transport). The energy consumption level of modern technological society in 1970 rose to 230000 Kcals- day' (10000 for food, 66000 for domestic consumption, 91000 for industry and agriculture and 63000 for transport). It may have by now crossed 300000 Kcals' day!.
Industrial emissions, effluents, wastes and their impacts:
Most of the energy needs are met by burning fossil fuel, the oil and coal. The thermal power stations are highly polluting and generally work on 40% efficiency. They need huge quantities of water and the heated water thrown back in water bodies damage the eco-system. Since the combustion of coal or oil is never complete, lot of harmful, gases the carbon-di-oxide, carbon-monooxide (a very toxic gas), sulphur-di-oxide, nitrogen oxide etc. damage the environment. The acid rains are result of sulphur-dioxide, reacting with water in atmosphere. Thermal power stations produce huge quantities of fly ash, the disposal of which is yet a
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problem. The levels of carbon-di-oxide produced by these power stations, vehicular exhausts and other activities produce green house effect, trapping the ground heat and not allowing it to escape in the atmosphere higher up. As a result the average temperature is increasing, affecting the climatic patterns all over the globe. Average global temperature rose by 0.6°C in the last century, it is now increasing by 0.1°C every decade and ten warmest years in recorded history occurred during last fifteen years. Global warming has led to freakish weather conditions in unexpected droughts, cyclones, coral bleaching, megastorms, sudden snow storms (recently in UAE where it was never before), grass taking roots in Antrartica. Arctic getting hotter, species getting mutated (fish have mutated into new organism Pfstria which kills and eats fish). With depleting ozone layer, the effect of sun and wind will become stronger, people will have to live indoor and grow food underground. If the trend continues it will affect the production of food crops. It will also result in melting of glaciers and ice capes, raising the sea level which will result in submergence of vast areas, displacement of populations and simultaneously drying up of the glacier fed rivers will create more pressure on shrinking land area, cause draught, hunger, water famine, and misery to people all over. There are numerous other toxic solid, liquid and gaseous industrial effluents and emissions polluting soil, water and air causing immense harm to human and other life forms, various diseases like asthama, cardiac and even cancer. The more the population and consumerism the more will be generation of waste, gases and effluents.
Danger from Nuclear power plants and other radiation:
The nuclear power plants considered less polluting than thermal plants are in fact more dangerous. Presently nuclear energy is produced by fission. Only certain nuclei of unstable atoms are fissionable. The material used is uranium. Only uranium 235 is fissionable which is only 0.7% of the uranium found and converted into plutonium 239 and then used as fissionable fuel for nuclear

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power plants. Plutonium 239 is one of deadliest poisons. A thousandth of a grain will kill any one. In spite of advancement of technology and best precautions there are accidents in nuclear power plants which require considerable effort and preparation to control. The radiation emissions can result in catastrophe. The burnt nuclear fuel remain radio active for long periods. There is not yet safer method for its safe disposal. It is being dumped in sea in sealed containers which may be corroded and the contents be leaked out. There are other forms of radiation also viz. radio waves, micro waves, infra-red waves, X-rays etc. Their intensity is increasing as the consumption levels of emmiting gadgets radios, phones, mobiles, TVs, ovens etc. are rising. If humans are exposed to dose of 100-200 rads, it will cause fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of hair etc. Beyond 400-500 rads it will impair bone marrow function, essential to produce materials needed by human body to fight infections. In an experiment honey bees were put under high tension electric transmission lines and it was observed that bees became very violent. There will te same effect or human beings, animals and other insects. There are many delayed effects of radiation which occur months or years after exposure. There is overwhelming evidence that exposure to radiation increase incidence of cancer. Radiation is affecting not only percent generation but also the future generation by altering the genetic materials in sperm cells and egg cells and mutations. As a result infants may be borne deformed. With rising population and consumerism there are more and more nuclear power plants and other such appliances and radiation threat is increasing. There is also so much stockpile of nuclear warheads with many nations that if by mistake or under impulsive reaction by individuals controlling them, they are triggered, then it will be the end of the world. These need to be dismantled and neutralised
Impact of Chemical industries :
Likewise more and more chemical and consumer goods industries are coming up. There are about 70,000 different
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chemicals produced and the number is increasing. These are used in food processing, textile, tanneries, sugar, electronic and other industries and are discharged in water bodies, soil and air. Most of the synthetic food additives, the preservatives (Benzoic acid, Calcium propionate, Sorbic acid, Sulphur-di-oxide etc.), the antioxidants (Butylated hydroxyanisole, Propyle gallato etc.), the colouring agents and flavouring agents (Monosodium glutonate, saccharin), the emulsifiers (Lecithin, Polysorbates, Propylene glycol, Mono and diglycerides), the stabilizers and thickeners (Dextrin, Gelatine, Saccharides etc.) being used beyond permissible quantities are toxic and many are carcinogenic. Hazadous DDT, BHC though banned in developed countries are still used in large quantities in developing and poor countries notably India uses 77% of its total world production. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) used in manufacture of electrical insulations, transformers, plastic food containers, epoxy resins, caulking compounds, wall and upholstery coverings, soaps, cosmetic creams, paints, glues, self duplicating papers, waxes, brake linings are as toxic as DDT. They are not bio-degradable, dispersed and are persistent in environment for years. PCBs are soluble in animal fat and stored in living tissue. They are found in cows milk, fish, in living tissue, meat and in human bodies. When decompose, the products of their decomposition are more toxic than original material. Though banned, yet are being used and even if their use is stopped, the adverse effects in environment will remain for long. Dioxin which is one of the deadliest poison is being disposed by burying in water bodies (e.g. 1000 kgs of waste contaminated with Dioxin is buried in Niagra falls). 75 grams of dioxin in drinking water is sufficient to kill a million people. All the harmful chemicals are ultimately discharged in environment, in soil, water and air. Recently the new electronic waste is increasing every year by leaps and bounds. Computers and other electronic appliances are getting obsolete within 2-3 years and their waste of billions of tonnes of cadmium, mercury, lead and chromium

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etc. are pausing hazardous environmental pollution of soil, air and water.
Human beings from their washings of tooth pastes, creams, lipsticks, nail polishes, soaps etc. discharge several hundred kilograms of the chemicals in environment. The luxurious, consumerist life style of modern techno-society with its use and throw attitude is generating so much of all sorts of waste, plastics, chemicals, metals etc. that its safe disposal is already a problem and will accentuate in future. Since the effects of most of the pollutants except few are not immediately perceptible and manifest after a period of time, people and governments are generally careless. Many of the waste products can be recycled and their harmful effects can be reduced. However the real remedies lie in controlling population and consumerism. Unless use of chloroflurocarbons in refrigeration and air conditioning is stopped the widening of hole in the protective ozone layer cannot be restored and more and more people will suffer from skin cancer because of ultra violet radiation which would be reaching to earth in absence of protective ozone layer.
Sound Pollution :
There is general ignorance about incipient sound pollution which is increasing because of more and more factories, automobiles, aeroplanes, music, radios, TVs and also bands etc. in persisting cultural functions. Sound is not a chemical but a wave motion in air and is measured in decibles (dB). Rusling of leaves is 10 dB and is “very quite”. The soft whishpers in a library are 30 dB and are considered “quite". Average living room has sound intensity of 40 dB. Light traffic noise of properly maintained vehicles 30 metres away is 50 dB and is “moderately loud”. Airconditioning unit 60-metres away produce 60 dB and is loud”. Vacuum cleaner generate 70 dB. The garbage disposal produce 80 dB. Motorcycle 8 metres away, food blender and diesel truck 75 metres away generate 90 dB and is considered "very loud”. Long exposure to more than 70 dB cause damage such as gradual
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impairment of hearing. News paper press, Jet flying over 300 metres produce 100 dB. Textile loom, autohorn one metre away generate 110-120 dB and this level is "uncomfortably loud" and cause progressive damage in loss of hearing. Maximum recorded rock music produce 130-140 dB and Jet plane at take off gives 150 to 170 dB and rocket engine produce 180 dB. These levels are painful, traumatic and injurious to mental health. Sound pollution is more harmful to children.
Fall out of Consumerism :
With all the technology, knowledge, material comforts at its command mankind is still not at peace with itself and other constituents of environment around. Natural resources are being consumed at very fast rate and will be exhausted thus endangering the very foundations on which the citadel of material glamour and glare is standing. India supposed to be rich in its coal deposits is being forced to import coal from Indonesia etc. at thrice the local cost to feed its increasing number of thermal power plants due to rise in electricity consumption. Petroleum imports are already threatening the balance of payments and leading to debt trap like many other developing countries. In absence of the equitable and fair distribution of consumables tensions between haves and have-nots are increasing. Only a fraction of population hardly 10% live in opulence, consuming more than 80% of the total resources and products. The mass of people, the remaining 90% subsist on meagre 20%. In both haves and have-nots also there are myriad stratifications. There are people just 1% who have fabulous life style more than poorest million put together. Similarly there are various degrees of consumption in have-nots. There is fierce rivalry in between the myriad groups of people, societies and nations to get more and more, exploiting and usurping each other. The people who muster money and muscle power by hook or crook usurp maximum share.
It is population explosion that is creating serious unemployment problem for youth who are being allured by
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fanatics as tools of conditioned hard terrorists. Drug addiction and related crimes of theft, murder are also result of growing unemployment, inequalities, lack of mutualism and prevailing predatory, exploitative life styles. Man is becoming more and more individualistic without any concern for even other human beings. There is no concern for environment. Greed is increasing, contentment is vanishing. Good moral values are declining fast, losing sensitivity to pains of others. Majority of people even remain just spectators in cases of injured in accidents and crying for help. Greed generate vanity and indulgence in sensuous pleasures and this triggers anger on slightest pretexts in insignificant discomfort or inconvenience. The multinational corporations and other corporate industries are thrusting their products by aggressive advertisements and thus generating more and more consumerism. This is having very adverse effect on young generation which is getting more and more addictive to sensuous indulgence particularly sex, pornography and violence so proliferate in electronic media, cell phones, T.V., internet, cinema with obvious fall out of growing alcoholism, drug addictions, premature teen age sex and consequent violence and disturbance of peace in society. The future generation particularly of rich and middle classes is drifting away from traditional values and morality and is getting more and more individualistic sensuous and consumerist with dreadful impact on social and physical environment. With development activities, liberalisation and inbuilt corruption in the system there is enough black and easy money to splurge and waste. Paradoxically the more the opulence the more the tensions and mental disorders including schizophrenia and need for sleeping pills and other sedatives. Obviously the increasing numbers and exponential growth in consumerism are causing great harm to present and future generations. The World Bank experts have opined that availability of adequate employment is best safety for society and there is no alternative to it. But this will not be possible so long as the
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population continues to explode as of now. It is suicidal path and must be changed, sooner the better.
Balancing the mismatch between demand and carrying capacities:
On an average the per capita requirement of land is 1.9 acres for food crops, 2.4 acres for pasture, 2.6 acres as wood land, 2.2 acres for shelter, clothing etc. i.e. total of 9.1 acres or 4 hectares approximately. Populations should therefore be brought drown gradually according to above carrying capacity of land. Likewise per capita consumption should be optimised to the same extent. Extensive research work has been done on the impact of mismatch between demands and carrying capacities of resources on damage to environment, water resources, atmosphere, soil and to human health and this has been quantified and documented. The findings are alarming and necessitate remedial measures soonest. References of these research works are available in Environment Extracts, published by Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. There are numerous such publications from other countries also. The available data are so massive that it is not possible to quote even some of them in this brief treatise.
It will be illusory to assume that administrative, economical or even technological measures will solve environmental problems. The past experience is that it has not been possible. In spite of meticulous planning in cities and towns, the number of slums and their size are increasing. There are elaborate rural development, rural employment and poverty alleviation programmes, yet exodus from villages to slums in cities is on the increase. There has been considerable increase in grain production but intermittent shortfalls and consequent imports are back again. There is phenomenal increase in public transport both on roads and railways but the overcrowding is there. Residential houses have been constructed in large numbers, devouring even fertile prime agricultural land, yet there is acute shortage, forcing people to sleep on pavements. More and more people are being
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continuously forced to inhabitate inhospitable dangerous seismic zones, volcanic regions, flood plains, deserts and sunami prone areas susceptible to more severe disasters and miseries. Medicinal science has made considerable progress. Inspite of vaccination, more and more number of hospitals, there is overcrowding in hospitals. The percentage of literates may have increased but the number of illiterates is also going up. There are phenomenal technological advances yet the air, water and soil pollution is increasing e.g. a whopping expenditure of over Rs. 1000 crores on Ganga Action Plan to clean river Ganges have been incurred, yet the river is more polluted now.
The satellite imageries may show slight percentage increase in forest cover mainly because of naturally spreading obnoxious and aggressive Prosopis juliflora, in real terms the density and bio-diversity of natural forest is decreasing. Trillions and trillions of trees have been planted since 1952, yet the status report of green cover is yet alarming because plants are soon wiped out under increasing biotic pressure of exploding population of men and domestic animals. There are similar several other maladies continuing unabated. There will be no respite unless population and consumerism is checked. In spite of stringent laws encroachments on forest and public lands will continue and so all the malaise of overcrowding everywhere, shortfalls in power, water and food supplies, filth and squalor, crimes and wars and miseries to people. Whatever measures that may be taken to solve problems, these will always be inadequate against galloping population and consumerism which will continue to accentuate existing problems and generate new problems also.

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RATIONALITY
An essential pre-requisite :
Rational is what is based on sound reason and is best in a given situation relating to the subject or the object, place, time and intent. Rational attitude and behaviour is that which is beneficial to all and cause no or least harm to any of the constituents of environment both animate and inanimate. Human beings, the homo-sapiens have superior power of reasoning. Ever since its evolution mankind has been questioning, analysing, synthesising and reasoning the various phenomena in nature all around and evolving, synchronising attitudinal and behavioural patterns, modes, ethos and life styles. Initially the Paleolithic man had very limited needs of food, clothing and shelter and got all that was required from abundant natural forests covering the entire surface of the planet earth then. The population was automatically checked proportionate and commensurate to available food. Extravagant vulgar consumerism prevalent now was non-existent. It is not rational to be cruel to other life-forms and physical constituents of environment because all constituents are essential part of nature, the whole system, all playing their useful roles for mutual benefit to sustain and maintain the system. It is irrational to exploit other constituents beyond their carrying capacity by unbridled proliferation in numbers (population explosion) and unsatiable consumerism. To attribute unlimited number of children (even beyond one's capacity to support) as gift of imaginary God is not rational. It is also not rational to attribute various phenomena to will of some super power and ignore the principle of cause and effect. Rationality enjoins proper analysis of phenomena, their
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causes and remedies by appropriate actions, not leaving on any super or lesser power to come from some where and help. A rationalist will have scientific temper and does not subscribe to superstitious beliefs, blind faith, dogmas and inaction. If mankind adopts rational attitude and behaviour there will be no harm to environment.
Agriculture and genesis of superstitions :
Accidental birth of agriculture changed the whole scenario. Forests were cut and burnt extensively to prepare land for agriculture. Though a large group initially stuck to forest based livelihood, it also has to resort to hunting in absence of diminishing availability of food from shrinking forests. These two new occupations of agriculture and hunting disturbed the harmonious balance and symbiotic eco-systems. With expanding agriculture population increased, more and more forests were destroyed upsetting even the climatic patterns. Both the professions of agriculture and hunting depended on chance circumstances more often beyond control of man. Some selfish wily people took advantage of uncertainty in success or failure of agriculture and hunting and articulated occult practices of future forecasting, controlling misfortunes by their portended superpowers to cure diseases, bring fortunes etc., by misguiding gullible people and it generated irrational superstitious beliefs and practices which are galore even in the modern, civilised and highly technical societies all over the globe. The changed environment, because of destruction of forest-based model which was symbiotic and cooperative and expansion of agriculture which is predatory and exploitative, the intermittent successes and failures, vagaries of nature, floods, droughts, pestilences and wars created deep scars on the psyche of mankind. Human psyche became more and more susceptible to temptations promising quick results without effort, though with long term harmful consequences and became prone to promises and prophesies false or real, irrational, virtual and occult practices. The fundamental natural principle of cause and
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effect got ignored more often than not. The rational way to solve problems, amend and correct wrongs is to analyse the causes, evolve suitable measures, make efforts and take appropriate action. This was mistakenly considered time consuming and painstaking. People by and large were allured and succumbed to the temptations articulated by wicked tricksters, ritualists and occult practitioners who gave false assurances of results, benefits without effort. Under their influence people grew more and more superstitious and the menace is growing even now inflicting incalculable harm to social and physical environment.
Exploitation under garb of superstition :
Several ways were adopted by some cunning persons to deceive and entice gullible people to ensure their easy incomes. Fear was created of various spurious gods and goddesses or even of dead ancestors. Rituals were propagated and established to propitiate and appease these imaginary spirits. The methods adopted were dubious. Agents were hired to propagate the false beliefs and practices. The agents were made to act as if spirits of some dead has taken possession of their bodies. Agents were paid to pretend as patients and then propagate that they were cured. The paid agents or blind followers attribute miracles to their saints, idols of deities to allure people. Any stone or object of whatever form, shaped or not, was installed and worshipped to bestow boons. Cruelties such as beating, burning by hot iron rods were perpetrated on patients suffering from various diseases particularly mental. Women suffering from mental disease hysteria were treated badly even exploited sexually.
Women with other mental disorders and on the pretext of their some sort of abnormal behaviour were defamed as witches and treated badly, ostracised, stoned and even killed. Forced “Sati” ritual i.e. burning alive the wife with deceased husband was perpetuated with ulterior motives and even deified for selfish property interest of relatives. Extortion of money was the main objective. The practices are still continuing. Many
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tribals even now make promises to their spurious deities that they would burn such an such tract of forest several hundred hectares for getting boons.
Superstitious Astrology :
Astrologers and soothsayers articulate their prophesies in such a language that these will be construed true either way whether true or false. Influence of various planets on individuals got highly ritualised. Planets have balancing effects on each other as sun, moon etc. on earth as a whole but certainly not on a particular individual in a particular way. There is no rational whatso-ever that the planets can be propitiated and appeased by rituals to ward off the evil effect on a particular individual. Initially only seven planets were known and their good and bad effects on particular individual were propogated. Astronomical discoveries are now adding to the number of known planets. Astrologers have inculcated fear in gullible people about planets "RAHU” and "KATU” which do not exist at all. Births of individuals during a particular conjunction of stars and planets were interpreted ominous and otherwise. It is an extreme example of superstition that births of children were manipulated by caeserin operations to conform to a specific conjunction of stars and planets so that the children get destined to be senior officers, ministers etc. The fact is that in a labour room in a hospital where 3 or 4 or more children born at a same time, at same place (Latitude and Longitude) do not have same destinies. The scientific rational is chance genetic mutations and subsequent environment in which, children are brought up. There are examples of children brought up by monkeys or other animals behaving as such animals. Systematic astrology, palmistry etc. are based on collection of data of very large number of people born on particular date and time and possessing various symptoms or lines on palms etc. These data have been generalised. It is like any statistical prediction with probabilities of errors. By chance prediction, if cases of a few people materialise and then these people work as
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honorary agents propagating that such and such astrologer or sooth-sayer makes correct prophesies. This has multiplier effect. Astrology attributes the same power to planets as assigned to one almighty unitary God, to various non-existent spirits, and numerous worshipped idols of deities which are superstitially believed to control and shape the lives of people. This negates and makes redundant individual efforts, good and bad deeds, which are really the causes for their effects good and bad. It is individual who shapes his destiny and not astrology, its planets, supreme God, spirits or idols of deities. Astrologers have admitted that they cannot predict mega calamities at macro levels such as Tsunami. As a matter of fact it should be easier to predict events at macro level then at micro level. It should be better and rational if people rely on their actions rather than on astrology.
Propitiation of various deities with superstitious beliefs:
The same is true for people going on pilgrimages to pay obeisance to various deities for asking various boons viz. children, money, promotion, success in litigation. Strangely those persons who survive in train or road accidents, propagate that they have been saved by the deity ignoring that others who died travelling with them were also devotees of the same deity. Likewise some people hardly a miniscule percentage get by chance or effort what they wished after visit to deity, they propagate and create multiplier effect. Psychologically people start making efforts to achieve desired goals and simultaneously beseach a deity and succeed, they attribute to the deity and not to the effort. There are cases of large number of people of all religions going on various pilgrimages to places of deities, saints or other holy places dying in accidents, fires, stampede, drowning etc. and deities and even all powerful God do not save them. Religions emphasise discipline which is most lacking at places of worships, pilgrimages, rituals and that is the main reason for deaths and injuries by fire, stampede etc. If a particular person is not harmed in the accident there are several factors viz. his position (place), genetic strength and impact

