COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Bija Vidyapeeth - Earth University

In a world dominated by greed and competition, speed and restlessness, pollution and ecological destruction, war and violence, Navdanya's educational initiative Bija Vidyapeeth, in partnership with the Schumacher College in UK, offers a unique opportunity to explore and practise the art and science of sustainability based on ecological principles at the peaceful pollution-free setting of Navdanya's organic farm in Doon Valley.

The courses offered at Bija Vidyapeeth allow participants both literally and figuratively dig into the tenets of sustainability and deep democracy through interaction with the foremost intellectuals of our times, dedicated participants from all backgrounds and the surrounding biodiverse setting. The transformative courses and the enchanting ambience reinvigorate our vital link with nature and will cultivate contemplation, enquiry and dynamic action that will inspire participants for a lifetime.

The rich biodiversity is the stage and the participants are the actors for the education in earth democracy where you will dialogue with leading thinkers and intellectuals while learning from nature and each other through communal living and engaging in actual practices of sustainability. Here, all participants learn and partake in cooking, gardening, composting, yoga and the arts, such as music and theater. Where relevant to the course participants will also visit surrounding communities and sites through guided field trips.

Navdanya's biodiverse conservation and organic farm is nestled between the Himalayas, the Ganga and the Yamuna. The biodiverse and highly productive 8-acre farm has rejuvenated the soil once left barren and desertified by years of eucalyptus monoculture and now produces more than 600 varieties of plants, including 250 rice varieties, 30 wheat varieties, and diverse varieties of millet, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and medicinal plants.

Bija Vidyapeeth was founded by leading environmental activists Satish Kumar and Vandana Shiva after the 2001, 9/11 attacks in New York. The school promotes a vision of holistic solutions rooted in deep ecology and democracy as an alternative to the current world order that is characterized by blind policies guided by greed, destruction and war.