5waraj

(swrd)

Reviving Faith

2015.09.02
SPA

Disclaimer
NOTHING

in this presentation is true

It is merely a point of view
And there are always many points of view
To accept it and join in, is your choice

The Hypothesis
Sustainability
Does Not

Stand
A
Chance

God forbid

that India should ever take to industrialism after the

manner of the West...keeping the world in chains. If our
nation took to similar economic exploitation, it would strip
the world bare like locusts.

Did you know?

That as per the IEP
Our dependency on coal will not reduce over
the next 80 years?
That if we increase our RE potential
several fold, till 2031-32 we will still
cater to only 5-6% of our national demand?
That if we accept that our cities will
grow, the only way is for us to apply for
citizenship overseas?

Question is, are you willing to take a

stand?

Save Water! Save Energy! Once through!

We consumer 80,000 liters of water per
megawatt hour of energy generation.
Delhis demand is over 100 million
units per day
That in itself needs
80,000 X 100,000 (MWh) = 8,000,000,000
liters of water to generate

Delhi supplies
3,200,000,000 liters of water per day

So our total water footprint is

11,200 million liters of water per day

An Excerpt
The built-up area in Indian cities
will expand phenomenally in the coming
decade. The new construction will be
several folds more than the size of
the current built-up area.
From a report by a major business house

Please notice the vocabulary

WILL

This presentation...

...attempts to impact your will...

What if?
You were told that sustainability was
not possible via all that you had
learnt so far?
What if the answer lay elsewhere?
What if the answer lay within?
What if you were not designed to get
the answer?

Have you ever wondered how the world works?

THE BACKGROUND CONTEXT OF OUR LIFE

The Number that rules all life

The ONLY Constant at a global scale!
Solar constant

Watts per square meter, sent to us by the

Sun
1361

All life forms originate from (the power of) the Sun

And that gives birth to

Hot air
High/low pressure
Winds
Rain
Soil
Trees, Shrubs,
plants, fungi
Animals,
reptiles, etc.
Humans

Troops of the Eight nations alliance of 1900. Left to right: Britain, United States, Australian colonial,
British India, Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Japan.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Troops_of_the_Eight_nations_alliance_1900.jpg

These are now scientific rules

Bergmanns rule organism size

Allens Rule surface area to volume
Hesses Rule heart to weight ratio
Glogers Rule skin pigmentation

If you were asked this question, what would your

answer be?

REALLY!! WHEN DID WE START BEING

UNSUSTAINABLE?

(ISHAVASYA UPANISHAD 300 TO 15- B.C.E.)

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, his

wife, his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his
ox, nor his ass, nor anyrthing that is thy
neighbours
(Bible 12 to 2 B.C.E.)
And do not wish for that by which Allah has made
some of you exceed others. For men, it is a share of
what they have earned, and for women, it is a share
of what they have earned.
(The Holy Quran, 610 632 C.E.)

What was
And then
And then
And then
And then
And then

the background game in school?

in tenth class?
in twelfth?
after university?
when you wanted a car?
when you wished to marry?

REFLECT

. 5Svraj .

~~
5mkjp
~~
Reviving faith

~~5mJjp
~~ 5mJjp

Bringing sustainable development home

GIVING SUSTAINABILITY A CHANCE

Traditional Knowledge and culture is not an

overnight phenomena
They have evolved over millenia

And slowly and steadily have brought our lives in sync

with the natural environment
This is largely true for all traditional communities
that have spent several generations in a specific
climate zone.
In Indian traditional knowledge, there are five key
elements that help us reduce our energy and resource
consumption and help us be sustainable

The 5 in 5WARAJ

= (Dialects)

it said that the world lies in language

and if we dont have words to describe events and occurings around
us, we cant do much about them either. How do languages differ across
climate zones?

= (Diets)

Food across the world varies according to

the climate. Since that also dictates the soil condition. How does
food help us cope with the climate?

= (Dresses)

Clothes evolve to protect us from the

natural elements. They do so as to reduce our energy and resource

consumption. How do our costumes help us reduce our energy
consumption?