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of force at his place. Even dedicated saints and recluses, devoting most of their time all through their life in worship and other rituals in obeissance to famous deities suffer diseases, hardships and even imprisonment. There are cases of immoral activities including sexual exploitation of woman devotees in so called holy premises of temples etc. There is perpetuating blind faith that the deity they are worshipping will come from somewhere and help them. Many deities being worshiped are articulated icons of good, brave, samaritan men and women. In India there are icons on the boundaries of villages popularly known as Kshetrapalas (Protectors of the area of the village). Actually icons are of some brave persons who fought invaders and died to save the village people from atrocities. Likewise Vaishnodevi, Jeenmata and such others were real or mythological idols of women, brave and courageous who faught and over powered bad atrocious persons termed devils. Karnimata or Karnidevi of Bikaner (Deshnok) worshiped widely was a real women in recent history, was benevolent and obsessed with her benevolence she was made a deity after her death. The widely revered deities in India Shiva, Rama, Krishna, Hanuman, Ganesha etc. were real or mythological persons who were brave, courageous, righteous and benevolent. Hanuman was not monkey but a human being. Different tribes, kingdoms had different marks on their respective flags of birds, snakes, monkey etc. and their clans were known as such Nagas (snakes on their flag) etc. The various shapes, and shades of idols of different deities viz. Ganesha, Hanuman, Shiva, Durga etc. are just imaginative perceptions of artists which in due course with spurious attributes of miracles got deified and entrenched in religious rituals. Ganesha, the elephant god is a glaring example of unbelievable unscientific interpretation because at no point of time the head of the youngest elephant can measure up to fit on the torso of even healthiest human being lest on that of a child. The point is that it is alright to worship such persons as it should remind us of their good qualities, life styles, precepts and motivate us to follow their ideals but not that they will come and do our
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work. Any student if keeps on reciting devotional song or the name of his deity will not get through the examinations unless he reads his course books. Likewise no person will achieve anything unless he makes efforts for it.
Begging from inanimate powerless idols :
It is really amazing that humans though wisest of all living beings, worship and beg from the idol they themselves have made, installed and deified. Thefts of such idols, their valuable ornaments are common. The idols which cannot protect themselves, their own belongings are supposed to protect the devotees, help them get their desires fulfilled. It is a greatest fallacy and contradiction of all logic and wisdom human beings are supposed to have. Idols are only good as objects to help concentration while meditating and to remember ideals, good deeds and preachings of good people whose idols are made. However, devotees do quite opposite not at all intended by the samaritans, philanthropists, brave and benevolent persons whose idols have been deified. They are worshipped only to get boons, fulfill desires without effort. The intelligent crooks taking advantage of the lethargy and the weakness of human psyche to get results without effort, exploited the people. The ideals, efforts, good deeds of iconic persons are not at all imbibed and followed. Human intellect and reasoning has been so much overshadowed by blind irrational faith that the mischievous libidinous persons have successfully introduced pornography and obscene sexuality in many religions, in their literature, art, temples and practices. In one of the sect icon of genitals of man and woman in actual co-opulation is widely worshiped. While sexuality is discouraged in most of the prescribed codes of conduct in scriptures ironically some of the same scriptures contain titillating pornography.
Waste of money on ostentatious rituals :
There are rituals, processions, ceremonies and constructions of places of worship and money in billions and billions is spent

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every year. The amount spent on superstitious shows is colossal and can be used on education, health and better livelihood for millions suffering from poverty, basic sanitation, and health facilities. The good persons on whose name there is ostentatious vulgar display never said that they should be worshiped. They only preached good conduct they themselves followed. If out of regard for them, their icons are to be deified and worshiped then, the places of worship should exhibit simplicity not costly marble, golden paintings, platings, ornaments etc. The rituals, processions and ceremonies are not at all necessary. Electric and other decorations cost high and deprive farmers, industries and others who need power. There is very high decibel singing and beating of trumpets causing avoidable noise pollution. Fireworks are also displayed on religious occasions which is sheer waste of money and cause very harmful pollution. There is pernicious practice of immersion of thousands of idols of Ganesha, Dugra etc. in water bodies, tanks and rivers which is highly polluting. Ideally and rationally the places of worship should be peaceful without noise and other disturbances so as to facilitate meditations in order to recollect and imbibe the ideals and precepts of great persons. The crooks, the so called agents of gods and goddesses have devised and perpetuated all the extranganza for their own interest and livelihood by befooling and misleading people in blind faith.
Begger saints and pseudo saints :
Even the well meaning persons who relinquish their family life and become asceties with the purpose of devoting maximum time in meditation, study of scriptures and preaching follow almost the same beaten track of superstitious beliefs. Most of the ascetics or recluses, saints live on alms and begging. To be parasitic as beggars is not a good example for their followers. It is not ideal to run away from challenges of life as a householder and a responsible person. To cope with stresses and strains of life is a great art and challenge. Coping with various situations in life is a long cognitive process which one learns with age and
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experience and a person however great, saintly and erudite who have not experienced the challenges and learnt the art to cope with is certainly not competent to advise and guide the house holders. But the recluses and ascetics even though ignorant of experiences and without necessary cognitive competence have the audacity to preach and advise. Surprisingly a vast majority of people flock to them for advice. There are only a few exceptions who were saints as well as professionals in their respective jobs and earned their own livelihood. In between there are many shades of pseudo saints who adopt ascetism and put on the garb of a saint as a profession and amass wealth. In many religions there is customary practice of proscripting young and very young boys and girls as disciple ascetics. When these young ascetics grow up as adults they stray away from their model code of conduct under the impact of surging sex hormones and there are cases of sexual indulgence by monks and nuns within themselves and outside also. This brings a very bad name for the institutions for ascetics otherwise proclaimed to be pious and puritan. There are cases of sexual exploitation even by senior and aged saints. It is better to get married and lead a faithful married life by ascetics than to transgress the vow of celibacy. There are cases of other sensuous indulgence by saints and heads of rich religious institutions which then results in misappropriation of funds, cheating and other financial irregularities and also rivalry culminating in wars of words, fists and even murders forcing the state to take legal action. Some heads of rich religious institutions live such a opulant and ostentatious life that is envy of even autocratic royalties of past. They live two life-styles, one as a devoted saint, ritualist, worshiper and preacher and the other luxurious and licentious indulging secretly in all sorts of sensuous pleasures including, women and wine. In spite of their short comings having been disclosed, they are revered by gullible superstitious people who throng to them for seeking their blessings and instructions for good living.
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Hypocrite intellectuals/scientists :
The travesty is that even highly educated, scientists, top leaders succumb to superstitions, blind faith, illogical rituals, soothsayers and occultists and put on various rings, jewels, amulets and even indulge in sacrifices not only of innocent animals but children of neighbours and even their own. Teachers of science and technology in reputed colleges, universities and institutions, preparing future scientists and technocrats also indulge in superstitious rituals and the tendency has percolated down to the students. There is science and technology but not the scientific temper and age old superstitious beliefs are countinuing in the modern societies also. In most of the schools teaching starts only after prayer or singing praise of incongruous and non-existing God. In many countries with constitutional commitment for secularism there are priests and worshiping facilities for different religions in military also. This is violative of constitutions and is divisive also. The sacrificial rituals in many communities have been so much sanctified under the garb of religion that they are persisting in spite of ban and it is impossible to even question in case of some orthodox religions. The principle of non-violence enshrined in the texts is proved by the fact that during obeisance to holy places, it is ordained not to harm any creature even mites, >ants etc. even if they are biting or crawling on body. By sacrifice the preachers meant getting rid of one's ego, passions, lust, sins and other bad actions both mentally in thought as well as body activities including harsh words. This cannot be substituted by sacrifices of innocent animals and birds to appease various gods or goddess or as rituals. Obviously it was lust for non-vegetarian food from early vedic time that initiated and perpetuated the practice.
It is unfortunate that God is reinvented in a country like America which was founded on secularism by its people who were migrants from Europe and were mostly those who suffered religious persecution. When Benjamin Franklin

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suggested that meetings should begin with prayer, the proposal was turned down. The first amendment in constitution of America in 1791 enjoined on the state that it would not enact any such law which would promote religion. However, things changed in fifth decade of twentieth century. America promoted religious fanatics the Talibans to fight communism considered atheism by Americans. Talibans are now greatest danger for them. President Eisenhour in 1955 inserted words “In God we trust” in currency notes and also in national emblem. Such is the lure of religion that even scientifically most advanced Americans succumbed because it promises gains without efforts, though irrational and not true.
Substituted idol worship :
Idol worship though prohibited in some important religions has been contrived in different ways in form of a holy stone or tombs of saints or holy books and devotees pay obeisance and ask material boons in the same manner as idol-worshippers. In monotheist religions only one Almighty God is considered worthy of obeisance and prayer who alone can grant boons and not even the prophets or gurus. But in practice the followers besiege mortal saints, their venerated tombs, books, stones etc. This is against the very preachings of their prophets, saints and holy books. In some religious orders the concept of one almighty god being creator, controller of universe and actions and interactions of all its constituents, living and non living is not accepted. These religions subscribe to the phenomena of cause and effect and prescribe that it is ones own actions good and bad which cause happiness and misery and it is forbidden to beg boons from the idols of enlightened ones being worshiped, yet their followers by and large violate the fundamental principles and beg material boons from stone or metal idols they themselves have made, consecrated and deified. Such is the slavish psyche of mankind in general, generated by constant allurements from spurious rituals perpetrated by the selfish so-called contractors of fate of people.
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Invention of God the Almighty :
Initially it was natural forces the sun, wind, water, fire, earth and its forests, rivers, mountains which were venerated, paid obeisance and worshiped as these were obviously considered important for welfare and existence. But as agriculture developed and extended and humans changed to more and more predatory and exploitative ways from earlier symbiotic relationships with nature, the problems increased. The same elements of nature water, wind, fire, rivers became harmful also. As more and more forests were cut from catchments of rivers the intensity of floods increased. In absence of extensive shelterbelts the devastating storms became more and more frequent. Droughts and famines followed. In desperation some supreme power was invented and all good and bad were attributed to him, the almighty god, though these were result of greedy, exploitative actions of human beings themselves. This concept gradually got so much entrenched in the psyche of people and was deliberately strengthened by selfstyled agents of God, that everything was left to will of the almighty. The various religious texts which were, as a matter of fact, result of human experience in particular circumstances were proclaimed as revelations by God to chosen ones. Surprisingly God needed help of some designated spirits to communicate as almighty God was incapable of communicating directly. Obviously God is just an alibi to answer questions and problems in a particular time or event. If God is almighty, creator and controller of all then he should be able to change minds to set things right. But he does not do that and so he does not exist.
Most of the religions preach hatred for other faiths, arrogating all truth to themselves, claiming that only their scriptures are true and of all others false. This is narcisstic solipsism and not religion. Even the most revered apostles of love and compassion threatened their non-followers with dire consequences of pangs of eternal fire in hell. They promise awards and pleasures of heavens only to their followers. The
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natural rational phenomena of cause and effect was abandoned. Reason was lost that corrective measures can mend the wrongs done was not considered. People by and large find it expedient to attribute various phenomena to some super power rather than to reason out the causes and then plan measures to solve problems. Only a few persons ventured to oppose this irrational belief. They were the first scientists but they were opposed and even ostracised. The continuous pursuit of cause of various phenomena gradually enriched the knowledge of mankind and now causes, effects and remedial measures are available for various diseases, droughts, famines, storms, earthquakes etc. (earlier attributed to wrath of God or various deities and spirits) and the quest is on. If all phenomouna are attributed to one almighty God, then there will be no inquisitiveness and urge to know truth or discover any thing. It was negation of God, may be unconsciously that led to all more and more newer discoveries.
Wily, selfish persons exploited and misguided gullible people in the mire of rituals and occult practices. Superstitious traditions are still persisting in modern era particularly in tribal and rural societies and also even in educated people. Burning by hot iron rods at various body points is still in vouge to cure diseases. Gods and goddesses are propitiated by scarifices of innocent animals and even children and other offerings to beg cure of diseases and also for good rains, harvest, well being, fortune etc. The writings of great saints were adulterated and additions were made in the name of original authors to perpetuate superstitions. In one of most venerated holy book in India the God incarnation has been quoted that whenever there is wrong, evil and misery he will come, materialise in human from and solve the problems and vanish the evil. It implies clearly that the human beings need not bother, keep sitting, suffering and waiting for someone from somewhere to come and do things for them. No good and sensible person can advise such inaction. For example environment has been
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degraded by human activities and human beings by their own corrective measures can restore it and need not wait for god incarnation. This book also prescribes that people should act and work without caring for the result. It is illogical and highly impractical. No one works without an eye on result. Every action should have an aim otherwise it will be misleading harmful, useless and waste of time and energy. A student studies to achieve good success. Scientists, businessmen, industrialists all work with an aim and objective to achieve desired results. A traveller travels with an aim to reach his destination as a result. Even in every day activities if one acts without concern it may cause harm to oneself and others. In the specific example of putting a satellite in orbit or sending instrumental or human mission to moon all factors are considered and then action is planned to achieve the objective or result. Without an eye on result there will not be sincere effort in any work.
According to inventors of God, the God is all powerful and can do whatever and whenever he wants. As such there should be no need for him to manifest, manipulate and accomplish his tasks by resorting to incarnations in human, animal or other form. If the objective of incarnation is to demonstrate and teach righteious way of living, then too he should be able to install by sitting wherever he is. In case of incarnation also he should behave as normal human being as otherwise people will take up his conduct as of super human, not possible to be followed by normal ordinary humans. In most of religious mythological texts god incarnations have exhibited superhuman abilities. At least the incarnation himself will never proclaim as such. But such incarnations have been described to have proclaimed and even manifested their supernatural huge forms (Virat Swaroop). There are many such glaring and confusing contradictions. Logically the persons described incarnations might have been good real persons or good characters in mythology to teach righteous conduct. They

