Sustainable Development Indian perspective

Sustainable Development an Indian perspective

Good evening, Prof. Siddhartha Dutta, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Jadavpur University, Prof Shekhar
Chakraborty, NITTTR, and distinguished professors in the audience. Today, I will be speaking to you on
Sustainable Development an Indian perspective.
We will be later on listening to a most learned deliberation on sustainable development by an
expert in that field, Prof Siddhartha Dutta. He will be speaking to you with hard facts and data related to
sustainable development. I will be giving you a different view on the same topic. I will tell you what
ancient India has to teach us on this very hot issue that demands our urgent attention.
We have been on this planet for roughly 200,000 years now. We have been using Mother Nature
for about 50,000 years. Compared to the life of our planet, these time periods are roughly a couple of days
at the most. Western Science came onto the scene roughly 500 years ago. And within the last 250 years,
we have exploited, not used, exploited Mother Nature so badly, we are afraid we wont be able to survive
on earth in peace much longer. What did we do wrong that we are so afraid now? Can we correct our
mistakes or is it too late already?
In order to rectify our mistake, we need to find out what went wrong in the first place. The fun is
we do not even clearly understand what we did wrong. That we have to find out first of all.
Backed with the wisdom of our ancients, I understand that we have erred on two fronts. I will
explain these two ideas.
Integral Vision:
Firstly, we embraced the western version of science & technology. Do I mean to say embracing
science has been wrong? Not totally. In fact, as Prof Chakraborty pointed out in his introduction, we
simply cannot go back to the medieval life style anymore. We have burnt that bridge, all right. But, there
is one aspect of adopting the western outlook that we have seriously messed up. We did not develop
something called Integral Vision. Let me explain what this is briefly.
Imagine the situation when we develop some new technology. We find out the economic
feasibility of that new technology. Let us say it is economically viable. We go ahead with it in a big way.
Our very pattern of thinking does not include consideration for the various ramifications of that new
technology. Take the example of nuclear technology. When the technology developed after 2nd world war,
USA went ahead with extensive experimentation on that technology. Most of the testing was done over
the ground in the desert of Nevada. The radiation fall-out was something that the great scientists and
engineers had not factored in. even today, people who live in that region tell stories of bizarre mutations
in the livestock. Cancer incidence is very high in children born in that region.
We all do something. We all have a particular aim in view when we do it. But, it is our duty to
consider all the other ramifications too. Until we have a clear picture of what all fall-outs are possible
from our actions, it is not wise to go ahead, although the immediate results may seem attractive.
Science & Technology gave us many wonderful gifts. But it has been immature in this one aspect.
The so-called rational thinking hasnt been really rational, after all. From the last 25 years, science has
been acknowledging this drawback in its style of functioning. That is what led to the coining of this term
Sustainable Development.

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Sustainable Development Indian perspective

