The Forgotten past

Today I saw the news about death of Norman Borlaug, who is considered “Father of Green revolution” and was awarded Nobel Prize for world peace through increasing food productivity. He is so much associated with our recent past. As an agriculture university graduate, I had just read about him and his work, which was part of curriculum. Never tried to realize actual impact …..But now, I understand his contribution and how it has shaped our modern day world. Borlaug, is a scientist who led the world to a different direction by creating high yielding wheat varieties. His hypothesis was, by increasing the productivity of the land, we could decrease deforestation and keep the virgin land safe. Even though, later he received a lot of criticism for promoting exponential use of fertilizers, decreased soil health and farmer’s dependence on multinational companies, 40 years ago, he was the one who saved millions of people from dying out of starvation. Especially South Asia (India, Pakistan and China) benefitted to a great extent from his work.

Our generation has hardly seen and suffered “hunger”. But our parents’s generation has been a witness to wars, famine and hunger. Post Independence and post war, India was experiencing widespread famine and starvation, and literally living “ship-to-mouth” situation by depending on the tons of grains sent by US. Roti, Kapda aur Makaan was highest priority. There was widespread speculation that India would be divided into as many as 20 mini countries and it will become a failed state. Our population was growing at an alarming rate and food production was unable to meet the growing demand falling prey to Malthusian theory (prediction of widespread poverty and starvation if population grows at a much faster rate than food production). Sanjay Gandhi who believed in Malthusian economics, even went for forcible sterilization drive during emergency to curb the population growth !!!

During that dark period, it was Borlaug and MS Swaminathan (Father of Indian Green revolution), who made us self-sustainable in food production. During 1965, when war was on with Pakistan, Borlaug’s group even conducted field trials amidst artillery fires. That year our yield of wheat was higher than any of our previous harvests and we actually suffered shortage of jute bags, labors, bullock carts to carry the harvest and in some places they even had to temporarily convert schools to godowns J .

Borlaug speculated on his award that, when Nobel Peace Prize Committee selected him for the award for his contribution to the ‘green revolution”, they were in fact selecting an individual to symbolize the vital role of agriculture for world peace. How true !!! In a country, where more than 70% of population is involved in agriculture, the award is a tribute to agriculture and farmers.

'Mahatma Gandhi is my hero', says Obama

Guru, just sent this news item to me, writing "enjoy...both the heroes together for u ". And I couldn't resist myself to put this immediately in the blog for the others also to enjoy :)

It is published in 9th Sept issue of Hindustan Times.
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Lalit K Jha, Press Trust Of India

Washington, September 09, 2009

US President Barack Obama has said given a chance he would like to have dinner with Mahatma Gandhi, whom he considered a real hero.

Obama expressed his desire in response to a question from a student Lilly during his discussion with 9th graders at Wakefield High School in Arlington Virginia where he accompanied with the Education Secretary gave a national speech welcoming students back to school.

Obama called for students to take responsibility and to learn from their failures so that they succeed in the end.

"Hi. I'm Lilly. And if you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?," Obama was asked by one of the students.

"Dinner with anyone dead or alive? Well, you know, dead or alive, that's a pretty big list," Obama responded amidst laughter. The next moment he was serious.

"You know, I think that it might be Gandhi, who is a real hero of mine," Obama said. "Now, it would probably be a really small meal because he didn't eat a lot," he said amidst laughter. But Mahatma Gandhi is someone who has inspired people across the world for the past several generations, he said.

Terming the iconic figure as the source of inspiration for many, Obama said "he (Mahatma Gandhi) is somebody whom I find a lot of inspiration in. He inspired Dr King (Martin Luther), so if it hadn't been for the non-violent movement in India, you might not have seen the same non-violent movement for civil rights here in the United States." said.

Thank you, Dear Teachers

Its Teachers day in India. I am sure, in every Indian student, somehow this day would be itched in his/her memory. Teacher’s day memories are evergreen and even make me nostalgic. Until I entered into pre-university, Sept 5^th, was one of those days, which I really enjoyed every bit of it. Right from primary school education, until now, I have had some dedicated and inspiring teachers/mentors, who have left great impression on me and helped me evolve both personally and professionally.

In school days, we really looked forward for teachers’ day, (It was the day to impress your beloved teacher too…...). I used to plead with my mother to give me some rupees, so that I can buy rose for my teachers. We students used to plan already weeks before, how to prepare the greeting cards, who makes the embroidery on it, who writes the poems etc. The day previous to the Teachers’ day, we spent hours decorating the blackboards and staff room. Preparation for those skits, dances ,games and thanks giving speeches for teachers, was just so much of fun. (In every school, there are few teachers who are favorite of all the students. So there was a hidden fight in between the students too, to give rose and gifts to her in person:)

I was very much dependent on my teachers for lessons and as well for moral support during my tween to teenage period. They not only taught (and also punished for being a trouble maker in the class:) ,but instilled hope, dreams and confidence in me. Be it be developing passion for Kannada literature or science or venturing into different activities, like Trekking, photography, journalism etc etc, they encouraged me in everything. They may not be aware of their influence on me, but as I look back, my heart gets filled with admiration and thankfulness for them.

So, my dear teachers and mentors, thank you very much. Your timely help , encouragement and influence on me is everlasting.

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"Maatru devo bhava, Pithru devo bhava, Guru devo bhava"

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." - William Arthur Ward (Literally holds good for our great ex-president Dr.Kalam. His "Wings of fire" ,"Ignited minds" of thousands of students)