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would have never proclaimed themselves as super humans. Such attributes and exaggerations are later additions by followers in their own selfish interest to mislead and attract the gullible people. Surprisingly supernatural powers have also been attributed by followers to good noble saints, Budhas, Thirthankars, who would have never exhibited such powers which are not possible by ordinary human and are beyond human experience. These saints behaved as normal humans and demonstrated by their own conduct and preached right path to free people from superstitious and irrational rituals.
As opposed to concept of one God, manifesting in all, there is now a new scientific concept of cosmic consciousness which is sum total of manifestations of all systems, subsystems, parts, organs, organelles, molecules, atoms and sub atomic particles (according to Max Born photons and electrons are organic and possess consciousness) individually as well as collectively in symbiotic interdependent, integrated relationship, as in a massive coral reef where every polyp is a complete individual entity as well as part of integrated whole, working, manifesting as an individual and also as an integrated part in unison. This is other way round that cosmic consiciuosness is because of its parts and not that parts are because of one superpower. It is slavish to subscribe to autocracy of one single super power manifesting in all constituents. Instead the combined power or force of constituents making up one cosmic power is certainly a democratic concept.
Invasions-genesis of individualism, helplessness and escapism :
The sad story throughout human history is that most civilisations oldest and recent have been victim of over exploitation of natural resources which when exhausted forced the inhabitants to spread out leaving behind the depleted and degraded area. It is rightly said that men preceded and deserts
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followed. This resulted in fierce wars between invaders and peace loving original inhabitants. Generally the local people had better scruples and morals as compared to invaders who came from degraded areas. The recorded horrific history of atrocities committed by invaders is chilling. The victims were aghast as they could not even imagine that such cruelties can be inflicted by humans on other humans. People of invaded town or village ran helter-shelter to escape atrocities of rape, beating, killing, conversion, leaving material possessions and even dear and near ones. In such situations the instinct of survival of self prevailed as happens in case of fire in a house when the first instinctive response of residents is to run away. It is only after some time that infants, infirms left behind are remembered and measures to bring them out if possible are considered. Such extreme situations created by unscrupulous, recurrent invasions changed the social fabric in vanquished societies and nations and the collective effort to repulse was almost lost. People could not think of any solution and left everything to the will and in the hands of God or some deity. This gave birth to devotional surrender or Bhakticult.
Even extreme devotion, complete surrender to God or some deity, reciting its praise, its worship or any other sort of indulgence in Bhakti (devotion) has never solved any problem. It only promoted passivity and inaction. Recently prayer healing has been vehemently discussed with arguments and counter arguments by proponents and opponents. At least ten studies were done in last six years. The latest by Herbert Benson, cardiologist and director of Mind/Body Medical Institute near Boston reported in the American Heart Journal have indicated that the patients who knew they are being prayed for, had a higher rate of post operation complications like abnormal heart rhythms. Obviously such intercessory prayers have no healing effect. Dr. Partha Chaudhery, Head of nuclear medicine, Rajiv Ghandhi Cancer Institute, said that he had never come across a case where any terminally ill patient has recovered by such prayers. To solve any problem appropriate
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action, after analysing causes, is necessary. History is replete with instances that people wasting time in devotion and not preparing and taking action to meet a particular situation suffered miserably from atrocities of invaders. It is plain and simple escapism and inaction. Many religions advocate it fervently. It is responsible for negative cognition of world or cognitive distortion that world is full of bad things and events, miseries and is not worth living. This triggers psychological disorders. As a matter of fact world is beautiful offering numerous bounties for happy and peaceful life unless distorted by superstitions and by lack of symbiotic behaviour patterns. Simultaneously it gave rise to a damaging concept of extreme individualism that each one is alone and neither he or others are mutually concerned. Such a dangerous concept is being prayed in numerous devotional songs and prayers. This negates the basic aspect of nature, symbiosis and mutual cooperation. It obfuscates all the relationships like that of mother and child, teacher and students, employer and employee, soldier and army, individual and society and nation and all that manifests in daily cores of life.
Illusory hypothetical Concepts :
The height of such escapism is the concept that all the existing real world, the matter, the earth, oceans, rivers, mountains, living beings are illusions and unreal and that the questionable, imaginary and only the articulated Brahman or 'God' is real. Whatever be the conceptualisation it is the mind and body that feels pangs of hunger, thirst, desease, violence, cruelty and not the so-called god or its derivation the immortal soul which is supposed to be impervious to any sort of harm or pain. Many socalled saints pretend to see 'God' and experience ecstatic happiness in complete surrender. These are mere hallucinations and illusions and are now established as mental obsessive compulsive disorders. In the near death experiences when brain is starved of oxygen the person can see himself out of body. He
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may suffer from "cortards syndrome". In tunnel vision patients see bright beautiful light at the end of tunnel and is convinced that he is dead and does not exist. According to V.S. Ramchandran, Director, Centre for Brain and Cognition, California such out of body experience can be seen if right parital cortex is stimulated while person is conscious and awake. Francis Crick who was a great biologists of 20th century, discovered double helix, genetic code and did intensive research for 10 years on functions of human brain and then published. "The astonishing hypothesis on human consciousness and neuro-psychiatry". He has established neural correlates of consciousness and discarded metaphysical route to understand it, According to him subjective experiences arise from cerebral processes and ESP (Extra Sensory Perception) etc. are all balony. Uri Geller supposed to possess power to bend spoons etc. from a distance was proved wrong. Geller used to say that bended articles would be found in a particular kitchen whereas the fact is that such one or two articles are always there in every kitchen. Miracles claimed by pseudo-saints like materialising articles from air are all slates of hand and can be performed by ordinary magicians, tricksters. The stories of previous life supposed to be remembered and told with precise details of persons and places by some exceptional children were all found concocted mostly with the objective of usurping property of others. In University of Rajasthan, Jaipur (India) the department of "ParaPsychology" functioned for about 10 years in sixties of last century and its head Dr. Banerjee collected evidence on about 1000 cases. On subsequent scrutiny all were found wrong and Dr. Banerjee was expelled disgracefully.
The fact is that consciousness pretended to be function of soul alone can be very well explained as a function of brain. If the 'Soul' is the repository of consciousness then what happens when brain or part of neuro system is made unconscious by anaesthesia. Soul is not supposed to be affected. Most functions and properties attributed to soul can be explained as functions of brain. Proponents of soul attribute
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indestructibility, indivisibility, piety, supreme knowledge, happiness and many such characteristics to it which are questionable and do not stand the test of scientific scrutiny. Many organisms such as amoeba etc. can be cut and divided in two and both survive as two separate organisms. This would mean that soul can be divided in two or more similar complete entities. Likewise male and female genetic material i.e. sperm and ovum are both living beings i.e. each possessing individual soul and when they fuse to make one individual entity human, animal, insect etc. the two souls become one. This is incompatible to the very fundamental attributes of soul itself as conceptualised by soul theorists themselves. All life forms have a certain span of life. Soul theorists also agree that soul resides in a particular body and leaves after a specific span. But spermatozoa, ovum, blood and live tissues can be stored for prolonged periods at sub zero temperatures more than their normal span without losing their quality called life. According to Noble laureate Illya Prigogine, the self organisation as in living beings also occurs in certain chemical systems called "dissipate structures" which maintain and develop structure by breaking down other structures in process of metabolism and exhibit most of the phenomena of characteristics of life i.e. self renewal, adaptation, evolution and even primitive mental process. This system represent a link between animate and inanimate matter and the only difference is that they do not produce cells and do not reproduce and are therefore not considered life form. Jean Baptiste, Lamrarck Gregory Batson proposed the theory that evolution of all living beings is from earlier simpler forms in conducive environment. The property called life and consciousness might have evolved in organic molecules in evolutionary process. Scientists have created synthetic life forms e.g. synthetic polio virus and trying to create evolutionary cycle through random stringing of nucleotides to form RNA molecules and specialized ribozymes. These when mixed with clay cell prototypes begin to grow

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and divide rapidly. In near future convergence of nanotechonology and biotechnology will create molecular machines capable of replicating themselves. (Scientists Jack Szostak of Harward Medical School and Iyall Watson). The cognitive power through sensory perceptions, attributed to soul is just the function of brain and its neurons assisted by chemicals and enzymes. There are hundred thousand molecules in a single cell carrying out their respective functions with precision. The human leucocyte antigen recognises intruder and tells the immune system to destroy it. There are metallic, chemical and electronic sensors far more sensitive and efficient than cognition power of even human brain. Specific restrictive enzymes are used to recognise specific genes and to separate such genes for transferring to other organisms. There are many such examples.
There is no need to conjecture something like soul. The concept of soul and rebirth might have been articulated in many religious beliefs in order to impress upon the followers their code of conduct by instilling fear of bad deeds and punishment in next life. The concept of heaven and hell is also based on the same premise. The concept of soul and its continuousness after death also gives psychological relief from fear of death which otherwise is most agonising. Whatever be the truth about soul whether it is or not, should not deflect a rationalist from its duties towards society and environment. Even if there is no life after death, the present life will be happy for all if people are rational. The present generation has inherited environment from previous ones and suffer from follies of past. Rationally we should not repeat follies and ensure happy life and good environment for our future progenies as we wished from our ancestors not only on ethical ground but on the basis of inherent instinct for welfare of offspring in all living beings. In order to establish 'soul' as an entity and not merely a phenomenon of mind or belief it is necessary to proceed on scientific lines rather than existing metaphysical concepts and collect facts,

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build hypothesis and then put it to scientific scrutiny by intensive and extensive experiments.
Some religions though do not subscribe to the theory of one almighty God, creator, controller and destroyer of the universe, yet accept the eternal entity, the soul and the continuity of births and deaths and ascribe destiny of good and bad, happiness and sorrow of a person, animal or other life form as a result of deeds in the previous life. Accordingly if a person is poor, disabled, suffers from diseases, hunger or other deprivations it is because of his misdeeds in his previous life. The facts are otherwise. If a person is born in a poor and deprived family, it is not his fault and children born in poorest families if given proper opportunities, do as good or even better than others who are born in affluent families. Poverty is a man - made social problem and can be rectified by symbiotic lifestyle. Naturally or accidentally disabled also have in-built capabilities to perform most of the jobs if given proper opportunity and training. Natural genetic disorders are also because of short or long term environmental impact. In symbiotic environment there are no harmful genetic mutations. The accidental disabilities are caused mainly by carelessness of person himself or others viz. non-observance of traffic rules. The positive aspect of theory of Karma (deeds) is that effect of past karma (deeds) can be rectified or minimized by appropriate deeds in present life. However attributing poverty, deprivation etc. to Karma (deeds) of past life is negating its real cause which is exploitative social system which can be corrected by symbiotic social order. It may be worth noting that life spans of people are increasing because of medical advances and facilities. The life span of any living organism is certainly not because of good or bad deeds in the previous birth of a particular soul. Scientists are now conceptualising to increase the life span upto 5000 years and more by nanobots, the tiny machines which when inserted in body will be cleaning the body from materials responsible for aging and
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death. According to Ian Pearson at British Telecommunications death would become a thing of past as by mid 21st century computer technology becomes sophisticated enough for the contents of brain to be down loaded on to a super computer. Next computing goal would be to replicate consciousness.
People under the spell of occultists, astrologers are enslaved so much that they seek their permission and ask for propitious or auspicious time to the precision of month, day and even hour to begin any activity viz. construction of house, factory, starting industry or business, marriage or other ceremomies and even construction of temples and consecration of idols of so called all powerful god and other deities. People get so much chained to irrational beliefs and omens that they would not travel in a particular direction on particular days. This hampers all activity and is slavery of worst form. Mischievious people take advantage, befool people and charge hefty amounts to tell articulated auspicious timings for various activities. There are silly superstitious beliefs regarding innocent animals, cats, birds, crows etc., their crossing of one's way, chirpings and sittings some times taken as good and sometimes as bad omens and the connotations vary from country to country. Innocent animals, birds are still sacrificed to propitiate various non existant spirits for cure from illness, for good rains, better crops etc. in tribal and village communities and even by educated people. Many innocent women are victim of atrocities being falsely implicated as practising witch craft or black magic and the truth behind is often conspiracy of relatives to oust the widowed women from property. Rationally the world we live in, its rivers, mountains, all living beings, their actions, interactions are real and unless superimposed by human ego and its anthropocentric attitude, are all symbiotic and mutually beneficial. Human beings by their behaviour can make this world good for bad for present and future generations according to their good or bad deeds.

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Hero worship :
The submission to imagined or articulated God or deified icons of past great and brave persons resulted in subservient tendency of hero-worship. This is continuing even now in socalled democratic societies. The name and fame of exalted and eulogised families and persons persist for their several future generations. This is autocaracy in distorted democratic form. The lack of realisation of cause, wrong activities responsible for problems and also lack of initiative to mend things by appropriate actions because of tendency to attribute problems to will of God or some deity and to expect solutions by propitiation of these is most irrational aspect of prevailing human psyche. The same is the case of living icons and people look for solutions of problems to them instead of collective effort for common problems and appropriate individual action for individual problem. There is so much obsession for few good or bad individuals endowed with specific strength and knowledge that people follow them blindly and do as directed without any rational consideration. Following a good person also should be rational. The passivity that only some particular individual shall come and solve problem is not correct. It has promoted and encouraged negation of individual and collective action required to meet a particular situation. Inertness, inaction or passivity is worst form of slavery.
God's puppetry:
The philosophy of one almighty being controller of all actions and interactions, evil and good, has dangerous repercussions on social and physical environment. This negates all morals and values to be adhered and followed by individuals and groups. When everything is by the express will of god then nobody does anything wrong. All human beings are just puppets being played by strings in controlling hands of Almighty. Thus corrupt people, murderers, traitors, terroists, adultrators, rapists and other such evil doers do not do any wrong as they are just doing what is ordained and desired by God. While this tendency is tenanciously
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persisting, the religious scriptures are full of instructions about good code of conduct, and examples of consequences of good and bad deeds. People read these scriptures, listen to sermons yet act differently. There are laws, rules and systems of punishment. All this is contradictory because if all that is happening is as desired by God, then there is no need for scriptures prescribing good conduct and laws to punish law breakers. To attribute to God the creation of universe and all objects including human beings is another fallacy propagated by many religions. God is described as kind, merciful and impartial and yet he created the world full of cruelties, miseries, disease, earth-quakes, floods, droughts, wars, violence and disparities. Slavery and atrocities on slaves were common till recent past. Poor and deprived have suffered through out ages and their sufferings are continuing unabated. Such is the regime of benevolent God. Therefore he is not at all kind and merciful or he is not at all the creator. God is supposed to be omnipotent and perfect architect and yet created such a imperfect world. A good chemist or an architect could have done better. According to the renowned cosmologist Stepheon Hawking only those who are deficient in mathematics believe in God. It is argued that there has to be some creator or maker of things as we see in every day life. So there has to be a creator of the world. The question then arises that their should be creator of God also and there is no answer. If God can exist for all time then why not the matter, energy, space and time that constitute the universe. These constituents have inherent capabilities and mentation to join, break, rejoin, assemble, reassemble, react, interact and manifest in myriad phenomena and there is no need for any creator or controller.
Surrogatory in religious practices :
Wily people take advantage of this confused psyche and offer spurious solutions. There is practice of offering penance by these on behalf of wrong doers on payment of proportionate sum of money assuming that this will absolve the incalcitrants from their

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sin. It is so ridiculous that there is no logical basis because following this practice would mean that one can go on doing wrongs and then getting absolved by paying to someone who will do penance on his behalf. Likewise chanting of hymns along with odd practices such as offering of cereals, butter etc. in a fire pot etc. are propagated and preached to solve problems of drought, floods, epidemics, wars and even to cure diseases. It is now known that rains are a natural phenomena based on various natural conditions and can not be induced by reciting certain hymns. If it has been possible then there would have never been droughts in history. The causes of floods, earthquakes, floods, epidemics are also well known. There are historical records that rulers were assured by occultists, victory by their power of making ineffective the weaponry of cannons etc. of the enemy but this did not happen and such gullible rulers faced ignominous defeats. Wars can be won only by matching and superior weaponry and strategy and not by hymns or occult practices.
Occultists misguide people that they can inflict harm even death on their enemies but when the same occultists are asked to do the same on terrorists they just shudder. Many lives are lost for lack of proper treatment as people fall prey to occult practices. Occultists generate and propagate concocted events about non-existent spirits which are said to be bad or benevolent. They pretend to invoke them to grant boons and also to exorcise (push out of bodies of persons occupied by evil spirits). Many superstitions, miracles at places of worships are attributed to such spirits. On scrutiny these were all found concocted and manipulated. Mankind on planet earth is making all possible efforts to locate and contact intelligent beings elsewhere in the universe but it has not been possible so far. UFO's supposed to be spaceships from other planets have all been proved conjectures and mirages. It is often claimed that spirits or intelligent being from other planets of heavens visit earth, do miracles but it is surprising as to why these spirits do not establish real contact for which we are anxiously trying.
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So far it appears illusory and concocted. The astrologers, ritualists and occultists for their selfish monetary interests frighten people about events like solar and lunar eclipses which are just only natural regular phenomena. These may have some temporary effect like lowering of temperature and increased radiation on whole of the globe but not on a particular person to succumb to imaginary threats propagated only to extract money on pretext of aneliorating rituals.
Some persons have cleverly put on the garb of god incarnation by adopting various tricks, slate of hand, materialising objects, concocting fake stories of miracles such as curing diseases, granting and fulfilling boons and wishes and spreading their name and fame through paid agents or partners in the boot. Such pseudo-gods are mushrooming because of superstitions, tendency of inaction, reluctance and lethargy towards hardwork. If the assumed super powers are true then none of their devotees should be unhappy, poor, ill or unsuccessful. They should ensure adequate rains at proper time and good harvest. They should prevent calamities like earthquakes, fires, accidents, floods, epidemics. But it is not so. They are all farce and misguide people for their own selfish interest.
Offerings of cereals with butter in fire is a common practice to atone sins, to propitiate gods and goddesses for successful completion of construction of houses, bridges including even various projects and solve other individual and social problems and even by police to solve crimes and also by political executives for welfare of their state or areas. This practice is very much exalted in several religious cults and in some followers are ordained to do it daily. If sins can be atoned by just such offerings then there is no need of preaching good deeds and penance and vows not to do wrongs in future. House, bridge or other construction and various projects will be successful only by proper planning, good materials and skills
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and dedication of executives, supervisors and workers. Inspite of glaring scientific facts and relentless efforts of rationalists the useless, harmful and wasteful occult practices are continuing all over the world even in most advanced and developed countries. It is a pity that highly educated eminent leaders, judges, policemen and even scientists of repute succumb to superstitious occultism. In spite of the Act of Indian Parliament 1954 prohibiting practice of curing of diseases by occult practices and doubtful medicines such practices are rampant in every nook and corner of the country. There are superstitious beliefs that some part or whole of animals cure diseases or are aphrodiasic and wild animals tigers, rhinos, sharks, dolphins etc. are being killed in large numbers. In last few decades there is mushroom growth of yoga teachers who misguide gullible people and do more harm than good. “Yoga' is an elaborate process starting from ‘Yam', 'Niyam' i.e. adherence to vows of non-violance, truth, non-stealing, nonacquisition and celibacy and also prescribed code of conduct but these preliminary essentials are completely ignored and pseudo teachers start teaching 'Asnas' i.e. postures and “pranayam' i.e. breathing exercise which may cause harm if vows and rules are not followed and air is polluted which is generally the case.
There are persons, teachers and students of science who manipulate and get conferred title of environmentalists by their own group of people while subscribing to superstitious beliefs of asking boons from idols of their preferred deities and even take silly vows like travelling a few miles bare foot to pay obeisance or offerings of sweets, ornaments if their wishes for awards or other material benefits get materialised. Pseudo environmentalists even indulge in irrational rituals of “Havan" i.e. burning wood, butter, grains etc. which could otherwise be better utilised. Burning of anything even butter and aromatic substances also produce CO, CO, SO, NO, etc. and harm environment. The practice of “havan” or “Yagna” sanctified
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as an essential ritual in many religions is infact reminiscent of practice of cleaning and burning of forests by Devas or Suras who were agriculturists to extend agriculture. In forest based symbiotic model air, water and soil do not get polluted at all and do not need any treatment. Since 'yagna' is being prescribed from very early times particularly from beginning of Vedic Era even when there was no such pollution of air requiring any treatment, the argument that 'yagna' was prescribed and practised to purify air, is not correct. The fact is that 'yagna' does not purify air at all. The burning of some aromatic substance fill up the air with pleasant odours for a very short time and then same pollution returns. After all it does not create an air-tight impregnable wall or shield that can prevent polluted air from surrounding areas to creep in again. Even aromatic substances burnt in ‘yagna' have many other constituents, Nitrogen, Carbon, Sulphur, Phosphates and even some metals in addition to little quantities of aromatic oils. The other constituents when burnt do produce toxic molecules of nitrates, sulphates, phosphates etc. Wood is a major component burnt in ‘yagna'. The proponents of ‘yanga' claim that they use only dry wood is a blatant lie. Dry wood produced naturally is hardly available in forests. All wood that is used is manufactured dry wood from green trees. In some major ‘yagnas' such artificial dry wood procured by cutting and drying green trees is used in very large quantities to the extent of 50 to 100 tonnes. The green trees cut for the purpose are several thousands in number. The aroma from ‘yagna' lasts hardly for 3-4 days whereas green trees if not destroyed for ‘yagna' will keep on absorbing obnoxious gases and simultaneously producing oxygen relentlessly for over 50 to 100 years. As prescribed if ‘yagna' is performed daily by every family then all the existing green trees will get destroyed within 5 to 10 years. There will be colosal increase in CO, which is already increasing the green house effect resulting in rise in temperatures, melting of ice caps and triggering harmful
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climatic changes. In addition to CO, other harmful gases CO, NO, SO, etc. will also accentuate air pollution. It is also wrong that 'yagna' induce rains. 'Yagna' are being performed for last several thousand years, yet there has been serious recurring droughts and famines through out the ages. If 'yagna' could bring rains then there would have been no droughts and famines. There is another silly argument that by heating a substance its beneficial potency is enhanced but enhanced potency may be destructive as in nuclear bomb and splitting of CL, atoms which is destroying the protective ozone layer. There is also no truth in the claim that burnt perfumes and substances rise high in air and impart medicinal properties to the rain water. Ganges only a century back possessed medicinal and bactericidal properties because its route in Himalyas was covered with medicinal plants and this was without 'yagna' i.e. burning of these plants. Since superstition is singularly most harmful for environment such hypocrites are not environmentalists at all by commitment and actions. Most of the superstitions are generally justified on the pretext that they are matters of personal faith. But faith should be rational and logical and it should not be harmful and destructive. There are still people who have faith in the practice of 'Sati' (burning of wives on the pyres of their husbands). Such a faith is certainly not justified. Likewise faith in rituals of sacrifices of innocent animals and even children is most illogical. Similarly asking boons from stone idols is also not at all rational.
Unfortunately most of the past and current literature is full of superstitious and irralational concepts based on unrealistic non-existent objects and themes of animals, fairies, ghosts etc. In the famous story book 'Panchantra' animals speak language of humans which is wrong. Animals and birds do not speak our language. Fairies and ghosts do not exist and eminent writers including nobel laureates use similies, metaphors and anecdotes which are not rational. It is necessary