So, this is the first thing that I wish to point out. Science & Technology lack integral vision. Our
present day world is the product of the outlook generated by Science & Technology. There seems to a
manic obsession with oneself in the modern world. I am the only being that matters, everyone else can go
to dogs. What is generally termed as a dog eats dog world. I sometimes tell my students that unless the
traffic jams decrease in the world, sustainable development is not possible? Do you know how the logic
of my statement works? Study how traffic jams occur. In most cases, it occurs because everyone wants to
go ahead. It is a mad race. Consequently, everyone gets stuck. The mentality that causes traffic jams is the
same mentality that is causing problems with our development. Do you know the opposite of sustainable
development? It is cancer.
Cancer is a growth; it is a development. However, it is not sustainable. The growth and
development that happens in a tumor somehow doesnt integrate itself with the delicate balance that exists
in the human body. Similarly, any development that Technology brings us has to be integrated with the
natural balance that already exists in Mother Nature. Do we even have any such idea in our mind when
we proceed headlong into Technology? Not until recently; and that too, not beyond the scholarly circles.
The common user has absolutely no clue of this idea. Science & Technology has not yet matured to this
idea. It doesnt engender this beautiful idea of the delicate balance that already exists in Mother Nature.
However, ancient India had this idea; it had developed this idea very well. There was a term they
used for this delicate balance in Nature. It was called Rtam.
In the Vedanta literature, in the Upanishad literature, there is a mantra: Shanno mitra sham
varunaha; shanno bhavatyarma; shanna Indro brihaspatihi; shanno vishnururukramaha; namo
brahmane; Namaste vayo; tvameva pratyaksham brahmaasi; tvameva pratyaksham brahma vadishyami;
rtam vadishyami; satyam vadishyami.
You see this rtam vadishyami; satyam vadishyami. I shall call you, the Absolute Truth, as Rtam
and Satyam. This is the first mantra of the Taittiriya Upanishad. Again, in the 1st chapter, 9th section of
this same Upanishad, we have another mantra:
Rtam cha svadhyaya pravachane cha: This means Practice Rtam in you learning & teaching.
Right in the teaching-learning process itself, this idea of the delicate balance that already exists in Nature
has to be inculcated. It used to be inculcated in this land long ago. It was inculcated for many many
centuries. That is the reason India survived as a civilization that had a continuous history for over 5000
years. Then, for various reasons we lost this central idea. And today, we have jumped headlong into the
western version of Science & Technology. It is required. But, a counter-point also is required, which the
West is unable to supply to us. Fortunately, India herself has the required counter-balancing ideas.
So, this integral vision is the first aspect that I wanted to highlight before you.
Unity of Existence:
The second idea I want to bring to your notice is the idea of Unity of all existence. What does it
mean? The western idea of the world is that the world is out there; it is unconscious; I am a human being;
I am conscious; and the world is meant to be used by me; I am entitled to use whatever I want from this
world. So, you see, there is a dichotomy between me and the world around me in the western world-view
that we are all using now. This dichotomy is very dangerous. You see, people who adopt this world-view
do not understand that my individual actions have global implications.

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Sustainable Development Indian perspective

The Bhagawad Gita says, Parasparam bhavayantah sreyah paraam avaapsyatha. This means
there are two players here; you and the entire world apart from you. Live in such a way that you care
about the world; the world is also programmed to care about you. Sri Krishna considers himself as the
Creator of this world and from that stand-point of authority, he is making this statement. Live in such a
way that you care about the world; the world is also programmed to care about you. If you do that, then
both of you will be happy.
Look at this outlook. This is something totally different from what we learn in our schools and
colleges. Science tells us specifically, that the world around us has no intelligence of its own; we can
therefore deal with it as we wish. Let us profit by doing with this world whatever we want. We can use
this world in such a way as to make our own lives better. We dont have to bother about the well-being of
the world. In fact, there is no such thing as well-being of the world. I am the center of this universe. If I
am happy, well, the world has served its purpose of existing. Whereas, Sri Krishna is saying, You and
the world around you are intimately connected. You can use the world to be happy. But you have to take
care to see that the world doesnt become sad in making you happy. The world is not something
completely different from and divorced from you. It is something like, your tongue and your stomach.
The direct connection between the tongue and the stomach is not obvious. Something tastes very good to
the tongue. Something very hot, spicy and oily. Now, if we dont understand that the tongue and our
stomach are actually intimately connected, we will end up having stomach-upset!
This idea of interconnectedness of everything that exists, this idea of unity of existence, is not just
a philosophical idea in India. It is a fact that has been experienced time and again by our Rishis. Very
recently, we have on record an interesting incident from Sri Ramakrishnas life. Once he was standing on
the banks of the Ganga near his room in Dakshineswar. Someone was walking on the lawn in the Temple
Garden a little distance away. That persons footprints appeared clearly on Sri Ramakrishnas chest! He
felt completely at one with the grass on the lawn. I am not permitted to give names, but there is one
Swamiji in Belur Math who one day called the Pujari who worships in Sri Sharada Devis shrine. He told
him to go check if the saree that was worn in Mothers photo was all right. He felt there was something
wrong in that saree. When the Pujari removed the saree and saw closely, he saw that the saree had two or
three holes in it. We dont put defective things on God, you see. So, this idea of Unity of Existence is not
a fancy. It is a fact.
There is a wonderful story called Godson written by Leo Tolstoy. Many of you may have read
it. That story brings out this idea of interconnectedness very well. Please read it sometime, if you already
havent.
Swami Vivekananda on Sustainable Development:
We must remember that western science had its birth as a reaction to western religion. As a result,
western science and western religion have always been antipathic to each other. This divorce between
science and religion has spawned this present day problem with respect to development. Swami
Vivekananda once said Science & Religion will meet and shake hands. That meeting and shaking hands
is what is most essential for sustainable development today. You see, shaking hands is generally between
equals. Science and Religion are actually on equal footing. Each has something vital to learn from
another. Religion tends to become irrational if science doesnt back it up. Religion then becomes a joke.
Science tends to become utterly selfish when religion doesnt stand behind it. Science then becomes
devilish in its actions. Both have to complement each other. That is what Swamiji wanted.

