Jain Spirit 2001 06 No 08

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 53

ENVIRONMENT
LAND NEEDS CU
Mr. A.V. Sanghavi has dedicated his life to earth-friendly ways of
growing food with great success, writes Rajiv Malik
ASHOK V. SANGHAVT/HINDUISM TODAY
Natural farming proponents Bhaskar H. Save and Ashok V. Sanghavi
verge of committing suicide. That was the time when I WARMING IS NOT BUSINESS BUT RELIGIOUS WORK," SAYS
remembered God. He made me realise the value of human Ashok V. Sanghavi, Jain master gardener at the
birth. I realised that ending life was very easy, just a twoinnovative Sanghavi Farm in Southern Gujurat, India.
minute job, but the challenge was to live and succeed in life. He is dedicated to the art of organic and natural farming". His
I realised it is because of chemicals and fertilisers that we farm, originally a rocky wasteland that required dynamite to
become sick and cannot live for one hundred years but die till, is now an oasis of life and food.
at half this age. So it was during these times of frustration "Study plants and you will come to know that plants
that I met my Guruji, Sri Bhaskar H. Save, who had left his generate things which they do not consume,” states Mr.
occupation and was working for the natural and organic Sanghavi. "The plants are totally dedicated to nature and cause. He had been called a madman but by his results he humanity. They strictly follow the dharma of doing things for
slowly proved that he was correct. I sat at his feet for a long others, which is what the Hindu culture and civilization,
time and learned the techniques of converting wasteland sanskriti teaches us. Plants also have a soul. We do injustice
into greenland without spending much money. It is and cruelty to plants when we spray chemicals on them. When
unfortunate, but I have to say that today we can fairly we do this, unfortunately the plants can neither run away nor
easily improve the land and make it fertile, but it is difficult protest or speak out."
to improve the minds of human beings." Mr. Sanghavi learned much of his technique from Bhaskar The duo's most amazing work is the turning of H. Save, creator of the highly successful Kalpavruksha Farm
wasteland into viable farmland. Sanghavi Farm was initially (Wish-fulfilling Tree) in Umbergaon, India. They have spent
a rocky land with no vegetation. It was so bad that they had many years together promoting their system. "My meeting
to use dynamite for the initial tilling of the waste material. with Sri Save has an interesting story behind it," said Mr.
Now the land is an incredibly productive farm. In fact, Sanghavi. "At one point of time in my life - I am 52 years old
many of its trees and plants produce significantly more now - I was fed up with life due to poor health, and I was on the fruits than farms that use standard, commercial techniques.
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Jain Spirit . June - August 2001
in Education International 2010_03