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that literature should be based on rational themes, objects and anecdotes which are within the ambit of scientific scrutiny and human experience and not on myths, falsehood and superstition. Also there are different interpretations by different scholars of the same texts including of Geeta and even Vedas on various pleas under various rules and more than one simple meaning of words. As a matter of fact any writer has only one meaning of a word or sentence or stanza written by him. It is the subsequent interpreters or translators who distort the meaning and intention of the original writers. In all fairness dictionaries should now be so revised as to give only one meaning of a particular word in all languages. There are very obscene and objectional interpretation of Vedas by even eminent scholars like Mahidhar. This is only because there are various meanings of words.
Rational V/S Superstitious :
Superstition is irrational. It kills the initiative to think properly, analyse causes and decide appropriate actions and measures to solve problems. Rational attitude and behaviour is necessary in all spheres of human activity individually and socially. If people are rational they will not be angry and will not start fighting on slightest pretexts. Nations will not go to war causing immense harm to people and environment. People will not be corrupt, adulterators, traitors, and irresponsible towards duties. Terrorism is result of irrational indoctrination and conditoning of children and youth by dogmatic and obscurantist religious organisations which preach that by dying for the religious cause they would be bestowed heavenly pleasures and also because the terrorists are eulogised as martyrs. In case technology of atomic arms fell in hands of such obscurantists and fundamentalists it will be disastrous and there is every possibility as there is no dearth of greedy scientists and others who may sell it. There are already some such cases on record. Many religions generally advocate that mere reciting the name of god or their deity will

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solve problems and absolve them from sins. This negates the principle of good deeds and righteousness and promotes inaction. The superstitious cult of complete devotion (Bhakti) is outcome of helplessness and escapism from proper action during incessant invasions which inflicted inhuman cruelties and atrocities and made a lasting impact on human psyche.
A rational person will judge persons on merit and neither on heresy, pre-conceived notions nor on basis of caste, creed, poverty or richness. Whereas a superstitious person gives financial or other help in charity for selfish interest or to satisfy his ego, vanity, the rational one will be compassionate towards disabled, physically or mentally as part of his duty. Persons suffering from mental disability are generally neglected and even spurned taking their abnormal behaviour as deliberate. Mental disorders of thought, speech, motor action are not deliberate and can be cured or at least minimised by proper treatment. A superstitious person is extravagant to show his wealth in ritutals or to satisfy his hedonistic indulgence. Person if rational will not be extravagant and wasteful and will limit his demands minimum so as not to cause extra stress beyond carrying capacity of natural resources, water, soil, minerals, etc. and also in consumption of electricity, chemicals, food, clothing, shelter etc. He will be socially amicable, understand problems of others and will do unto others as he wishes to be done by. He will always be conscious of his duties and responsibilities and sincere in his work. He will not be lazy and pretending. He will always be ready to help needy during distress, disease, fire, natural calamities of drought, famine, flood, earthquake, storms etc. He will not be selfish and will not do anything that will harm any other human being, animal or other living being and also environment. Unlike superstitious person he will not be superstitious or ritualist or victim of astrology, occulticism.
For a rational person any time for righteous work is

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auspicious. He will not beg boons from any deity but adopt good precepts of good persons. He will be action oriented. He will act in such a way that is most reasonable, logical, scientific and best in a given situation. He is equaminous. A rational person or society will interact, react and plan strategies to deal with varying situations in best possible ways, peaceful as far as possible. However in case of unscrupulous violence there will not be any hesitation or inhibition to resort to matching violence to deal with the persons indoctrinated with fundamentalism and violence who do not understand the language of peace. Tolerance should have rational limits, otherwise it is cowardice and escapism from reality. He does not consider, the world, its mountains, rivers, forests, diverse life form an illusion (Maya) but real and existent. He will not be living only in past, present or future but in totality of spacetime continuum, taking lessons from the past, behaving rationally in present with an eye on immediate and long term benefits for one and all.
Unless mankind realise its follies, abondon superstitions, occultism, rituals and adopt rational attitude and behaviour it will continue to suffer. Above all a rational person will be responsible towards his duties, towards individuals, family, society and conservation of nature. He will not clamour for rights not commensurate with duties. Irrational persons though educated are irresponsible even in daily chores, e.g. throwing garbage and waste in drains, spreading dirt and squalor on roads and other public places and then blaming civic administration. They are insensitive to pains and dangers to poor scavangers (persons doing menial jobs of cleaning). Societies and nations of rational individuals will be free of individual or mob violence which is getting more and more destructive because of irrational indoctrination, superstitious beliefs and actions.
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FOREST BASED LIFE STYLE
Plant kingdom and its benevolence :
It is estimated that there are about a million species of plants out of which two lakhs have been documented, classified and studied. Myriad of products, edible seeds, beans, leaves, flowers, fruits, tubers, various gums and resins, dyes, fibres, flosses, chemicals and medicines are available from natural plant world. Even as building material wood is best as wooden structures withstand earthquakes better. There are large varieties of products available from natural plant kingdom almost everything that is required for human needs of food, clothing, shelter, medicines and raw material for all sorts of industries. It offers unlimited opportunities for human ingenuity and spirit of invention and discovery for sustained development of present and future generations. Botanists have classified the known plants into orders, families and species according to their characteristics. Though not as systematically as in modern books of flora, there are old earlier texts giving classified description of plants. In the 2000 years old treatise “Tilloypannati" by Yati Vrishabhacharya plants and trees have been classified in 10 broad groups namely (i) the plants yielding edible food products, seeds, fruits etc; (ii) plants producing drinks e.g. coconuts, palms; (iii) plants giving material for building houses etc.; (iv) plants yielding material used as light; (v) plants giving fibres and flosses used for clothing; (vi) plants giving material for making utensils, pots etc; (vii) plants giving material for various chemicals, gums, colours etc. (viii) plants yielding decorative beads, flowers etc; (ix) medicinal plants and (x) plants tall and shady capable of protecting from solar radiation.
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In this treatise all plants have been termed as “Kalpvrikshas” meaning the belevolent trees capable of giving all that is required. The word Kalpvriksha was meant for all sorts of plants and trees. The epithet 'Kalpvriksha' was attributed to all plants because of their overwhelming benevolence in providing multitude of products to fulfil all sorts of needs of human beings, animals and other life forms. The green leaves of plants with their photosynthetic properties are the only agents in nature which harness sunlight to produce variety of products, edibles, drinks, chemicals and host of others. Human beings and animals depend on what plants produce and are thus totally dependent on plant kingdom. The argument of non vegetarians that they consume animal meat and not plant products is not correct because the animals they consume eat plants. As a matter of fact an animal stores hardly 10% of total calories he gets from plants because rest is consumed in its metabolism. If the animal has obtained 2000 calories from plants it stores only 200 calories as meat available to non-vegetarians who actually consume indirectly plants which if consumed directly would have given 2000 calories. Thus non-vegetarians consume 10 times more vegetarian food. Grains fed to animals for non-vegetarians can feed 10 times more number of people.
Apathy towards trees :
The term “Kalpvriksha’ also got distorted through passage of time because of superstition and instead of encompassing entire plant kingdom it got restricted to one particular tree Adansonia digitata. Some person by chance and infact by his effort might have been benefited or his wishes fulfilled while watering or worshipping this tree. He must have spread his story and such superstitions fan out like wild fire. This one tree is being worshipped at many places by multitude of people for boons. It is not this one tree species alone that benefits mankind but all plants individually and collectively give all that we need. Unfortnuately
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this is not realised and forests have been and are being destroyed mercilessly inspite of now established consequences viz. floods, droughts, storms, increasing green house effect, pollution of air, sinking water table etc. all of which will be checked and minimised if green forest cover is restored and protected. There is much talk, organised activity, rules and laws for human rights and prevention of cruelty against animals but there is no such effort for preventing cruelty against plants which too have life and cognitive perception or mentation for pain and pleasure. This has been proved by scientific experiments and observations. It has been observed that plants can even sense intentions of a person whether he intends to harm or tend the plant. It is a great irony that the plants which are most beneficial and which alone have the ability to produce food for all other living beings directly or indirectly, are mercilessly treated. Their limbs, the leaves and branches are detached, multilated sometimes without any purpose just for fun or idling time. Merciless cutting i.e. butchering of trees is continuing eversince the birth of agriculture. Trees are so benevolent that they drop their fruits, dry twigs, leaves and other products voluntarily for use by men and animals. Trees also have life spans like other animals and dry and fall down and if human beings are compassonate to trees the wood of tree should be utilised only after it has completed its life span, dried and fallen on ground and not while it is young and living.
Shramanik religious texts have correlated the good or evil attitude of persons by their behaviour towards trees equating with dark and light colours according to evil and good behaviour. It has been mentioned that a person gathering naturally fallen fruits is best and is attributed pure white colour to his intention and attitude as he does not harm the tree. Second person plucking only ripe fruits from branches is denoted by light pink colour of lotus flowers as he is good and his choice is limited to only ripe fruits yet it gives some pain though minimum to the tree so it is not pure and white but with slight tinge of pink denoting lowest intensity of evil. Third
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person breaking a small thin branch with ripe and unripe fruits is denoted by yellow colour that is he causes more harm and his intensity of evil is more than that of second person. Fourth person cuts away thicker and bigger branches causing still greater harm and is denoted by light blue colour. The fifth person cuts away very thick and big main branch and is denoted by deep blue colour. The sixth person cuts down the whole tree and is denoted by black colour and is most evil of all. If mankind is judged by above it will fall in last most evil category. Eating naturally fallen fruits is symbiotic interaction between man and tree. Plucking fruit is snatching from tree and is theft as it is not given by its free will. It causes pain to the tree and therefore it involves violence also.
Symbiotic polyculture :
In nature there are varieties of trees found growing together on particular extensive or limited stretches of land. The varieties of trees also vary according to climatic and edaphic factors. But there is hardly monoculture i.e. only one variety growing alone. There are one or more predominant species but there are always other associates in small or large proportions. Even a single species grows stratified as predominant, dominant, dominated and suppressed according to their vigour to attain height because of differences in the genetically inherent vitality of seeds of same species or even of same tree. Then there are other trees which are by nature strong light demanders which will grow taller even if younger in age say 10 years than others which are shade bearers of even 40-50 years age. There are different varieties in light demanders and shade bearers also strong to moderates and accordingly there are canopies of plants attaining varying heights. Underneath the trees are smaller shade tolerant shrubs and then small herbs. In good natural forest the ground is completely shaded with mix of trees, shrubs and herbs. The number of plants in such a polyculture (mixed) forest is many times more than in monoculture because of plants of lower and lower heights
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according to their light demanding and shade bearing capacities occupying intermediate spaces between higher and higher plants. Though the number of plants in polyculture natural forests is more yet there is no competition in roots or crowns because the depths of soil tapped by varying spread of roots are different and so also the heights of canopies are different according to varying light requirements. In a normal healthy forest eco-system there are essentially all age gradations of all constituent species. In contrast where there is monoculture i.e. one single species over an extensive stretch of land as is the case generally in artificial and man-made forest plantations, fruit orchards and agriculture crops, there is competition in roots and crowns because they tap the same depth of soil and occupy same height. The number of plants in monoculture has to be reduced periodically as they grow and occupy more and more root zone and crown space. The number of trees and plants are far less in monoculture than in polyculture and accordingly the availability of variety of products is also very limited. In monoculture plants are prone to extensive damage by insect pests which are generally gene specific i.e. a particular insect pest attacks a particular variety of plants. In polyculture since there are varieties of plants and so are the varieties of insect pests and one type of insect pest is predator on other type of pest and there is natural control without any damage to plants. There is no need of any sort of poisonous pesticides to protect the plants as in monoculture.
Benevolent Forests-Nature's sentinals and shields :
In addition to providing all sorts of products for human needs forests play a vital role in maintaining climatic and overall environmental balance. It offers an effective protective shield to earth and its inhabitants from harmful ultraviolet radiation, floods, drought, storms, epidemics, earthquakes and other vagaries of nature and ensuing calamities. Forests are most effective for soil and moisture conservation. Rains of highest intensity and velocity do not fall directly on ground in a good forest area. In natural
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polyculture mixed forest there are numerous canopies of different light demanding and shade bearing species. Rains fall on top canopy and then on lower and lower canopies. The force and velocity is reduced and by the time it reaches ground it just touches it softly and force of impact is so low that it cannot disloge the soil particles and there is no erosion of soil. The forest floor is covered by layers of decayed (humus), decaying and freshly fallen dry leaves and it is spongy. The rainwater is absorbed and infiltrate down in the ground through porous and tunnelled strata of root systems of big and small trees taping varying depths. Roots of some trees e.g. Prosopis cineraria have been found to reach upto 50 and more metres depth. In forested areas more than 99% of rain water is trapped in underground reservoir from which it flows gradually all the year round into rivers, lakes, 'tanks and wells. In a good forest area streams and rivers are perennial, do not overflow during rains and then dry for rest of the year. As only less than 0.1% of water escapes as run off there are no floods and consequent catastrophic destruction of life and property as is recurring year after year with increasing fury in denuded naked landscapes. Water is traped and stored and released gradually from where it falls. Every tree is thus a most effective and efficient dam than any earthern, masonry or concrete structure. Water in streams is pure and crystal clear as it comes filtered through strata of soil and rocks and is rich in nutrients and minerals. It also inbibes medicinal properties from leaves, flowers, fruits and roots of various plants. In hilly areas with dense polyculture forests moisture regime is so good that water will start flowing through a pipe or any such object when it is pushed inside the soil anywhere on slopes. Many such areas are now dry as a result of destruction of forest.
The rows of trees along sea costs and else where work as shelter belts against storms and high velocity winds. The wind blowing with great velocity is subdued and its velocity is broken and reduced to less than 30%. There is little or no impact and damage. Trees growing densely absorb and reduce

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the impact of earthquakes. If sea shores and riverbanks are kept under forest cover in sufficient width (along rivers about their width and at least 10 kilometers along seashores) without human encroachments then disastrous consequences of storms, earthquakes and floods and loss of life and property will not be there. It will be interesting to note that during recent Tsunami disaster (26th December 2004) the aboriginal tribes Jarwas, Onges, Shompen, Sentenelese and Great Admananies in Andaman and Nikobar islands did not suffer being inhabitant of forest as they shifted to higher areas after biological warning signals from birds, wild animals, marine life forms and also having enough to feed on forest products, nuts, beans, tubers etc. and coconuts providing good substitute for good drinking water. The light house watchman saw that black bucks about 1700 in number were running away from the wildlife sanctuary (380 kms from Chennai) to safer higher reaches before Tsunami struck the areas. It has been scientifically shown that several animals are superior to humans in their sensory abilities to sound, temperature, touch, vibration and to electrostatic, chemical and magnetic changes in their environment. The occurance of such calamities as Tsunami, earthquakes, volcanic eruption, storm etc. are preceded by minute disturbances in environment including low intensity ground vibration, low frequency sounds and changes in magnetism etc. and animals detect these and respond to them before humans can. Traditional knowledge particularly amongst forest dwelling tribes about changes in the behavour of animals and birds preceding the calamities can gainfully be utilised to avoid and at least minimize the loss of property and life. The Corals, trees and mangrove forest wherever left and saved from human encroachments proved strong barriers against Tsunami waves. Governments in the countries affected by Tsunami, are now realising the importance of forest and wild animals and preparing plans to recreate mangrove forests and bio-shields of trees along sea-coasts. Houses built of wood have elasticity
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and are least damaged by tremors as compared to masonry and concrete structures. In a good forest area the moist and humid conditions prevent natural fires. It is an established fact that forest fires are man-made either deliberate or by carelessness. The intensity of blazing sun is completely subduced, absorbed by layers of canopies of mixed dense forest. There is no damage by harmful ultraviolet rays. Trees have a wonderful capacity to absorb all sorts of obnoxious gases, carbon-di-oxide, carbon-mono-oxide, Nitrogen oxide, Sulphur-di-oxide, and then convert them into useful products, edible seeds, oil seeds, flowers, fruits, dyes, gums, resins, medicinal constituents in leaves, flowers, fruits, bark, wood and roots and host of other chemicals. Green leaves of trees are most efficient in utilising solar energy. They are highly organised, well managed factories producing all sorts of products free of cost and human labour.
Forests-an ideal symbiotic eco-system :
In natural forest areas all life forms live in harmony and are symbiotic with mutually cooperative relationship among themselves and also in relation to inanimate constituents. The bigger trees with deeper root system help provide moisture and nutrients to younger and smaller companions. Men, animals and birds eat flowers, fruits, get necessary food and simultaneously help the plants in dispersal of their seeds. Butterflies and other insects suck nectar from flowers of plants but are agents of pollination. It has been proved by experiments that production of fruits increase by more than 25% in orchards where honey bee farming is also done. There are different species of pest and predator insects on different plants in perfect natural balance and there is no insects damage. Many insects living symbiotically on trees produce useful products like lac, silk, honey etc. The burrowers like rats etc., which cause extensive damage in agriculture, are useful in forests as they work as tillers of land by burrowing and turning up the soil. There are carnivorous animals,
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birds, insects and micro-organism which work as scavengers in nature by consuming naturally dead bodies, disintegrating all sorts of dead and waste material and converting it into products like manure directly or through their excreta. There is hardly any waste or dirty things left in good forests. There is no problem of waste disposal in these natural conditions. There is no predation of any sort. Even the carnivora like tigers were initially scavengers and consumed only naturally dead bodies which were plentiful when entire earth surface was covered with good forests before the onset of agriculture. It was only when forests and wild animals were destroyed and naturally dead bodies became scarce then these carnivora started killing animals for food. It is well known that when number of wild animals decline then such carnivora kill domestic animals and even become man eaters when extremely hungry or while protecting off-springs or when injured by hunters. It has been observed that wolves, hyaena, jackals and others generally feed on left overs of tigers etc., but when these are not available they too start killing smaller animals and birds and even domestic cattle, sometimes children also. The most significant aspect of forest eco-systems is that populations of all life forms remain optimum according to availability of food. There is no population explosion or increase of any species. The meticulous interactions between the species, their inherent genetic characteristics and the environment are muntually reinforcing. All work and cooperate with each other within optimised capacities. There is no over-exploitation of any one of constituents by another. The renewable natural resources are utilised within their renewable and resilience capacities, reinforced by each other. Forest eco-system ensure symbiotic relationship between members of a species including humans, species to species and other physical constituents of environment. There will be no aberrations. All will co-operate with each other. All life forms will be mutually beneficial including bacteria and viruses which will not mutate to harmful mutations. Human social environment will also be amiable and situations triggering mental disorders,