= (Dwellings)

buildings are nothing but our third

skin; an extension of our second skin. How do they protect us from the
weather?

= (Dances and Songs)

Music responds to the natural

elements. Instruments vary from region to region and as does the ease of singing?
Where all is this apparent?

All that is ONE SYSTEM

There may be others
But they necessarily MUST be systems
Because the whole IS NOT equal to the sum of
its parts
And because the world is not a machine figure
out the missing part and fix it

So lets begin a journey to where no man has

set foot before
(women knew it all along!)

Dialects

Task 1
Take a walk
Engage with your environment

Feel it
Touch it
Smell it
Taste it
Hear it

Come back ready to share your experience

You have five minutes.

Dialects & Sustainability

Local languages have evolved based on the climate and
the physiology that results therefrom
They hold the key to environmental protection and
preservation in a given geo-climatic zone
we have over 16,000 in India (dialects included).

Local verbiage can often describe phenomena that is

not at all understood by an alien tongue
Most developed countries are very proud of their
local languages and encourage educating their young in
them.
But we are loosing languages at the rate of 300 a year
due to a false need to communicate in a single tongue,
that too something like English.

Languages and world-views

The Whorf Hypothesis claims that every
language embodies a unique world-view
And so language profoundly shapes,
decides, and limits the thought and
the perception of its users
For instance

Spanish
Chinese
Hindi
English

and Japanese accidental causality

no love?
verb initiation versus
- noun initiation (vocabulary)

For istance
Traditions protected, preserved nature - understood
relevance

of late, our focus is largely on creating iconic
products with little concern for the natural
environment.
This despite us being one among only 17 other megadiverse nations in the world.

Also
In traditional knowledge it is believed that
The true indicators of civility (as against
development) is to look at how a society
treats the following:

Women
Elderly
Children
Flora and Fauna

Resultantly, each society was also expected

to maintain
Mahavana
Tapovana
Srivana

Task 2
Phone a Friend
What does your local culture have as unique
linguistic occurrences
Verses, poems, folk songs or just rhymes that
contribute to sustainability
Mind you in many cases, sustainability may not be a
familiar term
So look for compassion or worship

P.S. - Youve got 10 minutes

Your names
Aryaman

Asclepias

Parjanya

Curcuma Aromatica or Xanthorrhiza (Turmeric)

Jayanta

Sesbania aegyptiaca (An anti fungal and anti bacterial plant)

Indra

Wrightia Antidysenterica

Surya

colocynth or bitter gourd (Karela)

Satya

the Ashvattha tree (Banyan tree)

Agni
Savitri

Plumbago Zeylanica & Rosea, Citrus Acida, Semecarpus Anacardium

(oriental cashew)
Heliconia psittacorum

arjuna

Terminalia arjuna

dIpaka

saffron

Varuna

Crataeva Roxburghii

dIpika

Bishop's weed or the root of Calmus [Ptychotis Ajowan or Acorus

calamus]
Poisonous root of plant vijaya

vijaya
aruNA

bitter apple [Citrullus colocynthis], birch [Bhojpatra, Betula], .

Indian madder [Rubia cordifolia], plant that yields the red and
black berry used for the jewellers weight

Task 3
Know thyself

Discover your connection with the environment

Find the meaning of your name
If you already know it
Rediscover it at a deeper level

Green comes from sanskrit

Old English grene "green, young, immature, raw," earlier groeni, from ProtoGermanic *gronja(cognates: Old Saxon grani, Old Frisian grene, Old Norse grnn, Danish grn,
Dutch groen, Old High German gruoni, German grn),
from PIE root *ghre- "grow" (see grass), through sense of "color of living
plants."

Consonant Inventories Worldwide

http://wals.info/feature/1A?tg_format=map&v1=c00d&v2=c99f&v3=cfff&v4=cf6f&v5=cd00#

Vowel Inventories Worldwide

http://wals.info/feature/2A?tg_format=map&v1=c00d&v2=cfff&v3=cd00

From 5,000 years ago

In the Charak Sanhita, destruction of
forests is taken as destruction of the
state, and reforestation an act of
rebuilding the state and advancing its
welfare. Protection of animals is
considered a sacred duty.
The Varah Purana says, "One who
plants one peepal, one neem, one
bargat, ten flowering plants or
creepers, two pomegranates, two
oranges and five mangos, does not go
to hell."