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Sustainable Development Indian perspective

Listen to a story. There was once a gardener who used to maintain a beautiful rose garden. He
was very proud of it. A cow used to come there every day, eat the plants, and spoil his garden. He used to
beat the cow with a fat stick. One day, he beat it very hard and the cow died. Now the sin of killing a cow
came to haunt him. He was not ready for it. He said, Look here. The deity in-charge of the hand is Indra.
So, it is Indras responsibility. Go catch him. Indra felt it was time to show this gardener the right
perspective. He came in the guise of a Brahmin. He was moving around in the garden and enjoying the
beautiful roses. He approached the gardener and asked him, Such a beautiful garden; who maintains it?
The gardener, puffing with pride, said, I do. I planted all these plants and watered them and manured
them and removed the weeds. Speaking like this, both of them came near the dead cow. Now, Indra
asked, Who killed this cow? The gardener had no words.
So, when good things happen, I did it. When things go wrong, somebody else did it. This attitude
doesnt work. This is where science and religion meet and shake hands. If you did something wrong, you
will have to own it and set it right. Dont bring in god there. It is foolish to say that some god will absolve
you of your mistakes. If you faulted, you pay for it and set it right. That is the logical, scientific way to go
about it. This is the way science will inform religion. Although that is not the topic of our discussion
today, I told this in order to show you that science too can contribute to religion and complement it.
Listen to another story. There was once a small girl. She was having vacations. Father said to his
young daughter, If you mow the lawn, I will get you the new dress you saw in the Mall. The girl set
upon the task with great zeal and by evening, the whole lawn had been beautifully mowed, expect for a
large uncut patch of grass in one corner. I cant get you the dress agreed upon because the whole lawn
hasnt been mowed observed the father. I can forego the dress, but I shall not cut that patch of grass said
the little one firmly. Curious to find out why, the father checked the uncut patch. There, right in the center
of the patch, sat a large toad. The girl had been too tender-hearted to run over it with the lawnmower! Indeed, where there is love, there will be some disorder. Perfect order would make this world a
graveyard. That feeling in our own heart is the outcome of religion. That feeling has to drive our scientific
endeavors.
So, to sum up my lecture, I spoke to you about need of Integral Vision in Science & Technology.
Then I told you about the concept of Unity of all Existence. These two ideas need to be inculcated right
from the school level. Then I spoke about Swamijis vision of Science & Religion meeting and shaking
hands. These ideas will certainly set right the society. They will bring in a much needed correction and
the sooner it comes, the better for humanity. We must have development. We must also be able to survive
generation after generation. The comfort needs of one generation cannot make this planet un-inhabitable
for the coming generations. That is the challenge before us today. The UN wants to address this challenge
by declaring 5th June as World Environment Day. A great thinker once said, We must remember that we
have not inherited this planet from our ancestors; we have merely borrowed it from our future
generations!
Well, I will leave you all with these ideas. This, I believe is the Indian perspective on sustainable
development.
I am grateful to Prof Shekhar Chakraborty & Prof U C Kumar for having invited me here today.
Now, I too will sit among you and listen to the fund of knowledge that Prof Dutta will share with all of us
here today.
Thank you all.
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