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psychic as well as neurotic and cognitive depression, hysteria, schizophrenia, will be non-existent. Likewise it will steer clear of physical ailments also. Such is an most efficient and organised symbiotic system of management in nature which mankind has not been able to achieve inspite of astonishing scientific and technological advances.
Stabilising progression and retrogression at sustainable
level:
The mutually sustaining eco-systems were damaged and degraded mainly because of anthropocentric approach of mankind that human beings are centre of the universe and all resources are for him. The hedonistic greed of men overexploited the nature beyond its carrying and rejuvenating capacity. If natural resources are utilised within their carrying capacities they are self-sustaining. Even the degraded eco-systems start rejuvenating as soon as the biotic pressure mainly of man and his domestic animals is taken off and balanced to the carrying capacity. The process of succession or progression as a result of controlling biotic pressure and also of retrogression by increasing it in forest eco-systems have been well studied and documented. One simple example will illustrate it. On a vacant land created by change of course of a river, the natural agents, birds, animals etc. bring in seeds of various species but only colonisers like Acacia arabica, grasses germinate and occupy the land. Species which are suitable in initial conditions of soil, moisture, strong light etc. can only germinate and survive. These colonisers after time varying according to edaphic and climatic conditions modify the soil conditions by leaf fall and also intensity of light. As a result other species like Dalbergia sissoo and their associates are able to germinate and survive. This process of biological evolution continues till a mix of species of plants and animals occupy the land and perpetuate in mutual collaboration. This is called climax stage. The intermediate stages are succession stages. If the balance in climax stage is disturbed by over exploitation and biotic pressure the

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process of retrogression sets in and species of higher climax stage are replaced by lower and lower ones of succession stages according to the intensity of biotic pressure which if continues the original stage of barren land is reached. It has been possible by human endeavour to maintain a particular succession stage of economically valuable species. Tectona grandis (Teak), the paragon of tree species is the tree of succession stage in tropical and subtropical forest eco-systems in India, Burma and other countries. If biological evolution is allowed by removing the required biotic pressure then teak will be replaced by biologically higher but economically less valuable species like Syzigium cumunii etc. The system of manipulating biotic pressure of thinning, grazing, control burning is being adopted to maintain succession stage suitable for teak. But this is also selfish concept of man. The best is climax stage which is self sustaining and mutually reinforcing.
This phenomina of succession (progression) and retrogression now well studied and scientifically established has been described in vivid details in 2000 years old treatise "Tilloypannati" by Yati Vrishabhacharya. The swinging time cycle and stages from climax to retrogratory degeneration and then again to progressive succession upto climax have been termed a complete cycle or an era. It has two swings one from best to worse known as Avsarpini i.e. down-wards retrogression like from mouth to tail of a serpent (snake) and other Utsarpini i.e. upwards progression from tail to mouth of a serpant. Each half era of Avasarpini and Utsarpini have been divided in six successive stages. The first stage is climax stage 'HappyHappy' ("Sukhma-Sukhma") which is perfectly symbiotic, when even carnivora works as a scavanger of naturally dead and is not a killer. No species of plants or animals cause harm to others. The air, water and soil are in purest form without contamination of any sort. When the balance is disturbed by greed and increased population next slightly degraded stage is 'Happy' (Sukhma). The greed and population continues to

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increase resulting in further deterioration of environment and third stage is ‘Happy-Unhappy' (Sukhma-Dukhma) and people are partially happy because kalpvrikshas (forests) providing requirements are there though in reduced numbers but unhappy because species start attacking each other as there is a competition for decreasing available resources, the stronger like man, carnivora even anihilate many humbler ones which too become agressive like symbiotic bacteria, virus, insects becoming pests and harmful, causing ailments. The degradation continues and fourth stage is ‘unhappy-happy' '(DukhmaSukhma)' i.e. people are more unhappy then happy as the “Kalpavriksha' (Forests) suffer concerted onslaught because of expanding agriculture. The fifth stage is ‘unhappy when people are by and large unhappy. The present one according to ‘Tilloypannati' is this fifth 'Unhappy' stage in which people. are unhappy inspite of phenomenal advance in science and technology because natural resources are being over-exploited many times more than carrying capacity and have been polluted to the extent that even life sustaining air (Oxygen) has to be manufactured artificially and inhaled from time to time by people in densely populated and polluted cities. Water in most of the natural sources is highly polluted and cannot be used for drinking and even bathing without costly purification treatment. The fourth stage had pressure from agriculture but in present fifth stage it is both from still extending agriculture and multiplying industries.
As a result of increasing consumerism, more and more exploitation and pollution of nature, the conditions will gradually deteriorate to worse when most of natural resources will be completely exhausted and environment will be so much polluted that life will become most miserable and a few numbers of a few species will be able to survive. Tilloypannati predicts sixth stage ‘Unhappy-Unhappy' (Dukhma-Dukhma). The predictions seems to come true as things stand and are unfolding. With fewer numbers and reduced biotic pressure
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the progression will start. First the sixth stage will replicate, then the fifth, fourth, third, second and finally the first climax stage Happy-Happy'. It will complete the full era and again the retrogratory swing and the process continues. Hopefully the same treatise Tilloypannati describes some areas may be planets, some where in some galaxies which do not have successive swings of retrogression and progression and swing is arrested, maintained at a particular stage in some areas at stage one Happy-Happy, at some at second or third or fourth stage. This description is tenable as at some place people or such life-form may be wise not to allow degradation and balance their demands at stage one. At other places realisation might have come after stage one, two, third or fourth and conditions were stablised and maintained at particular stage by commensurate balancing of consumption and carrying capacity of environment. The logical inference is that we on planet earth can check degradation, restore it, initiate progression to fourth, third, second and even first 'HappyHappy' stage from the present fifth stage. This is not a science fiction but a practical possibility in view of our experience and knowledge about progression and retrogression in forest eco-systems.
Forest based model - a viable and sustainable solution :
The present generation should pause, ponder and decide whether it wants to restore the environment to its pristine purity of Happy-Happy era for its own benefit as well as for the welfare of future generations or to degrade it further to the utmost “Unhappy-Unhappy' stage. The most important pre-requisite for the swing to better environment is adoption of forest based life style. This would provide symbiotic model and eliminate most of the pollution of soil and water by eliminating use of chemical fertilisers and poisonous pesticides. The organic chemicals and materials available from forest plant species will replace artificial synthetic chemicals and material used in industries. The harmless
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cottage industries will replace large polluting industries. Agricultural and industrial model can be replaced by forest based model within a span of ten years. Trees yielding edible seeds, fruits can be planted at 5 metres spacing in agricultural fields and till trees attain height, maturity and start yielding edible products agricultural crops can be raised as a intercrop between the rows of trees as mentioned earlier under 'Taungya' system of agroforestry. There are wastelands because of degradation of soil by water logging, salination, erosion etc. which can be suitably planted with suitable tree species. There are plants suitable for all sorts of areas waterlogged, marshes, saline, alkaline and degraded. Whereas agricultural crop can be raised on hardly onetenth of surface of the planet, trees can be raised all over on all types of land. Forests once raised and maintained scientifically are self rejuvenating by mutual interactions of man, animals, birds and other life forms, the burrowers ploughing the land, men, animals and birds working as agents for dispersal of seed, carnivora etc. maintaining the sanitation and insects ensuring the health and immunity from diseases by providing natural balance of pests and predators. Forests do not require drudgery of tilling, sowing, manuring, watering, poisonous pesticides over and over again, crop after crop and year after year. Forests conserve rainwater in situ and there is no need for costly dams. Forests are self-watering. The humus from falling leaves and decay of naturally dead organisms provide adequate manure. The microorganisms in forest soils maintain organic productivity of soil by synthesising, breaking various materials into useful minerals. Nitrogen fixing bacteria and micorrhiza fungus in symbiotic relationship with roots of trees enable the trees to fix much needed nitrogen from atmosphere. Forests are thus self-manuring.
The author prepared a project 'Food from Forests' which was sanctioned by Department of Science and Technology (Rajasthan, India). The seeds of forest tree species were analysed for nutritional contents proteins, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, fibres etc. and it was found that the forest seeds are

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far more nutritious than most of cereals. The average yield of edible seeds is 2-5 tonnes per hectare per year without any recurring cost as in agriculture which is not at all cost-effective because of sky-rocketing cost of inputs and is being sustained by huge subsidies. Yield of forest seeds and edible products is not affected substantially by vagaries of nature drought, heat, frost etc. firstly because the climate is also conditioned suitably by forests and secondly because the root systems of plants in polyculture mixed forests tap deeper and varying depth of soil. Forests work as sinks of harmful gases and keep atmosphere free from pollution. The filtered water going deep down in underground reservoirs and then percolating in streams is pure and clear and also has medicinal properties as various medicinal constituents in leaves, flowers, roots of trees get dissolved in water. Forests comprise most diverse varieties of species of plants, animals and minerals which provide myriad products for direct consumption and use as well as vast variety of raw materials for cottage, small and big industries which will open up avenues and immense opportunities for gainfull employment to almost entire work force. Forestry practices like collection of seeds, nursery work, sowing, planting, weeding and hoeing, tending operations etc. are such that even the old, infirm and disabled can be engaged fruitfully. In forest based model there will not be any unemployment problem. Mankind will not lose any of its pleasures and will be able to avail better food, water and air by adopting forest based lifestyle, sooner the better.

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ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY
CONDUCT
Environment and human Psyche :
Human beings with their most superior brain power than all other life forms have immense power both for good and bad. The same ability having been twisted and distorted as anthropocentric, sensuous and hedonistic to have caused degradation of environment can be reformed to be symbiotic and environment friendly. Forest based life style which would itself facilitate optimising population and symbiotic model can be adopted without any difficulty and hardship. The causes of drift from good to bad have been discussed in preceding pages. The trend can be reversed for benefit of one and all. The hedonistic tendencies which trigger consumerism and reckless exploitation of natural resources and ensuing pollution, hardships, tensions and conflicts need to be regimented by matching good code of conduct. The really well-meaning and enlightened saints and sages, prophets, budhas, and tirthankaras have meticulaously analysed the bad tendencies and prescribed measures to control these.
Human brain is like a computer. As in the computer the storage, analysis and output is according to data fed into it so the brain stores, analyses and acts according to information and experiences imbibed by it through five senses from its surroundings. A child is born with clean slate. It learns everything, its movements, sitting, walking, language, acquaintances with objects and behaviour by observing objects around. It imitates its parents, children and others. According to a study of two children, one of slum dweller, illiterate, of poor family and other from affluent educated parents, though the child from poor parents had
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higher IQ (intelligence quotient) than that from affluent family the pattern changed with time. The slum child remained illiterate, learnt abuses, uncouth rude habits, similar to parents, children and people around whereas the affluent child got educated, had polished habits, learnt ettiquete and became a senior executive. Initially the chanced combination of genes inherited from parents exhibit the inherent potential but it is subsequent environment which matters. Child born from strong sturdy parents will not be. same if it does not get proper diet. Mental capabilities of an intelligent child will not manifest and develop if it does not get proper education. Genetic capabilities are also conditioned by environment. There are children fathered by educated men by rape or otherwise of poor slum girls and women and if brought up in slum conditions will turn out to be similar to children around.
Population control à foremost necessity and first step :
It is necessary that every child gets proper opportunities and environment for its proper development. There are lofty constitutional provisions and laws to provide equal opportunities of education, health and employment but all these are in books and hardly implemented anywhere in poor countries mainly because of the limited resources not sufficient even for one-tenth of their exploding populations. Population control is most essential and it is not possible unless stern compulsory legal provisions are introduced and implemented. Voluntary family planning is a myth with prevailing attitudes and beliefs and low levels of education which cannot be improved because of existing mismatch between resources and numbers. If the present trend of exponential growth of population continues it will never be possible to provide proper education, health facilities, shelter (houses) and opportunities for livelihood. Unfortunately there is no political will because even the enlightened political leadership is selfish and is interested in their own chairs, positions and power, irrespective of what happens to people and country. There is politics of vote banks which does not permit hard decisions like

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compulsory sterilisation as it will annoy particular communities who deliberately want to proliferate under religious garb for their hidden agenda to outnumber because in democracies it is strength of numbers that matters irrespective of quality. Initially it is necessary to adopt compulsory and punitive measures as people by and large are not voluntarily inclined to follow good desirable code of conduct. It is well known that people generally do not adhere to even traffic rules which are for the protection of all. It is only punitive measures of fine, imprisonment that deters from violating the rules. Compulsory and punitive measures to enforce rules in letter and spirit are necessary.
Children brought up in superstitious, semi civilised poor families cannot have rational attitude and behaviour. Parents, family members and neighbourhood is child's first nursery school. If he is able to go to educational institute, the teachers and fellow students mould his behaviour and subsequently the companions in office and work places exert their inftuences and the process continues all over the life time. Even if parents and family environment is good and environment in school is bad or child falls in bad company the earlier impressions, good habits are superseded by new bad habits. There are cases of persons brought up in good environment in family and also in educational institution but subsequently falling in bad company of colleagues in offices and work places going astray. As mentioned before, the new impressions go on superimposing on older ones as happens in a computer, Not only family school or college environment but overall social environment is important and it is possible to improve it if sincere efforts are made by all concerned. Once the population trend is reversed it will be possible to provide better facilities of education, shelter, health etc. to reducing numbers and more resources will be generated by improving quality and not quantity of people. The symbiotic aspects of life and interactions in nature and the importance of rationality will have to be inculcated in children through behaviour of parents, education syllabii and congenial social environment. The
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prevailing predatory, individualistic, selfish life style is aggravating disparities and consequent unhealthy competition through fair or foul means and then conflicts, tensions and miseries. The principle of symbiosis envisage equal importance and contribution of all life forms from tiniest to biggest and also of physical constituents of environment for mutual benefit. Symbiotic and rational attitude will ensure harmonious relationships and passions of anger, vanity, greed and hypocrisy will not overtake people and thus provide no scope for conflicts. This principle is essential to keep individualism and selfishness in check for common good. Laziness, indiscipline and irresponsibility are because of indifference, lack of concern for others and selfishness. The cure is possible but hard decisions at personal, family, social, national and international levels are necessary.
Rationalising five sensory perceptions :
It is individuals that make families, societies and nations. If individual is cured, is rational and symbiotic (not selfish) the attitudes of societies and nations will change. In every individual there is immense potential which can be utilised for good as well as for bad. What is required is diversion of potential of human mind towards good and rational. Human brain has huge capabilities of reasoning, analysing the inputs of knowledge and experience and then giving outputs as desired. The five senses through which brain gets its inputs, anlayses and then gives outputs are first the sense of touch, second the sense of taste, third the sense of smell, fourth the sense of sight and fifth the sense of hearing. Through the first sense of touch is experienced softness, hardness, pleasant, harsh and painful contacts and friction from interaction with various objects. Sexual pleasure is through sense of touch. Through sense of taste is experienced pleasant and painful cognition of various objects edibles and others e.g. one likes certain recipes and dislikes others. The sense of smell carries agreeable, unpleasant impulses of various odours oils, scents, filth,
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rotten objects etc. The sense of sight experiences the pictorial impulses pleasant or otherwise of different objects living as well as non living e.g. emanating from idyllic natural sceneries, beauties of animals, humans and other objects as well as unpleasant impulses from filthy, ugly and uncouth objects. Pleasures experienced from viewing dances, dramas, beautiful objects come under the domain of sense of sight. The fifth sense of hearing carries impulses from melodious or harsh sounds e.g. songs, sweet voice and language give pleasures and harsh words, abuses, reprimands give pain. These five senses are mutually reinforcing both in good and bad activities i.e. indulgence in sensuous activity of one accentuates that of others and vice-versa. It is through indulgence by senses of touch which is most alert of all, hearing, sight that people particularly youth and adolescents get addicted to porn, obscene dances, songs, postures and violence and this then reflects in their morals, values and related crimes etc.
Human brain analyses above impulses the way it has been conditioned by the environment in which it has developed and got the inputs. As the computer works according to the programme fed in it so the human brain is tuned according to social and environmental inputs. If a person is brought up in an environment of irrational excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures he will be disposed to be indulgent. It is common knowledge that excessive indulgence is harmful to the person himself as well society and the environment. Irrational indulgence in sex, the sensuous pleasures of touch harms the individual who succumbs to various diseases including incurable AIDS. Sex maniacs ultimately suffer revenge or legal punishment of even death and cause incalculable harm to victims and society. Likewise excessive indulgence in sensual pleasure of taste like over-feeding, eating spicy, oily, junk and fibreless food etc. causes various diseases of all sorts including kidney and heart failure. Indulgence in sensual pleasure of smell may lead to diseases of nose, ear and throat because of allergens. The excessive indulgence in sensuous pleasures of sight viz. dances, dramas, duels, fights, violence, T.V., captivating
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advertisements pollute human mind and is not only waste of time and money but also causes eye diseases, head aches, loss of sleep, distraction of duties e.g. students from studies and imitation in real life the fights, violence, sex etc. Indulgence in sensuous pleasures of hearing viz. high decibel discos, singing in temples, marriages and other places is cause of various diseases from varying levels of noise pollution as mentioned earlier. Alcohol and other such intoxicating psychotropic drugs affect the nervous system and brain directly with serious debilitating effects. Brain loses its power of reasoning between good and bad. More crimes of murder, rape, theft etc. are committed under intoxication than by any other cause. In addition to restraint from indulgence in pleasures of five senses, intoxicating substances need to be banned effectively. Animals in forest, do not eat harmful plants but humans, because of sensuous indulgence, and though with higher brain and reasoning power indulge in consuming tobacco, drugs, spicy junk food etc. even being well aware of their harmful effects. Some persons are so much captive of their passions and sensuous indulgence that they are totally insensitive to the sad plight of others and even to national and international calamities of earthquakes, storms, droughts, floods and consequent hunger, diseases and miseries of people. The new year 2005 was after the 26th December 2004's one of the greatest human tragedy wrought by Tsunami sea waves, killing over a lakh and making several lakhs homeless, hungry and miserable. But people were insensitive even to such a tragedy and celebrated new year with all gala extravaganza and vulgar display of their wealth in pursuit of indulgence in sensuous pleasures. The money spent could have helped several needy destitute persons.
Five vows - antidote to irrational and emotional behavioural patterns :
The slavish disposition and excessive indulgence in above five sensuous pleasures and intoxicating substances accentuate hedonistic, and individualistic tendencies. It triggers more and
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more consumerism which is one of the most harmful factors affecting individual, society and environment. The various bad emotions mainly anger, vanity, hypocrisy and greed emanate from irrational sensuous attachment and indulgence. These emotions if not checked trigger evil deeds, violence, falsehood, theft, consumerism and sex. Almost all religions barring a few like Charvak emphasise check on sensual indulgence of five senses and inherent emotions of anger, vanity, hypocrisy and greed and also the emanating consequent misdeeds of violence, falsehood, theft, consumerism and sex. The antidote is observation of following five vows to the best possible extent :
Non Violence (Ahimsa) :
Violence in any form to any living being small or big should not be inflicted. Killing is extreme form of violence. Even hurting feelings, exploitation in any from, lack of compassion, denial of help to needy are all different forms of violence. In some religions even air, water, earth forms (Minerals) have been considered as life forms. Excessive use of these natural resources beyond their carrying capacity is also violence. Life-forms have been classified according to the number of senses present in particular living beings. Those with one sense of touch (Sparsa) only are earth form (including all minerals in undetached state, air, water, fire and all types of plants). Next category is of those with two senses of touch (Sparsa) and taste (Rasna) such as larvae. The third category has three senses of touch, taste and smell (Ghran), the fourth category has four senses of touch, taste, smell and sight (chakshu) and fifth category has all the five senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing (Karna). The more the number of senses, greater is the pain, callousness and hardening of heart in killing or harming. Use of water, minerals, fire, plants should be as frugal as possible. Violence with intention and through carelessness are more harmful than unintentional and if occurs inspite of all precautions e.g. while removing an object from one place to another, it should not be dragged but carefully lifted and put at
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another place after seeing that there is no creature under-neath and likewise while walking one should be so careful as if searching for the lost valuable like small pearl to avoid harm to any creatures. Carelessness and laziness (pramada) which also means lack of systematic and regular life-style are root causes of many wrong doings such as waste, pollution etc. The transgressions like overloading of animals, underfeeding them, tying them painfully, mutilating etc. are also violence and prohibited under the vow.
Trutfulness (Satya) :
This vow is very closely related to the first one of nonviolence. All untruth necessarily involves violence. Even truth if harmful to others is to be avoided. Mere statement of facts is not truth unless it is beneficial, moderate as opposed to exaggeration, cultured and not vulgar, full of esteem rather than denigration. Such trangessions of vow of truthfulness as false preaching, divulging confided secret, breach of trust, forgery etc. should not be committed. The vow if observed in letter and spirit, will ensure mutual trust and harmony and eventually stable social and physical environment.
Non-Stealing (Achaurya) :
It enjoins abstention from taking anything which is not given willingly. Ignorant and illiterate may be coerced or tutored to give willingly which is exploitation and this is not permitted. This definition of non-stealing is based on the principle of mutualism (Symbiosis) which is backbone for environment health and protection. For example if we take only the fruits, leaves and wood naturally dropped by trees, there will not be slightest destruction of forest. By eating naturally fallen fruits and then spreading the seeds one helps the tree as an agent for dispersal of seed. If life styles are based on this principle of give and take for mutual benefit, then there will be no degradation of environment and all conflicts will end. The butterfly or honey bees extract nectar from flowers but helps in pollination which is perfect mutualism. There are numerous other examples already mentioned
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earlier. The vow of non-stealing include avoiding purchase of articles at lower price and sale at higher price, taking forgotten or excavated articles, abetment of theft, receipt of stolen articles, adulteration, use of false weights and measures, violation of state rules viz., tax evasion. This vow also strengthens vow of nonviolence as many conflicts are on account of trangressions of this vow of non stealing.
Non-Possessions (Aparigraha) :
This vow enjoins that all types of material possessions should be reduced to bare minimum. The material possessions include land, gold, silver, jewels, food grains, live-stock, servants, clothes and other necessary and luxury items. Shramanik monks even today, demonstrate the principle of least worldly possession i.e. non-consumerism or Aparigraha. This vow is against consumerism and is very important in present context of growing consumerism. These days the very definition of economic growth and quality of life or standard of living is higher and higher consumerism. Such a quality of life, based on unbridled and indiscriminate consumption will be end of life itself. The modern concept of development and growth is contradictory to environment preservation. On the one hand we express love and concern for welfare of sons, grandsons and posterity and on the other hand we are consuming and exhausting all resources at such a speed that nothing will be left for them. Since beginning of industralisation we have consumed so much that there should be restraint for the sake of future generations. If the present trend of consumerism continues we will not only soon exhaust all material resources but make soil, water and air so much polluted that life may not be possible. This vow of non possession i.e. minimum consumption offers an easy solution to the formidable problem of environment degradation. Many conflicts and wars are because of transgression of this vow i.e. desire for possession of more land, money and material. This vow is therefore also related with vow of non-violence.
The great Indian mathematician Srinivas Ramanujam