From 2,500 years ago

And the mother

Similarly
The Holy Bible
Numbers 35:33-34 - "You shall not pollute

the land in which you live... you shall not

defile the land in which you live, in which
I also dwell.
Job 12:7-10

- "But ask the animals, and

they will teach you; the birds of the air,

and they will tell you; ask the plants of
the earth, and they will teach you; and the
fish of the sea will declare to you. Who
among all these does not know that the hand
of the Lord has done this? In his hand is
the life of every living thing and the
breath of every human being.

And everything that accompanies dialects

follows suit

http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/india_09_22/india05_16283137.jpg

http://stevemccurry.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/ganesha11.jpg

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http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/india_09_22/india24_16137039.jpg

Colours too!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkseema/3445041722/sizes/o/in/set-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkseema/3005699668/sizes/o/in/set-72157604383020993/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2370893518_2f49d6452d_o.jpg

What in your opinion

Defines the status quo?
Does diversity continue to thrive?

The Hypothesis
Sustainability
Does Not

Stand
A
Chance

In continuation
Our food and soil also impacts the
dialects we speak
How?

Diets and Sustainability

Local diets across the world help reduce the
local peoples energy & resource consumption

And the recipes revolved around local

ingredients and produce, and vary vastly with
the climate
Rajasthani food is spicy to build-up internal
resistance to external heat (hot dry climate)
Meghalaya food is calorie-rich and spicy to keep warm
(cold climate)
South Indian / coastal food is light and easy to digest
due to high humidity and heat (moderate climate)
Punjabi food is calorie rich due to tough agricultural
and climatic conditions (composite climate)

http://www.oasisworld.in/images/Indian-Food-Map_full.gif

Task 4
Phone your mum / grandma
What does your culture have as house-hold
remedies
Things to boost immunity in specific
conditions
Were looking at prevention more than
cure
From the kitchen garden or local farms

P.S. Youve got 5 minutes.

What in your opinion

Defines the status quo?
Does diversity continue to thrive?

The Hypothesis
Sustainability
Does Not

Stand
A
Chance

Dresses

Buildings as a third skin

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Tuareg_1907.jpg

http://www.eac.edu/events/images/Eskimos.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26035
026@N06/2706293388/

http://student.britannica.com/elementary/art/print?id=87518&articleTypeId=0

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Young_Maori_man_dancing.jp
g/398px-Young_Maori_man_dancing.jpg

http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/images/t
rips/fullsize/15013.jpg

http://kolkatachat.org/images/oldkolkata/0c81080a-a28e-4752-a926-124c7373dc7c.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/87/256776581_c1498af596.jpg

Image source: http://www.tribuneindia.com

Image by Joe Panchasharp: http://gallery.photo.net/photo/6500665-lg.jpg

http://stevemccurry.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/india-10219nfduststorm.jpg

Indian fiber and weaves

1. Amru
2. Arhi Bharat
3. Batik
4. Banarasi
5. Bandhini
6. Chamba Rumal
7. Chanderi
8. Chaunsa Khaddar
9. Chikankari
10.Do Rukha
11.Himru
12.Ikkat
13.Jamdani
14.Jamewar

15.Kalamkari
16.Kanbi Bharat
17.Kantha
18.Kasaba
19.Kashida
20.Khaddar
21.Maheshwari
22.Mochi Bharat
23.Murri
24.Paithani
25.Pashmina
26.Phanda
27.Phulkari
28.Pipli

29.Pitamber
30.Patola
31.Rabari
32.Refoogari
33.Taipachi
34.Et cetera

Task 5
Phone no one
Design a dress for a specific climate
zone & cultural context that intrigues
you (and something that youre thus far
unfamiliar with)
On one condition
God is in the cloth so you cant cut it,
tear it or stitch it - only knots and
folds

P.S. Youve got 20 minutes.

