Out With the ????????? New

Unlearning as the Sustainable Way Forward

This weekend, I visited Sadhana Forest in Auroville, Tamil Nadu. Where 20 years ago there was nothing but barren land now stands 70 acres of lush greenery and thriving natural ecosystems. Unwavering in its promise of veganism, regenerative farming, and gift-giving, Sadhana is a fine example of the Indian neo-traditional eco-conscious culture.

Stepping into the forest, I felt a jolt of nostalgia.

I grew up in a village on the outskirts of Kolhapur, just as lush and thriving as Sadhana stands today. My childhood memories stand against the backdrop of birdsong, gurgling rivers, and communal living. Somewhere over the years, my new "normal" became the sharp din of traffic, beige concrete landscapes, and smoggy skies. Forest bathing in Sadhana, I was reminded of where I truly belong—bathing in mud pools, resting under flitting leaves, basking in the sounds, sights, and textures of Nature.

In this nostalgia, I began to unlearn.

Modern city life ceased to be normal and revealed itself as what it truly is—an artificial environment, a failed attempt at building upon Nature's unmatched promise of security, peace, and abundance. In the city, it is so easy to be divorced from Nature. Out of sight, out of mind. It is no wonder that there is often little love for the environment among those who live so removed from it.

Back in the lap of the forest, living in a small community of mutual duty, there lies a peace you can only find in Nature. With this connection comes the desire to protect. With our feet in the soil and our backs against the trees, an unspoken promise of mutuality is exchanged. We are not only the Earth's children but also her stewards. As she gives us all we need, we protect her and all those in her embrace. When connected with Nature, it is only natural for the climate-forward mindset to become second nature.

The city robs so many of us of this connection. Back among the birds and bushes, sharing in a culture of community living, I was jolted out of the trance of the metropolitan "normal". In this journey of "development", there is so much we have lost along the way.

None of this is to say that there ever was an ideal rurality to which I would like the world to return. I don't romanticise a mythical ancient Indian village community as if it were perfect and complete in itself. I cannot deny scientific medical progress, the movement for gender-based rights, disability-friendly infrastructure, and the other gifts of modernity. I am also cognizant that systems of oppression along the lines of class, caste, gender, disability, sexuality, and species have persisted in EVERY society since we moved from four legs to two. There is no utopian village of yore.

Rather, all this is to say that some aspects of development have pushed out many desirable traditional ways of living.

• India's Green Revolution's focus on wheat and rice disturbed traditional patterns of crop rotation, accelerating soil erosion.
• Our Industrial Revolution accelerated the leap to the top as one of the most polluted countries vis-a-vis both air and water.
• The White Revolution made dairy a central part of India's mainstream diet as opposed to the luxury it was before, sealing the unfortunate fate of trillions of Indian cows for decades to come.

Somewhere down the line, we forgot that in many ways we've known the answers to so many of our problems all along.

We see these answers making a comeback, just under different names.

In both, industry...

• Making durable textiles is now 'Slow Fashion'.
• Farming without burdening the Earth is now 'Regenerative Agriculture'.
• Growing your food for self-sufficiency is now 'Subsistence Farming'.

...as well as individual action:

• Not shopping as a recreational activity is 'Conscious Consumption'.
• Handloom cloths and chakki-ground flours are now 'Artisanal'.
• 'Ayurveda' and 'Yunani' are now 'Herbal Medicine' or 'Naturopathy'.

The question isn't whether we should look back to the past for answers for the future. The question is when we look back, what should we keep and of what should we let go?

This weekend, I watched 700 people thrive in a forest, gift generously, dance in the mud, eat vegan, clean up after themselves, share stories of sustainability wins, and celebrate living in harmony with Nature. This neo-traditional culture of eco-living is the best answer I have come across.

As a sustainability strategist, I look back and keep:

• The sense of mutuality towards humans and other animals.
• A less-is-more approach to innovation.
• The reminder that the easiest way to bring people into the environmental movement is to remind them of the joy of going back into Nature's embrace.

All this without losing the progress in science and human rights that we have fought for.

As I write this, I'm grateful for the electricity that runs through my home, the Internet that allows me to do my job, and other modern marvels that enrich my life. In the same breath, I dream of a future that's a little backwards—back to community, back to taking no more than the Earth can give, back to balance and abundance.