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prescribed a very relevant formula for happiness of one and all. The formula is -
Happiness =
needs (i.e. the happiness is inversely proportional to needs and therefore less the needs, more the happiness).
Celibacy (Bramhacarya) :
This means abstinence from sexual desires and activity. The various concomitants of sexual desire viz., wine, meat, gambling, titillating songs, dance, persuasive body decoration, libertines, aimless wanderings are also prohibited in this vow. The effort is voluntary and out of one's own express will. This vow ensures voluntary check on population growth which is singularly most harmful phenomenon for environment. Sexual indulgence, licentious and promiscuous mode of life is cause of many conflicts and violence and recently a new incurable disease AIDS. The vow of celibacy is an effective attribute for individual, and better social and physical environment. Celibacy does not imply complete abstinence. Faithful limited sexual relationship with one married partner of opposite sex is celibacy for laity (householder).
Disciplining the mind and the body :
The indulgence in sensuous pleasures of five senses, harmful emotions of anger etc. and five types of bad deeds or sins will be less and less according to the degree of observance of these five vows and this will promote more and more symbiotic and rational life-styles. The greater the commitment and sincerity in observance of these vows the more peaceful will be the life and there will be proportionately less and less harm to environment. The observance of vows has to be at both the levels of mind and body i.e. both in thoughts and actions. If thoughts are not rational and actions are checked only because of compulsions or lack of opportunity then it is hypocrisy. There are examples of people wishing bad for others in mind and thought but pretend to be well
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wishers. Such hypocrites are more dangerous. Unfortunately some religions prescribe and sanctify such hyprocrisy and advise to pretend friendship with enemy till proper opportunity to harm. This is wrong. That both mind and body are synchronised and work in harmony is essential in day to day activities like walking, eating, cooking, driving, bathing, shaving and all other daily routines. Generally people perform these chores with mind thinking and occupied with thoughts in other matters than being performed by body. The result is accidents in driving, in trains, factories and many other situations, slipping while walking, burning while cooking, bleeding cuts while shaving etc. and sometimes this dichotomy of mind and body is disastrous and fatal. A person slips and falls while walking if not attentive and does not see slippery oil or moist objects. In laboratories, offices, hospitals, industries, railways, army and in households costly instrument, equipments and machines are damaged because of lack of coordination in mind and body. This generates wastes and needs replacements necessitating more production of things at much shorter intervals and is therefore harmful to environment by putting more pressure on resources. The golden rule is that mind should be concentrated on the work on any action being undertaken by body. This is best form of meditation and if practised and mastered no other form of ariticulated and regimented from of meditation is necessary. Idling and wasting time in practising concentration may take years to reach satisfactory levels. It is passive meditiation which is unproductive also. Instead it is easier to have concentration by active and productive meditation like gardening, painting and even reading and writing. Another serious flow in concepts is that encouraging or acquiscing in wrong deeds of others is not considered bad. To acquisce evil is as bad as doing it. It is this attitude misconceived as tolerance and even sanctified in religions that is responsible for deterioration in law and order. To do wrong or to encourage or prompt others to do wrong or even to acquisce wrong being done by others is equally bad and sinful. Five vows should be practised accordingly. A rational person is always conscious of

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his thoughts, emotions and actions and does not allow these run haywire or wayward and such a person manifests normal personality traits without any psychological problems, viz. tension, stress, depression, anxiety, paranoia etc.
In order to achieve the objective of peace and harmony among all constituents of nature it is necessary to inculcate the ideals and fundamental principles of symbiosis and rationality in children as well as in adults by education tailored adequately for different age groups as well as by law also. Initially it will be necessary to enforce the required laws and rules strictly by punitive measures also to instil discipline. Unfortunately the necessity of proper behaviour is realised and rules are framed, penaties for violation also prescribed but are not enforced. There are excellent laws but only in law books and are not generally followed and enforced mostly because of selfish interests of politicians, bureaucrates and law enforcing agencies. The situation has been vitiated so much that the law abiding people suffer more than those who violate the laws but ultimately it boomrangs on all. The result is deteriorating conditions of law and order and its direct corollary is damage to physical environment also. If peace and happiness is desired and desired it must be, then the trend has to reversed, streamlined and corrected if necessary by force. Lack of discipline and non implementation of rules are the root causes of almost all of the problems. Murderers, dacoits, thieves, cheats, boot-leggers, adultrators, even traitors and terrorists roam scot free because of indiscipline, laxity, corruption not only in law enforcement agencies but also in judiciary. Educating children from the beginning, parents and all age groups about their rights and simultaneously about responsibilities towards society and also natural environment will go a long way to mitigate the problems and facilitate improvement. However, strict enforcement of laws and rules and proper punishment to miscreants is also necessary.
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CONCLUSION
The conclusion is that fundamental principles of symbiosis and rationality needs to be understood, imbibed and followed. These are cardinal and eternal principles not only time or space specific but are relevant for all time for entire mankind for multitudinous life forms and for all other constituents of environment. This is necessary for peace which every one cherishes. Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan Environmentalist who has been awarded Nobel Peace Prize 2004 said, "..... the environment is very important in the aspects of peace because when we destroy our resources, they become scarce and we fight over that.....". This was endorsed by Ole Danbolt Mjoes, head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee ".....peace on earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment.....". The observance of five vows would facilitate this. Optimising of population and consumerism commensurate to the carrying capacity of natural resources is the first and foremost pre-requisite and opposition from any religious or ethnic group must be countered by mandatory laws world over. Every religion is concerned with welfare of its followers and also others. It is not religion if it preaches otherwise. People cannot be happy if population explosion continues and more and more numbers chase shrinking resources as sustainable development is then not possible. It will never be possible to remove poverty, provide proper livelihood, nutritional food, health facilities, shelter and other amenities of dignified living if numbers continue to multiply. It is high time to get rid of the medieval mindset and obsolete obscurantist distorted interpretations of precepts prescribed in a particular context and relevant only in then prevailing socio
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political religious conditions. No government however efficient and sincere can fulfil its promises with out controlling population explosion. Governments of diverse political ideologies will go on changing as in the game of musical chairs. The forest based life style will go a long way to solve most of the problems. Wangari Maathai said, ".. '..... tree planting slows desertification, preserves forest habitats, provides source of fuel, building material and food for future generations to combat poverty.....".
While discussing progression (betterment) and retrogression (degradation) it has been mentioned that factors and causes i.e. activities responsible for degradation have to be stopped and the process reversed for progression or betterment. Since the present malaise has its genesis in replacement of forest based model by agriculture and industry based model which caused population explosion and rising consumerism. The process must be reversed gradually in a phased manner, starting with agroforestry to stop further degradation and then pave wave for pristine symbiotic and harmonious forest based life style. This will restore environment, checking population and consumerism. Of course adherence to principal of utilisation of resources within their respective carrying capacities is must.
The principles of symbiosis and rationality are for all situations at different levels for individuals, groups, societies, nations and between nations at international levels and need be followed in letter and spirit. This would certainly and undoubtedly reverse the trend of deterioration and put it back on path of progression towards better and better, happier and happier situation. It is building castles in air for any individual to think that he can be happy by manipulating things at cost of others. If an individual or a section of people, larger or smaller, is unhappy, poor and deprived because of exploitation by other individual or section or group, it is bound to revolt and make the exploiting people also unhappy, miserable and even completely annihilate them. History is replete with numerous such instances. In order

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to make happiness even of one's own lasting as against short lived it is necessary to consider happiness of others as important as one's own. In this context all living beings and even inanimate constituents of environment viz. air, water, soil, minerals etc. are important. Likewise happiness cannot be achieved and ensured just by reciting prayers, doing, worship, obeissance to Gods, goddesses, idols or even saints or 'yagna' (burning butter, wood, cereals), sacrifices of innocent animals, pilgrimages or even by just expressing concern for peace and happiness only in thoughts and words. It has to be translated into symbiotic life style, analysis of causes of the problems and evolving appropriate strategies in the given situation. The present trend is suicidal and must be stopped. The human ingenuity is superb with immense capabilities. What is required is to put it in right direction. Human brain is a wonderful computer far more energy efficient and capable than any other electronic super computer invented. The only necessity is to programme it with software of symbiosis and rationality. Symbiosis or mutalism does not have any ambiguous interpretation. It implies simple fair give and take within carrying capacities of all constituents of environment both animate and inanimate. Most of laws and rules have different interpretations. Persons convicted by lower courts are aquitted by higher courts though the facts and laws are same. There is no such failing in law or principle of symbiosis or mutualism. Symbiotic, rational and forest based life style will take care of all aberrations, distortions and retrogratory processes in physical environment as well as in individual, family, social, national and international interactions, ensuring smooth, harmonious, painless and happy transformations or inevitable evolutionary natural changes. Since genes which are inherent in biological systems also interact with ambient environment, mutually influencing and modifying, the genetic manifestations will also be harmonious, free from aberrations and disortations. There will not be harmful mutations. Individuals will be free from genetic defects or disorders both physical and mental and other inherent diseases. Mentally and
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physically healthy individuals will make up healthy and happy families, societies, nations and the whole world. Mankind will certainly realise the follies and realise it must if it is to ensure its own survival along with all other constituents of nature. Let us hope for the best. After darkness there is light, day after night, new life from fallen seed, growth promoting manure for new shoots from dry, dead leaves. From the prevailing miserable, deteriorating conditions will emerge the realisation and trend will reverse and the needle of time will swing back to progression than retrogression. This will be possible only by human effort and not by any superstitious divine intervention.
There are pessimists of various shades. Many subscribe to only one life to be enjoyed to the full without any consideration for others or environment. They are hedonists to the core and inflict maximum harm to the environment. Then there are extreme pessimists who are under continuous fear and depression anticipating dooms day sooner or later. Some medieval religions have also predicted it. There are others who are fatalists, believing that what ever happens is because it is a so destined and therefore do not care for appropriate efforts to solve problems. If there is an accident, minor or major, the fatalists attribute it to will of God, wrath of spirits or destiny. They negate relevance of traffic rules or importance of careful driving and measures to punish culprits. Some argue about natural calamities of floods, earthquakes, famines, epidemics etc. which occur frequently and on which man does not have control. The facts is that many natural calamities like floods, famines, epidemics are man made and can be avoided by adopting forest based model. There is generally harmony in nature and even the movements of tectonic plates are gradual and incipient as evident from preservation of flora and fauna intact on seperated continents. In forest based model there are sufficient advanced bio-signals to warn and allow time to escape damage. If population is limited, hazardous areas will not be populated. Above all most of these exigencies can be better faced by adopting symbiotic and forest based model. All dooms
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day theories are farcial. Even Big Bang theory of birth of universe is being questioned and there is more and more acceptance of Steady State Theory of Universe which means without beginning or end and there is a continuous process of harmonious change and stability i.e. the old making may for new. Even the ultimate destruction or extinction of matter sucked inside a black hole has been challenged and according to the theory whatsoever goes in must come out and there is continuous recycling. Old galaxies, stars may die after completing their life span but new ones are being continuously born. Even if there is dooms day, what ever be the span of life, short or long, even a day or hour, life will be happy in symbiotic model than in prevailing predatory one.
All humanity irrespective of caste, creed, place, nation should shake off egos, entrenched rituals and superstitions and merge as one organic whole which should then accept itself as one of the multitude of other life-forms and inanimate objects and consider itself being a part and interdependent in the cosmos. It is also necessary to practice five vows to discipline sensuous indulgences of five senses, the mind and also the emotions of anger, vanity (ego), hypocrisy and greed. Presently the monster of consumerism is threatening the very existence. It has to be checked by limiting the wants within carrying capacities of resources. Sensuous indulgence triggers vices which generate corruption of all sorts at all levels. The prevailing social environment of selfishness, greed, consumerism and corruption is affecting all except a few exceptions and even politicians, bureaucrats including judges being conditioned by it, and succumb to the temptation of vices which create a vicious circle generating more and more vices. It must be checked by following the principles of symbiosis, rationality and environment friendly conduct. There will be no sequencing of steps to be taken. All efforts should be made simultaneously as the environment become suitable for further increasing the intensity of efforts. First and foremost step is to control population and consumerism. Simultaneously agroforestry should be started and forest based model exclusive of agriculture