What in your opinion

Defines the status quo?
Does diversity continue to thrive in
dresses?

The Hypothesis
Sustainability
Does Not

Stand
A
Chance

And our Dwellings

http://www.mohenjodaro.net/images/greatbathgranary23.jpg

http://www.mohenjodaro.net/images/DGtocitadel13.jpg

http://www.tropicalisland.de/india/rajasthan/mandawa/pages/DEL%20Mandawa%20in%20Shekawati%20region%20-%20Hotel%20Mandawa%20Desert%20Resort%20with%20mud%20covered%20cottages%20to%20retain%20authenti

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/21/Old_style_home%2C_Manali%2C_2

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Nepal_house.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9

/www.indiamike.com/photopost/data/500/kerala_06_213.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Siddhesvara_Temple_Haveri.JPG

pload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Yellamma_temple_at_Badami.jpg

load.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Itagi_Mahadeva_temple_Light.JPG

/www.flickr.com/photos/daphnis/3180657391/sizes/o/

pload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Rameswaram_Temple_Inside.jpg

http://www.tropicalisland.de/india/rajasthan/mandawa/images/DEL%20Mandawa%20in%20Shekawati%20region%20%20Hotel%20Mandawa%20Haveli%20inner%20courtyard%20with%20doors%20to%20guest%20rooms%20and%20beautifully%20painted%20facade%203008x2000.jpg

http://www.tropicalisland.de/india/rajasthan/mandawa/images/DEL%20Mandawa%20in%20Shekawati%20region%20%20Hotel%20Mandawa%20Haveli%20guest%20room%20with%20heavily%20decorated%20walls%203008x2000.jpg

http://www.tropicalisland.de/india/rajasthan/mandawa/images/DEL%20Mandawa%20in%20Shekawati%20region%20-

http://www.tropicalisland.de/india/rajasthan/mandawa/images/DEL%20Mandawa%20in%20Shekawati%20region%20-

http://www.tropicalisland.de/india/rajasthan/jaipur/images/JAI%20Jaipur%20-%20Amber%20FortPalace%20Jai%20Mandir%20Hall%20of%20Victory%20noted%20for%20its%20inlaid%20panels%20and%20glittering%20mirror%20ceiling%203008x2000.jpg

http://www.tropicalisland.de/india/rajasthan/jaipur/images/JAI%20Jaipur%20-%20Amber%20FortPalace%20shielded%20windows%20of%20the%20zenana%20womens%20apartments%20in%20the%20fourth%20courtyard%203008x2000.jpg

http://www.tropicalisland.de/india/rajasthan/mandawa/images/DEL%20Mandawa%20in%20Shekawati%20region%20%20Hotel%20Mandawa%20Haveli%20outer%20courtyard%20with%20beautifully%20painted%20main%20facade%203008x2000.jpg

http://img8.travelblog.org/Photos/121408/444924/f/4373526-Photo-23-0.jpg - Photographer: Jonathan Smith, From: Palaces, temples and forts, Nikon
Corporation Nikon D70

opicalisland.de/india/rajasthan/jaipur/images/JAI%20Jaipur%20-%20Hawa%20Mahal%20or%20Palace%20of%20the%20Winds%203008x2000.jpg

www.tourpackagesrajasthan.com/images/Jaisalmer-957_30.jpg

lunaspace.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/haveli.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/photos/29/2

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/The_famous_jaali_from_the_Sidi_Saiyyed_mosque_in_Ahmedabad.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/TombSalimChisti.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/ChandBaori.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ujjval/3335691161/sizes/o/

http://go635254.s3.amazonaws.com/ecoworldly/files/2008/09/ugrasen-ki-baoli-in-delhi.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/95/Hulikere_Hoysala_Kalyani(tank)_altered.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarako/33304034/sizes/o/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedesco57/1020069389/sizes/o/

/bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=2426452726&size=large

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/NorthBlock.jpg

pload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/EttayapuramBharathiHouse.png

Suddenly There was

Modernism
(Ornament is Criminal)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Chandigarh_Secretariat_.jpg

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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/IHC.jpg

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Task 4
How does your regional dwelling
reflect your society and its practices
Sit in regional groups and share with
the rest of the community

What in your opinion

Defines the status quo?
Does diversity continue to thrive?

