Samanvaya News Room

The publication "BAINGAN SWARAJ" - A Common Sense Understanding of GM Brinjal was released this afternoon at a simple ceremony under the green tent at Upasana in Auroville. I had started writing this as a small note many months back in Auroville during one of my several visits there, hence it was appropriate that it got released there and thanks to Uma and all Upasana staff family for making it such a elegant and warm event. Dr. V. Suresh, Secretary, PUCL and Supreme Court appointed advisor on Food Security to the Government of Tamilnadu released the book formally and the first copy was accepted by Uma of Upasana. Several friends in Auroville, including Joss Brooks of Pitchandikulam attended the simple release function. Please write to chief@samanvaya.com for booking copies of the publication.

Recent spate of violence in classroom and amongst the student community to do with the exam stress has created several dialogues, I was interviewed on this by the leading tamil news paper Dinamalar. I spoke of the festish and festive air that surrounds the exams, particularly school leaving exams each year and the unnecessary hype surrounding the same that inflicts major stress on the student community. My primary complain has been on the parents, however, I had pointed out that it was a larger social issue that needs to be urgently addressed and parents are but the immediate environmental manifestation of a larger social illness that ails our social ethos today.

Two years ago, on this day the Government of India placed a  moratorium on the introduction of Bt Brinjal in India. The process of public consultation that preceded such a decision was also a rare gesture of deepening a democratic process of decision making on a technological issue. In the process several common sense voices were heard that showed the there-is-no-alternative-to- tec hnology voices for what they were - misplaced, misrepresenting and unnecessary.  This (not so) fictional work captures the essence of this dialogue and in its easy to read mode provides the lay intelligent reader a quick understanding of the different arguments surrounding the GM debate.  Seek friends who can pick up copies in bulk for distribution. Thank you.