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should be established. This would create congenial environment for symbiotic life style. Symbiosis and environment friendly conduct should be part of syllabi at all levels and enforced by voluntary efforts or even by punitive measures, if need be.
Since environment affects all alike it is environmental ethics or environmentalism that should have precedence over other ethnic or religious considerations. It will be relevant to quote from famous Indian epic Mahabharata (Van parva 313/117), "... Religious texts of religions differ, prophets of different religions differ and saints in same religion differ. It is difficult to understand..." However there cannot be any difference of opinion that all need clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, healthy, unpolluted soil to produce healthy food and amicable peaceful environment to live in. Mankind has faced problems, has suffered from miseries and calamities throughout the history. The main cause is lack of environmental ethics. Obviously therefore, there is dire need for new modern universal religion. Mankind has tried and lived with several isms and religions. It is now time to adopt Environmentalism.
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Appendix - I
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Forest Influences, Joseph Kitteredge, Megrow-Hill Book
Company Inc; New York, Taranto, London, 1948. 2. Manuj Aur Vriksha, S.M. Jain, Rashtradoot, Jaipur 08-10
63. 3. Vanya Praniyon ka Sarankshan, S.M. Jain, Vir Vani, Jaipur,
03-10-64. 4. Floods and their Control, S.M. Jain, Rajasthan Chronicle,
Jaipur, 24-07-1966. 5. Jain Ethics, Dr. Dayanand Bhargava, Motilal Banarsidas,
Varanasi, 1968. 6. Rajasthana ke vanya Pasu, Mahendra Prakash and S.M. Jain
(Book on Wild Animals of Rajasthan, Published by Public
Relations Department, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur 1970. 7. Adivasi Abhudaya ki Vidambana, S.M. Jain, Dainika Nav
Jyoti, Ajmer, 20-08-1978. 8. Tree Wealth to uplift tribals, S.M. Jain, Hindustan Times, New
Delhi 06-05-81. 9. Food Value of Forest. (The New Forest Bill), S.M. Jain, The
Hindustan Times, New Delhi 21-05-1982. 10. Forest preservation must get priority, S.M. Jain, Hindustan
Times, New Delhi. 31-05-82. 11. Forest Model Life, S.M. Jain, The Hindustan Times, New
Delhi. 18th July, 1982. 12. Economics of Tree Planting, S.M. Jain (Indian Sugar, New
Delhi, March, 1983)
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13. Forest for Food and Development, S.M. Jain, Souvenir on
the eve of World Conference on Ahimsa, Animal Protection and Human Nutrition at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi,
30th Oct. to 4th Nov., 1985. 14. New Food Sources, S.M. Jain, The Hindustan Times, New
Delhi, 12-10-1986. 15. A Brief History of Time-Stephen W. Hawking 1988, Bantam
Books, USA. 16. Vano se Bhojan evam vikas, S.M. Jain, Virvani Jaipur 03-07
88, 18-07-88, 03-08-98 and Danik Navjyoti, Ajmer 11-08
88, 10-12-88, 05-06-89. 17. Tribal and Forests, S.M. Jain, Hindustan Times, New Delhi,
18-10-89. 18. Ratnakarandasravakacara, Trans. Acarya Vidyasagar Muni
Sri muni Sangha Sahitya Prakasana Samiti, IV Edition, 1992. 19. Hamara Shakahar Kitana Shuddha? Kitana Ahimsaka? S.M.
Jain, Veervani, Jaipur, 18-09-92. 20. Jaina Darsana Men Paryavarana Samraksana, S.M. Jain,
Bhagavana Bahaubali Maha Mastakabhiseka Smarika, "Divyasadhana", Digambara jain Maha Samiti, Kota, 1993
94".
21. Jainism and Environment Protection, S.M. Jain, Arhat Vacana,
Indore, July, 1994. 22. Environmental Education for Sustainable Development -
Edited by Desh Bandhu, Indian Environment Society, New
Delhi, 1994. 23. Symbiosis V/s Predation, S.M. Jain, Arhat Vacana, Indore,
Oct., 1995. 24. Mantra Vidya ki Jain Manyata Sandigdha, S.M. Jain, Arhat
Vacana, Indore, Oct., 1996.
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25. Kalpavrkasa, the Benevolent Trees, Scientific interpretation, S.M. Jain, Arhat Vacan, Indore April 1997.
26. Forest seeds for Human Nutrition, S.M. Jain, Research Project, Sanctioned by Department of Science and Technology, on which Sneh Sharma has done Ph.D. in 1996.
27. Population Paradox, S.M. Jain, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 03-09-1999.
28. Jainism and Nature Conservation, S.M. Jain, Text of Paper read in Global Conference on Environment at Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi Nov. 06-10-01.
29. Paryavrana Samraksana ke Pramukha Pahalu, S.M. Jain, Text of Lecture at Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 28-10-2001.
30. Paryavarana Samraksana men Jaina Dharma ka Yogadana, S.M. Jain, Text of Lecture at Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 28-10-2001.
31. Russell on religion - Bertrand Russel Routledge, 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P4EE
32. First steps to Jainism - Sancheti and Bhandari, Sancheti Trust "Alka", D-1, Shastri Nagar, Jodhpur.
33. Harappa Culture, Ph.D. Thesis of Bhagwan Singh.
34. Tiloyapannatti, Yati Vrsabhacarya, Jivaraja Granthamata, Jaina Sanskrit Sanraksaka Sangha, Sholapur.
35. The Turning Point - Fritjof Capra, Harper Collins, 77-85, Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W68JB
36. Ecology of Natural Resources - Francois Ramade Professor, University de Paris-sud orsay, translated from French by W.J. Duffin, University of Hull.
37. Introduction to Environmental studies - Jonathan Turk, Sanders college Publishing, Holt-Sanders, Japan.

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38. Fundamentals of Ecology - Engene P.Odum, W.P. Sanders
Company, Philadephia, London. 39. Elements of Ecology-George L. Clarke, John Wiley and Sons.
Inc. London. 40. Pristine Jainism - S.M. Jain, Parshvanath Vidhyapeeth,
Varanasi, 2003. 41. Vanpal, a novel in Hindi, S.M. Jain, Sahityagar, Jaipur, 2004.
DOO
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Appendix-II
AUTHOR'S RESEARCH PROJECT
ON
FOREST FOR FOOD AND DEVELOPMENT
SANCTIONED BY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ON WHICH Ms SNEH SHARMA, DID, Ph.D.
in 1996
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Justification and background
The scenario as manifest at present and if continues to unfold as of now, is fraught with grim perspectives. The exploding population, its rising expectations and the ad-hoc measures to meet them through predatory technologies, will eventually end up in irretrievable crisis. The living patterns and high-tech models of development inextricably dependent on non-renewable sources, unstable as they are, cannot be sustained for long. The whole edifice is bound to crumble down soon. The un-satiable mad race is destroying simultaneously the vitals of nature, its renewable resources and the very life-sustaining systems. The air, water and soil which are three basic environmental constituents for life are being increasingly damaged. The pollution of entire environment, has at many places, reached beyond its redeeming, rejuvenating capacity. The ecological imbalance as a result of destruction of tree cover from most parts and with it the various life-forms, has shattered the intricate chain of most of life-supporting systems.
There is yet some hope and something left to cling to for survival. The sands of time are running out fast and concerted efforts are needed before it is too late. The foremost concern should be to save air, water and soil from further pollution and to retrieve the damage already done. The most wide-spread and extensive damage is because of high-tech, capital-intensive, predatory agriculture based on irrigation dams, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, all of which are polluting soil, water and air. Our seas, rivers and other water resources are getting more and more polluted by agricultural and industrial effluents causing serious threat to aquiflora and fauna. The air we breathe is also highly polluted with toxins and pathogens beyond permissible limits. The harmful chemicals are getting into human system through edible crops because of soil pollution by pesticides, fertilisers and irrigation dams.
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Extensive tracts of forests have been cleared to make way for agriculture. This has accelerated soil erosion and also accentuated flood havoc because of reduced infiltration and increased run off on denuded hill slopes, Climatic pattern has also been disturbed resulting in frequent droughts. This has also disturbed the entire ecological balance. About a 1000 plant species and 3000 species of animals and birds on earth are already extinct and more are on the verge. With loss of habitat i.e. trees, the animals, birds and insects disappear and because later are pollinating, dispersal agencies, further regeneration of plant species stops, thus a vicious circle of destruction sets in, putting even the human survival in jeopardy.
Even the aggressive agriculture of high yielding hybrids will not be able to cope with the growing needs. The yields have already reached the plateau and have started declining. There is an alternative, viable and stable, organic and symbiotic, recycling and replenishing, non-polluting yet progressively productive. The alternative is “forest based model of life”, which will provide cross fertilisation of sccial and biological sciences to harness productive potentials in harmony with entire biome, the whole environment.
Polyculture mixed forests of naturally evolved species once raised and established and if judiciously managed will be everlasting, self-regenerating, self-fertilising, self-watering and self- protecting. They will provide edible seeds, nuts, beans, fruits, timber, fuel, gums, resins, fibres, flosses, dyes, honey, wax, lac and everything to meet the requirements of developing as well as developed societies. The yield of edible seeds, nuts, beans, fruits, will be 2 to 5 tonnes per hectare, per year much more than from any high-tech agriculture and that too without any recurring cost on ploughing, seed, irrigation, fertilisers, pesticides required in agriculture, crop after crop, year after year. The agricultural crops utilise soil nutrients upto one or two feet depth of soil only whereas the questing roots of trees (e.g.
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Prosopis cineraria) go down upto 50 metres depth to utilise inexhaustible store house of nutrients. The yields will also be not significantly affected by droughts or excess rains as in case of agriculture. There will be no need of costly irrigation dams and channels, fertilisers, pesticides etc., which are all polluting and degrading. Whereas agricultural crops can be raised successfully only on one-tenth of earth surface, there are trees and shrubs for good and bad soils, slopes and sand dunes, waterlogged and saline areas, degraded and eroded lands, hills and plains, sea-costs and marshes etc. The polyculture forest is permaculture which will be self-sustaining economically also and there will be no need for huge subsidies as for agriculture. Even in U.S.A. there are subsidies totalling 21 billion dollars for agricultural produce valuing 22 billion dollars (1984). If all direct and indirect subsidies are taken into account agriculture is not at all an economic proposition in the present context of skyrocketing input costs.
Human ingenuity has constantly been developing technologies to make life more and more comfortable by obviating the drudgery involved in execution of various works. Recently the progress has been phenomenal as a result of spectacular advances in electronics particularly in its sophisticated fields of computronics, robotry etc. It is surprising that man has not thought of doing away the cumbersome drudgery involved in agriculture. The point is as to why go for all the drudgery of raising agricultural crops when the same can be done by nature in polyculture forest more efficiently and economically without inherent hazards of agriculture. The polyculture forest will provide enough food to cater to ten times present population and in addition numerous other products for various industries, village, small and big. Being labour intensive it will create unlimited job opportunities for young and old, men and women, infirm and strong, able and disabled, skilled and unskilled.
This project will go a long way to evolve and promote a
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model of development which will steer clear of the most of the evils of present pattern of development.
Objective:
The basic objective is to evolve, propagate, and establish a forest based model of life. It will involve intensive research, demonstration and extension programme to be taken up in integrated phases.
PHASE I
SURVEY & DOCUMENTATION
In the initial first phase of the programme survey and documentation of information primarily regarding food value of various forest trees and shrubs will be taken up from the available literature as well as by surveying the food habits of important forest tribes.
Requirement of staff
1. Project Director
2. Botanist
3. Sociologist
4. Driver
5. Steno
6.
7. Peon
Accounts Clerk
Requirement of Vehicles, equipment etc.
1. Jeep
2. Tentage
3. Office equipment
Period required for Phase I
The programme under Phase I will be completed within a
period of two years.

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PHASE -II
Analysis of forest seeds, beans, nuts for nutritive food value as well as toxity if any and also development of palatable and acceptable recipes.
On the basis of information gathered during Phase-I, the programme for analysis of forest seeds, beans and nuts will be taken up to find out their nutritive food value and toxity if any. Simultaneously suitable, palatable and acceptable recipes will be developed. Both the Phase-I and Phase-Il can be taken up simultaneously or in sequence. It will be more expedient for realisation of the basic objective of the project if the Phase-I and II are taken up simultaneously.
Requirement of Staff
1. Project Director 2. Chemical Analyst 3. Food Technologist 4. Lab. Assistants 5. Steno 6. Accounts Clerk 7. Driver 8. Peon
Requirement of Laboratory equipment & material
1. Infrared Spectrophotometer 2. U. V. Spectrophotometer 3. High Pressure liquid Chromatograph 4. U. V. Detector, Video and Print out 5. Gas liquid chromatography apparatus 6. Column and thin layer chromatography apparatus 7. Food processing apparatus 8. Glass ware, ovens and other utensils 9. Chemicals and other materials
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Period required for Phase - II
The analysis of various potential food resources available form forest for their nutritive value as also for toxity if any and development of suitable and acceptable recipes will be completed in two years.
PHASE -III DEMONSTRATION AND EXTENSION
During this final phase of the project, results of findings under Phase-I and Phase-II will be propagated through demonstration and extension programme. It will include organisation of lectures, seminars, publication of pamphlets and Radio and T.V. coverage. Ten demonstration plots will also be laid out in main agro-climatic zones to demonstrate technical feasibility and economical viability of forest farming.
Requirement of Staff
1. Project Director 2. Forest Rangers 3. Foresters 4. Driver 5. Steno 6. Accounts Clerk 7. Peon Period required for Phase III
To educate people about food value of forest and also about technical feasibility and economic viability of forest farming, it will require a concerted effort for at least a period of 15 years, The one hectare demonstration plots for forest farming in main agroclimatic zones will start yielding full benefits after 10 to 15 years, though annual returns at par those from agriculture will commence from first year of the plantation from inter-cropping, medicinal plants.
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Note: The project was resubmitted in the prescribed proforma to the Department of Science and Technology. A meagre sum of Rs. 1.10 Lakhs only was sanctioned and Ms Sneh Sharma could analyse and evaluate nutritional status of 20 forest seeds only. The results are given in the following tables.
Table-3 PROXIMATE ANALYSIS
No. Name of Seeds
Moisture
Ash
Protein
Fat
Crude Fibre
5.33 7.80
3.14 0.90
6.27
1.69
5.59 5.28
4.23
1. Holoptelea integrifolia 2. Dendrocalamus strictus
Diospyros melanoxylon 4. Terminalia belerica
Prosopis chilensis Prosopis cineraria
Bauhinia purpurea 8. Capparis decidua 9. Pithecolobium dulce 10. Stercuila urens 11. Acacia catechu 12. Acacia leucophloea 13. Ziziphus mauritiana 14. Butea monosperma 15. Cassia tistula 16. Mangifera indica 17. Buchnania lanzan 18. Moringa oleifera 19. Tamarindus indica 20. Acacia nilotica
6.63 4.75 7.08 4.14 7.68 9.16 21.30 5.45 3.16 5.93 3.00 3.99 3.50 4.63
4.12 11.90 2.53 5.04 2.07 5.19 2.28 4.50 2.85 4.18 4.50 6.18 1.30 6.69 9.04 2.47 3.44 8.23 2.59 5.14
30.10 13.10 19.24 35.82 38.57 16.91 35.25 21.43 28.88 7.47 31.88 27.24 2.15 16.42
6.51 1.20 13.59 39.15 32.57 12.22 19.63 16.58 19.72 32.57 7.99 16.20 0.63 25.93 10.77 7.56 39.10 3.58 8.19 20.30
0.63 4.18 3.68 3.47 7.68 6.22 3.35 3.38 6.80 4.15 2.50 2.51 3.38 2.10 5.39 1.06 3.65
13.35
15.09 18.70 38.10 15.09 7.23
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Table No.4 MINERAL ELEMENTS COMPOSITION
S.
Potasium (ppm) 4.0 4.9 3.0
5.9
6.7
7.8
7.2
No. Name of Seeds
Calcium
(mg/100gm) 1. Holoptelea integrifolia 382.01 2. Dendrocalamus strictus 36.00 3. Diospyros melanoxylon 592.16 4. Terminalia belerica 255.14 5. Prosopis chilensis 258.00 6. Prosopis cineraria 273.79 7. Bauhinia purpurea 498.92 8. Capparis decidua 410.06 9. Pithecolobium dulce 309.18 10. Stercuila urens 523.33 11. Acacia catechu 431.10 12. Acacia leucophiloea 515.90 13. Ziziphus mauritiana 260.33 14. Butea monosperma 292.13 15. Cassia fistula
68.50 16. Mangifera indica 44.07 17. Buchnania lanzan 138.09 18. Moringa oleifera 23.27 19. Tamarindus indica 139.30 20. Acacia nilotica 566.44
Phosphorus (mg/100gm) 551.90 162.00 133.48 348.80 563.40 647.52 466.67 582.51 550.81 1125.69 372.91 718.30 133.00 272.26 1167.32 107.29 430.00 522.02 271.02 450.23
Tron Sodium (mg/100gm) (ppm) 32.03 0.50 7.85
0.04 330.40 0.50 4.36 0.20 19.43 1.60 83.95 0.50 11.63 0.60 75.33 0.70 97.43 0.05 20.72 0.60 23.18 0.80 97.74 0.52 0.50 133.00 0.80 209.26 0.70 1.90 0.40 7.70 0.20 23.87 0.70 135.77 0.40 21.04 0.90
6.8 3.7 7.3 6.3 6.8
1.80
5.9
7.2 7.0
7.3
3.7
5.0 5.0 6.8
Data from Ph.D. thesis of Ms. Sneh Sharma, Research Scholar, University of Rajasthan. Jaipur.
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COMMENTS ON THE PROJECT "FOREST FOR FOOD AND DEVELOPMENT" FROM EMINENT PERSONS, APEX ORGANISATIONS AND LEADING INSTITUTIONS 1. Copy of letter Dated 25-05-82 from Shri Mohan Singh Mehta, President Seva Mandir, Udaipur and Ex Vice-Chancellor, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
Mr. Jain,
I have read your article with much interest. Your views are convincing. I am also feeling depressed at the existing state of affairs. We must continue our efforts.
2. Copy of letter No.IIFM/RVS/91/4195 Dated 15-11-1991 from Prof. R.V. Singh (IFS) to S.M. Jain Copy endorsed to Director, IIFM, Bhopal & Prof. V.K. Bahuguna, IFS.
Dear Sir,
Kindly refer to your letter No.SMJ/G/91, dated 01-11-91 addressed to the Director, IIFM, Bhopal. We thank you very much for your interest in our Institute.
We are ready to collaborate with your proposed research programme. However, this needs further discussion in the matter. Kindly make it convenient to discuss this matter with me or with Prof. V.K. Bahuguna, IFS at IIFM, Bhopal on 5th or 6th December 1991.
3. Copy of letter Dated 10-12-1990 from Guhathakurta (Sr. Project Officer (Forestry)) World Bank to S.M. Jain
Dear Mr. Jain :
Please refer to your letter no. SMJ/90 dated December 4, 1990.
We have read with interest your project profile and feel that you may consider to pose this project to the Indian Council of Forest Research and Education. However, we thank you very much for your interest in the Bank.