The Hypothesis
Sustainability
Does Not

Stand
A
Chance

Dances & Songs and Sustainability

Dances & Songs and Sustainability

Dances & songs were community
activities
That passed on priceless education
in lyrics and movements
They also integrated local value
systems (resource limitations) into
their moves, sounds and instruments
In manner that was inherently
sustainable

Task 4
Give us the name of your favourite regional
songs
Sing a regional / folk song and share its
relevance to your community
And if they relate to a particular festival
or occasion
Even better
You have two minutes

What in your opinion

Defines the status quo?
Does diversity continue to thrive?

The Hypothesis
Sustainability
Does Not

Stand
A
Chance

AND NOW WE STAND UNITED &

DEVELOPED

http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/india_09_22/india31_16442515.jpg

http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/india_09_22/india07_16214515.jpg

http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=download&id=895440

Same clothes!

http://oldstersview.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/picture-5.jpg

Same cars!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaurav/13272661/sizes/l/

http://www.akworld.net/webblog/wp-content/uploads/2007/1

Same language!

1034134_17232355 (Only Pizza http://www.sxc.hu/profile/ilco - Ilker).jpg

670126_88443261 (Destaque 1 http://www.sxc.hu/profile/cnunes62

- Carlos Nunes).jpg

Same Diets!

Delhi / NCR

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85296574@N00/189385186/sizes/o/

Mumbai

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85296574@N00/188742872/sizes/o/in/set-72157594199106864/

Kolkata

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85296574@N00/101301544/sizes/o/in/set-72157594199106864/

w.flickr.com/photos/85296574@N00/101301546/sizes/o/in/set-72157594199106864/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85296574@N00/300196297/sizes/o/in/set-72157594382704326/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85296574@N00/188013144/sizes/o/in/set-72157594199106864/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85296574@N00/185514559/sizes/o/in/set-72157594199106864/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85296574@N00/231857547/sizes/o/in/set-72157594199106864/

Same buildings!

Google Earth - Gurgaon

Google Earth - Pitampura

Google Earth - Ambedkar nagar

Google Earth - Bengaluru

Same cities!

Why do we act the way we do?

THE CURRENT CONTEXT

Product based protection

We have a product oriented approach
CFL, electric vehicles, Solar Panels, star
rated products, technology intensive
approach

Boiling sustainability solutions down

to a shopping list
Buy more and you will be sustainable

Really???
Does that fit into ANY logic?

Where the world points to

Developing countries are responsible
for increasing environmental pollution
But
Developing countries must have similar
growth rates and other indicators to
be called developed
This is possible by buying cars,
cosmetics, clothes, technologies, etc.
that the developed countries
manufacture

Would it work in India?

EVEN IF THAT WAS TRUE

SO WHATS MISSING?

In our opinion - 3 key ingredients

Familiarity with the local
environment and the 5 Ds
Ownership of the local environment
and the 5 Ds
Taking a stand for the local
environment and the 5 Ds

Being proud of who we are

As a country that has worshipped its
natural environment for thousands of
years.
And done so alongside all religious
world-views.
If all of us were proud of who we
already are, what would be possible?

Way Forward
ENGAGE

With your surrounding environment and ask

WHY is it the way it is?
What secrets do the Dialects hold?
What secrets do the diets hold?
What secrets do the dresses hold?
What secrets do the dwellings hold?
What secrets do the dances and songs hold?

Way Forward
Given that sustainability does not
How can you make a difference?

Or can you?

Thank you

The contents of this presentation are the

intellectual property of every person on the planet
and can be freely copied.
Do give credit to the photographers though, without
who this presentation would be quite dry.

WWW.5WARAJ.IN
GAURAVA@5WARAJ.IN