[Posted January 29, 2010]

From Villages to Ghost Towns

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

No village economy without village community, and no community without sense of purpose and satisfaction

New York Times Jan 28, 2009 - AKASH KAPUR

Agriculture Left to Die at India's Peril

Agriculture in this area, and in much of India, is dying. The village economy is in crisis, assailed by migration to the cities, decades of ecological neglect, and the growing unsustainability of farming.

The scientist M.S. Swaminathan, often referred to as the father of India’s green revolution, has spoken of a “disaster” in Indian agriculture. The sociologist Dipankar Gupta has written of “hollowed” villages.

According to a recent report in The Hindu newspaper, almost 200,000 farmers committed suicide between 1997 and 2009 — a national tragedy (although it is rarely treated as such) brought on by rising debt and the resulting economic and existential despair.

Earlier this week, President Pratibha Patil called for “a second green revolution” to stem spiraling food prices and declining supplies. Such calls have emotional resonance in a country that still remembers the humiliation of American food aid in the 1960s. It’s not clear, however, how Ms. Patil’s goal can be achieved. The forces arrayed against Indian farming are formidable; they are part of the country’s great leap toward modernity. go to story

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What are you working for?

Village Economy A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Nobody should take to very hardship labor. The modern civilization has discovered severe types of dangerous industries, and laborers are attracted for high wages. But they should not accept such work. Then naturally there will be less capitalistic idea. Because the laborer cooperates, therefore demoniac persons they take advantage and make unnecessarily increase of artificial demands of the body. Better one should be satisfied with agricultural produce than go into large cities to be engaged in industry. Peaceful life depending on agricultural produce can bring him real happiness and prosperity, not otherwise. The more persons will be satisfied at their home, with home economics, not to go outside the home, that is peaceful life. more

Krishna consciousness alongside livelihood

excerpt from Conversation, Rome, May 25, 1974

PRABHUPADA: Formerly there was barter exchange. That was very good thing. Still in Indian villages, the remote villages, there is barter. Yes. He has produced some grains, paddy. He will bring to the storekeeper. And the storekeeper will take, "For so much oil, you have to give me so much paddy." So he will weigh and keep it and give him oil. So he will arrange to sell the paddy. But for the villagers, he brings the paddy and he takes. They require little salt, little oil, some spices. That's all. Otherwise they have got their own thing. They have got dal, their rice, wheat, everything. They have produced. In this way, still there are, Indian villages. There is no question of scarcity.

BHAGAVAN: The easiest way to manage, then, is to have everything more or less in small villages.

PRABHUPADA: Yes, that was Gandhi's philosophy, village organization. These people, they are attracting villagers to work in the factory, and they are exploiting them. Instead of producing food, they are attracted by so-called high salaries, to the factory, and they are producing bolts and nuts, motor parts. But food is produced somewhere else. But the food producers, they are working in the factory. Therefore scarcity of foodstuff. But this factory owner, he has got more money. He doesn't care. The poor public, they are suffering. Our philosophy is that you produce your food anywhere. You stay, and keep cows, take milk, produce vegetables, food grains, and chant Hare Krishna. That's all. This is our philosophy. Make your life successful. By becoming Krishna conscious, you become free from all these troubles of material condition. This is our education. Don't be after these motorcars, television, and all nonsense things, sporting, wine, women. Don't be after these. Simply eat sufficiently, keep your health nicely, chant Hare Krishna, realize Krishna, and go back to home. This is our philosophy.

SATSVARUPA: But sometimes, because this materialistic society is so far advanced, you say we cannot actually hope to change it.

PRABHUPADA: No, no. That is a fact. We cannot hope to change. But we request everyone to chant Hare Krishna.

YOGESVAR: In their factory or wherever they are.

PRABHUPADA: Yes. Because it is very difficult to close the factory. That is not possible. So whatever you have done, it is all right. But you chant Hare Krishna. Then things will be adjusted.

Vacating the village to look for satisfaction in the cities

excerpt from Conversation, September 12, 1976, Vrindaban

PRABHUPADA: I have seen, Gandhi wanted to organize a program, village organization. ...Because they had no engagement, so why they should remain in the village? There are so many attractions in the city, and they get money. The factory-wallas, they're inviting, "Come here. You shall get twenty rupees per day." Why shall he remain in the village? So if you can organize in the villages, they are interested in chanting Hare Krishna mantra and getting nice prasadam, then... One must have some attachment. In the city there are so many artificial attachments. So on what ground they'll remain in the village? Mind, always remember this. Unless you have got some attachment, there is no possibility. Gandhi's program was very nice, village organize so that they may not come to the city and help the capitalists. Remain satisfied in the village. But where is that satisfaction? That is the failure.

LOKANATH: If they add the holy name to their lives, they will...

PRABHUPADA: Yes. If they could understand that. That will be helpful if you chant. Therefore Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's statement will never be false. Cheto-darpana-marjanam [Chaitanya-charitamrita Antya 20.12]. If they chant Hare Krishna mantra, then gradually the dirty things accumulated within the heart will be cleansed. And if he comes to the understanding, clear idea, that "I want to eat something and my necessities... So if I get my necessities, primary necessities of life, and satisfaction of mind, then why shall I go to city?" That they can have very easily. If they follow the instruction of Bhagavad-gita, that "Your first necessity is food." So produce food here. Krishi-go-rakshya-vanijyam [Bhagavad-gita 18.44]. And you'll find here so much land is lying vacant. Because they have gone to the city for twenty rupees daily to manufacture Goodyear tire. And who will work here? Now I have seen in Delhi, the government is advertising, "Go back to the village." Rascal, you are manufacturing wine and keeping them engaged whole day in the work. So after being tired, he requires some wine. And why he'll go? And no spiritual education, no cleanliness. Simply inviting "Go to the village" they will go?

LOKANATH: Just a propaganda.

PRABHUPADA: No, they're thinking that so many people are coming to the cities, how we shall provide them? That's a problem. After all government has to supply them rations. Where is so much foodstuff? And if they are not supplied, then there will be resentment. That's a fact. What they are doing in the city, so many scooters, going here and there. Actually no engagement. The girls are loitering in the street by dressing. It will become more and more problems, city life. So this is the solution, that they must go back to the village. But they are trained up to enjoy the facilities, so-called facilities, of the city. They are not going to village. But if we can introduce this hari-sankirtan, and if they have little taste, that is success. It's a great program. And that taste will come — cheto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. If he simply becomes little sober, [he'll consider] "I want to eat, I have to sleep, I want some sense enjoyment and defense. So if I can get easily in the village, why shall I go three hundred miles away?" Just keep in mind the psychology. So that simple life will be possible if one is bhakta. Bhaktih pareshanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.42]. Only by devotion. Not by otherwise. Not by artificial means, by manufacturing toilet. Only bhakti. If they get little attachment for Krishna the questions will be solved automatically. And they will be happy. Undoubtedly. That is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's first instruction. Cheto-darpana.

LOKANATH: I come from village, and I'm happy now as I have taken to holy name and prasada. So more, other villagers... Half of these boys are from villages?

PRABHUPADA: Yes, they are villagers.

LOKANATH: They're chanting and they're so happy and they're going back to village.

PRABHUPADA: Very good life. Very good life. The village life. Provided he has got proper engagement. Otherwise his mind will be disturbed, and he'll seek after wine, after women, after this, after that. Devil's workshop.

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