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4. Copy of letter Dated 16-08-1988 from Mr. E. Bojadzievski
(FAO Representative in India and Bhutan) to S.M. Jain Dear Mr. Jain, Thank you for your letter of 3rd August 1988 enclosing a copy of your project idea on Forest for Food and Development. Through we find your proposal extremely relevant to FAO's mandate in India, we are unfortunately not in a position to entertain any requests other than those sent to us through the Ministry of Agriculture which is our nodal point in India. I would therefore request you to approach either the International Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Agriculture or the Ministry of Environment and Forests who would, after scrutiny and if found acceptable, forward your
project idea to FAO for consideration. 5. Copy of letter No. Q-15025/1/88 Dated 22-08-1998 from Mr.
H.M. Bhatia (Dy. Advisor, Forestry) endorsed to S.M. Jain. Shri S.M. Jain has sent a research project on the subject mentioned above to Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Member, Planning Commission. This has been examined and found that this is a quite comprehensive research project report. Copies of the
project report are enclosed for necessary action. 6. Copy of letter No. D.O. NO. MOS(S&T)/90-57 of Dated 13
01-1990 from Prof. M.G.K. Menon Minister of State to S.M. Jain. My dear Shri S.M. Jain, Thank you for your letter No. SMJ/90 dated 08-01-1990 concerning your project on "Forests for food development". I am forwarding your letter to the Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, to see what best can be done in this matter.
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7. Copy of D.O. letter No.CMS.20/88/Pt of Dated 14-10-1988 from Shri P.K. Barua, ACS to S.M. Jain
Dear Shri Jain,
The Chief Minister, Assam has received the copy of your article "Forests for Food and Development" sent with your letter of 8th October, 1998.
The Chief Minister conveys his thanks for sending the article. The recommendations offered in your article will be examined. 8. Copy of D.O letter No. NWDBNC-IV/9/88 of Dated 21-091988 from Shri. Duleep Matthai Vice-Chairman (National Wastelands Development Board) to S.M. Jain
Dear Shri Jain
Please accept my apologies for not thanking you much earlier for your letter no. SMJ/88/ 117 dated 3.8.88 forwarded to me by our mutual friend Major General Baljit Singh. I was not able to write to you earlier as I had been out of India and have only recently returned.
I am passing on your proposal for detailed examination by the Board's Officers. A reply will be sent to you as soon as your proposal has been studied. I suggest you to meet me at the board office on your next visit to Delhi.
9. Copy of letter No. 7831/BS/20 of Dated 07.08.1988 from Major General Baljeet Singh, General Officer Commanding to Duleep Mutthai, Vice Chairman, National Wastelands Development Board, New Delhi and copy endorsed to S.M. Jain
(a) This is with reference to Mr. S.M. Jain's letter no SMJ/88/ 117 dated 3 Aug 88, addressed to you with a copy to me.
(b) I had the good fortune of meeting Mr. Jain and listen to his ideas on environment. I have also read his brief treatise on "Forest for Food and Development". As a lay environmentalist, it appeals to me immensely as a document

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of infallible wisdom. (c) As you have a date with me at Kota, here is an added
justification for you to make the of promised trip, the soonest. While I would share with you my divisions projects, Mr. Jain would also have an opportunity to talk about his project with you at the same time. I do hope we shall see you soon but please do let me know at least a week in advance, two tentative dates of your visit so that I can adjust my programmes
accordingly. 10. Extract Copy of letter No. D.O. No. PA/FCI/88/2499 of Dated
20/04/1988 from Mr. A.K. Sachdev Secretary & Principal, Food Craft Institute, New Delhi. Dear Sh. Jain, I received your letter dated 3rd February, 1988 together with background paper on "Forest for Food and Development" and the proposed research project. I am extremely sorry for delay in reply. I have gone through the same and find the information a gold mine. The more I read it the more I am convinced that forests and their systematic regeneration will provide the country with food, fruits, timber and all sorts of value-added
products. I wholehearted support the same. 11. Copy of letter dated 03-02-1988 of Maulana Syed Assarul
Haq, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) sent to Shri Bhajan Lal Minister of Environment & Forests New Delhi. My Dear Shri. Bhajan Lalji, I hope, you are aware of a very useful project "Forest for Food and Development" submitted by Shri S.M. Jain, Retired Forest Officer from Rajasthan. This project is pending in the Ministry of Environment and Forests since 11-10-1985. On earlier draft of the project the MAB (Man and BioSPhere) Committee suggested some modifications with following comments -
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"The author should be encouraged to resubmit the proposal as the study has the potentialities for suggesting a new model of development" Accordingly Shri Jain has submitted the revised project vide his letter dated 03-10-87. I understand that the project is under active consideration of the department of environment. I have carefully gone through the project and it has impressed me very much as it suggests to establish the forgotten food value of forests from a variety of edible and nutritious seeds, nuts, beans, leaves, tubers etc. of about 50,000 plant species available in our forests. The food production per hectare will be ten times more than that from agriculture and that too without any recurring cost. There will be no need for irrigation, chemical fertilisers and harmful toxic pesticides. In addition to food a variety of other products timber, fuel, oils, resins, gums, wax, dyes, fibres flosses etc. will also be available to promote cottage, small and big industries. There will be no need for high subsidies we are giving for sustaining the capital intensive, hi-tech agriculture. Once the food value of forests is scientifically established the farmers will take up tree planting themselves. It would reduce pollution, check floods and droughts and help save crores of rupees. The project, if implemented would help evolve forest based model of life on sound scientific lines, which would ensure best use of existing and potential resources in such a way as to maintain for now and in perpetuity, the best possible sustained yield from the biosphere without in any way eroding or degrading the resource base. I strongly recommend that the project should be sanctioned as early as possible. I request you to kindly give it your personal consideration to
expedite its sanction. 12. Copy of letter No. F1/KOUNCS/88/650 of Dated 01-02-1988
from Prof. V.R. Mehta (Vice Chancellor), Kota Open University to S.M. Jain
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Dear Shri Jain, Many thanks for your letter No. SMJ/P/38 dated 20th January 1988. Your project sounds interesting and I would like to
discuss with you as and when it is convenient for you. 13. Copy of letter No. KO/GM/R &TD/Tech-1/1408 of Dated
14-01-1988 from Mr. K.K. Verma, General Manager, Res. & Tech. Dev. (J.K. Syn. Ltd.) to S.M. Jain Dear Sir. Your letter dated the 9th November, 1987, addressed to Mr. Ramapati Singhania has been passed on to me for further action. The detailed project report on "Forest for Food and Development" enclosed alongwith aforesaid letter is of national interest and any technical assistance that is possible from our end will be rendered. However, due to financial and other constraints we will not be able to assist you financially for this project. You will keep us informed of any technical assistance desired in this connection and we shall try to help you. In case you have any other point for discussion, you may please meet the
undersigned on any convenient date. 14. Copy of letter Dated 11-01-1988 of Mr. Dal Chand Jain
Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) addressed to Shri. Bhajan Lal. Dear Bhajan Lal Ji, One spirited retired Forest Officer Shri S.M. Jain has submitted to your Ministry a synopsis of a Research Project on "Forest for Food and Development". The project seeks to evaluate the nutritive value of forest products like seeds, nuts, leaves, fruits, tubers, etc. A copy of synopsis is enclosed. I consider that this project if takenup might threw up interesting results and open up avenues for solution of long
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term food problem. I commend the project for your
consideration. 15. Copy of letter No.14/PS/RR(PV/86-1 Dated 14-11-1986 from
S. Bagchee, Private Secretary to Rajya Raksha Mantri, New Delhi to S.M. Jain. Dear Mr. S.M. Jain, I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 18th October, 1986 addressed to Shri Shivraj Patil, Minister of State for Defence production and supplies, enclosing a copy of your paper "Forest for Food and Development". The
Minister has gone through the same with interest. 16. Copy of letter dated 14-10-86 from Dr. D.C. Jain to S.M. Jain
Respected Sri Jainji, I have received a letter from Belgium. Your article on new food sources has been much appreciated throughout the world. I am enclosing the photocopy of the letter. Kindly reply them. Your letter published in Hindustan Times has received
attention by many people. Kindly keep it up. 17. Copy of letter Dated 14-08-1986 of Mr. Carl Heast, Lima
Belgium, addressed to Dr. D.C. Jain, New Delhi. Dear Dr. Jain, For some reason your letter and the souvenir about the World Conference reached us only now. We were most impressed by the article of Mr. S.M. Jain which we feel is one of the best analysis that exist on this topic. Our company, next year 30 years in existence, is relentlessly promoting organic agriculture all over the world. Since we know that is the only way out for our planet, organic agriculture being based on recycling and not on predatory cultivation.
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We currently transform some 4000 tonnes per year of cereals and pulses per year out of organic culture. We promote cereals, vegetables and fruits as the basis of the human nutritional plan, hence (semi) vegetarianism. We would be very pleased if we could have a contribution
form yourself or Mr. S.M. Jain for our jublee book next year. 18. Copy of letter No. OH/fp/1 of dated 01-11-1985 from Mr.
Ole Hamann, Plants Officer, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Switzerland to S.M. Jain. Dear Dr. Jain, Many thanks for your letter of 22nd October and the enclosed project outline. Unfortunately, the copy of your paper "Forest for Food and Development" was not enclosed .1 would certainly like to read it if you would forward a copy to me. The project idea represented is very interesting and represent a comprehensive way of looking at conservation and development. The long-term commitment from a funding agency to implement such a project is, however, outside the reach of our modest IUCN/WWF Plants Conservation Programme. Such commitment should be sought directly from organisation like FAO and major aid-agencies. On a more technical level, I think that an in situ conservation element should be included in such a project to ensure that those priority forest species on which the project will be based also
will be ensured survival in the wild. 19. Copy of letter No. ESRF/3560 dated 25-04-1985 from Mr.
Sanjeev Gupta, Secretary, Economic and Scientific Research Foundation, FICCI, New Delhi to S.M. Jain. Dear Mr. Jain Please refer to your letter of 12th April addressed to D. N.
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Patodia, our President - Elect suggesting that ESRF undertake a research project on "Forest for Food and Development". We agree with you that the subject matter is important and needs to be researched. However in view of paucity of funds ESRF will not be able to undertake this project. In case anybody/Institution wishes to sponsor this project, ESRF
would be most happy to undertake it. 20. Copy of letter No. Ps/1286 dated 05-08-1983 from Mr. H.K.
Jain, Director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute. New Delhi to S.M. Jain Dear Shri Jain, Thank you very much for your letter no. SMJ/RO 13/2375 of 29th July, 1983. I have been reading the manuscripts which
you have sent with considerable interest. 21. Extract Copy of letter dated 13-05-1983 of Mr. Ashok Khosla,
of Development Alternatives, New Delhi to S.M. Jain. Dear Mr. Jain, I read your paper on "Forest for Food and Development" with the greatest interest and found it most informative. The research programme outlined at the end of the paper seems
both valuable and realistic. 22. Copy of D.O. letter No. NEHU/ VCF -12/83-246 dated
25.04.83 from Mr. B.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, NorthEastern Hill University Shillong to S.M. Jain Dear Shri Jain, I am in receipt of your letter of 8th April, 1983. You have raised many basic questions in your article "Forest for Food and Development". I have also gone through the outline of the proposed research programme. I find that the objectives are very wide and I doubt if justice can be done to any of those aspects within the limited frame which you envisaged
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by way of support, etc. It is better to pursue one specific idea and concentrate on it so that worthwhile materials can be collected and certain valid policies can also be drawn from it. If you propose to pursue the studies, please reformulate your project. It should be possible for the Indian council of Social Science Research or even the Ministry of Agriculture to
support such a programme. 23. Copy of letter dated 21-04-1983 of Mr. Edward Goldsmith,
Editor of "The Ecologist" U.K. to S.M. Jain Dear Mr. Jain, I have just read your letter to my secretary Hilary Datchens. I agree with everything you say. Could we not have a copy of the paper you read at the conference on the environment in Delhi, we would love to publish it in The Ecologist. I hope to be in Delhi next January and shall not fail to look you up as I am also very keen to discuss all these issues with you. You might be interested in a little book I did some years ago called the Stable Society which I am sending under separate
mail.
24. Extract Copy of letter Dated 30-03-1983 of Shri. Sunder Lal
Bahuguna, Environmentalist, Silyara, Tehri, Garhwal, U.P to S.M. Jain Dear Mr. Jain, Thank you for your kind letter of March 14th, alongwith your paper and project proposal. I thoroughly read the paper and was delighted to find in you an enthusiastic and learned supporter of my ideas. My dream is to see the whole mankind
living of nuts, fruits, tubers, and other forest products. 25. Copy of letter No. 4000-NRDC(1)/82 dated 22.12.1982 of
Dr. Y. Venkatesham, Chief Engineer (Projects), National
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Development Corporation of India, New Delhi addressed to Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore and copy endorsed to S.M. Jain. Dear Sir, I understand from S.M. Jain, Rural Development Officer, Indian Sugar mills Association, Sugar House, 39, Nehru Place, New Delhi that you are working on the food values of various forest based fruits, seeds, flowers etc. In the present days of food and edible oil shortages, It is very desirable that our country explores the possibility of utilising every source of food and oil. As in the past most of the forest based sources were being utilised by "Adivasis" and other's, it will be useful if this practice is revived to meet the food shortage and also to avoid malnutrition amongst tribes ind rural population which is below the poverty line. You may be aware that NRDC under its programme on "Development and Promotion of Appropriate Technologies", would be interested in taking up any suitable technology that may be developed for providing nutrition to the villagers and tribes living in the forests. Our Corporation has already developed several need based technologies for rural population. A booklet entitled "Appropriate Rural Technologies" is enclosed for you kind information. We shall be happy to receive any proposal for development of appropriate technologies to meet the food shortages in the
country. 26. Copy of letter No. 4000-NRDC(2)/82/ dated 20-11-1982 of
Mr. Y. Venkatesham, Chief Engineer (Projects) of National Research Development Corporation of India to S.M. Jain Dear Shri Jain, Thank you very much for your letter enclosing a copy of your article entitled "Forest for Food and Development" and a copy of the research proposals.
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I shall appreciate very much if you could find time to visit us
and have discussions regarding financing of the project. 27. Copy of letter No. FT-316(3)/PMES/82/9967 dated 12-07
82 of A. V. Venkatesham, Coordinator, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore to S.M. Jain Dear Shri Jain, Kindly refer to your letter no SMJ/1881 dated 5th July 1982 addressed to our Director. In the two papers which you have enclosed as well as your letter, one can come across a good deal of facts and a number of ideas which merit attention. At our institute we have made efforts on studying some of the trees, seeds, fats, for their fitness for human consumption, to facilitate augmenting edible fat supplies in our country. We have also subjected Mahua flower as a possible source of sugar for fermentation processes. While welcoming your suggestion of associating you in the kind of programmes that you have suggested for being undertaken in our Institute, I may suggest to you that you also kindly get in touch with Minor Forest Products Branch of the Forest Research Institute at Dehradun. Also, if you are able to obtain reliable data on the quantity of availability and also the sources for the seeds/flowers/fruits originating from the forests which merit R&D efforts at our Institute, you may kindly communicate the same to us for our study. As you may be aware, deploying inputs for R&D programmes at our Institute, it is necessary to be clear on the economic justification for which statistics provides solid foundation. Your participation on this aspects of programme initially
would be most welcome. 28. Copy of letter No. D.O. No. 14/242/85-MAB/RE Dated 17
04-1986 of Mr. B.S. Attri, Principal Scientific Officer and Secretary to S.M. Jain
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Dear Dr. Jain Thank you very much for your letter dated 14th April, 1986 seeking a copy of the observation of the MAB committee. In this connection I am directed to inform you that the decision of the MAB committee is a collective one and it is either in negative or in positive. However, I am enclosing herewith the comments of the referees on your project which you may like to see. "The author should be encouraged to re-submit the proposal as the study has the potentialities for suggesting,
a new model of development". 29. Extract Copy of letter No. 0.42/dated 31-08-1982 of Mr. P.G.
Tulpule, Director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad to S.M. Jain Dear Shri Jain I have received your letter no. 2224 dated 29th July, 1982. One of the important activities of our institute is the nutritive value of foods consumed by different population groups in the country. I am sending herewith a few extracts of over annual reports of the work done in this area, for your information. As a part of this programme, we are interested in the study of common as well as uncommon (or less familiar) foods, for their nutritional evaluation. We very much appreciate your interest in the foods of forest origin.
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Copy of letter dated 04-08-05 from Edward Goldsmit, Editor “The Ecologist", U.K.
Dear Dr. Jain,
Thank you very much for sending me your most impressive manuscript on Environmental Ethics. I read it with great interest and have actually photocopied the chapter Forestsbased life-style, pages 51-59.
I do not agree with you about religion. I think humans are naturally religious and if one destroys the transcendental religion (if the term is appropriate) it is rapidly replaced by a secular religion of some sort - a category in which one could classify fascism, communism and even modern science & technology which provide the basis over the religion of progress. I have always rejected the idea of progress. For me there is only one problem in the world and it's called progress. You may not agree with me. In any case I am sending you, under separate cover, a copy of my book “The Way - An ecological world view”.
Yours sincerely, Sd/
Edward Goldsmith
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Mr. Edward Goldsmith Editor “The Ecologist" 91 Sheen Street, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1YJ, United Kingdom (U.K.)
Dear Mr. Goldsmith,
I got your letter dated 04-08-05 in time. I did not write to you earlier as I anxiously awaited your book "The Way an Ecological World View” which you promised to send vide your letter dated 2905-05 and 04-08-05. I request you to kindly send the book at your earliest.
I am happy to note that you are impressed by the contents of the chapter “Forest-based lift-style" in the manuscript of my book “Environmental Ethics”. As regards your comments about development I have emphatically stated that development, change or evolution, whatever nomenclature we may give, which though inevitable, should not in any circumstance, put burden or pressure on natural resources and environment beyond their respective carrying capacities.
I thank you for your comments on the chapter “Rationality” in my book. I do not know as to how you have interpreted “Rationality" as against “Religion”. I am personally deeply religious ethically. I try to follow the good tenets rationally and not with orthodox, traditional, dogmatic, superstitious, compulsive obsession. I just do not believe in the superstitious rituals and dogmatism. I hope you will bear with me that one must be rational in belief, knowledge and action in all spheres including religion. I request you to kindly take the trouble of reading my book “Pristine Jainism”. With regards.
Yours sincerely Sd/S.M. Jain
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(LIST OF ENGLISH PUBLICATIONS) Pu.No. Name of Book
Author/editor/Translator
Price
200.00 70.00* 15.000 40.00* 100.00* 15.00* 50.00* 15.00* 100.00* 125.00 30.000
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1. Kalpasutra
M. Vinaya Sagar 11. Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan Ram Vallabh Somani 12. Basic Mathematics
Prof. L. C. Jain 15. Jaina Political Thought
G. C. Pande 16. Study of Jainism
Dr. T. G. Kalghatgi 29. Astronomy And Cosmology
Prof. L. C. Jain 30. Not Far From The River
David Ray 38. Rasaratna Samucchaya
Dr. :. C. Sikdar 39. Nitivakyamritam
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Gupta 43. Ahimsa : The Science of Peace Surendra Bothara 47-48. Nadivijnanam of Kanad and Dr. J. C. Sikdar
Nadiprakasham of Shankar Sen 54. Rishibhashit : A Study
Dr. Sagarmal Jain 63. The Yogashastra of
Surendra Bothara Hemchandracharya 70. Prakrit Dhammapada
Dr. Bhagchandra Jain 86. Jainism In Andhra
Dr. G Jawaharlal 87. On Rahanemi
Dr. B. K. Khadbadi 97. Jainism In India
Ganesh Lalwani 98. Jnanasar (Essence of knowledge) S. Bothara 102. Neelakesi
Prof. A Chakravarti 105. JAINA ACARA : Siddhanta Aur Acharya Devendra Muni
Svarupa (The Jaina Conduct) 11. Varagya Shatak
Lalit Singh 113. Philosophy And Spirituality
U.K. Pungalia of Srimad Rajchandra 115. Illustrated Bhaktamar Stotra
Surana & Bothara 116. Studies in Jainology
Dr. B. K. Khadabadi 118. Best Jain Stories
Surendra Bothara 122. Devata-murti-prakaranam
Dr. Rima Hooja 124. World Renowned Jain Pilgrimages M. Lalitprabh Sagar 133. The Concept of Divinity in Jainism Dr. P. Ajay Kothari 144. Jainism and ..........
Vindo Kapasi 147. Jaina Mysticism And Other Eassays Dr. Kamal Chand Sogani 149. The Basic Thought of
Dr. Jaykumar jalaj Bhagavan Mahavir 167. Ahimsa - The Ultimate Winner Dr. N.P. Jain 174. Gandhi
D.C. Sharma 175. The Cat Who Stayed at Home Cristle Roger 178. TAO TE CHING by LAOTSE Sanjeev Mishra 193. Animal stories
Chirstine Townend 198. Envionmental Ethics
S.M. Jain
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20.00 100.00
80.00 100.00 300.00
20.00 180.00
325.00 300.00 110.00 300.00 400.00 250.00
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