Day 24 : Alternate models exist
..and they are within our reach..
Our alternate models of development are within our reach. They are run by people who have transformed themselves enough to expand their consciousness and love to the people around them. These models can be replicated all across the Konkan coastline (and frankly across the world), which will be based on the ideals of ‘total revolution’— an internal revolution that will finally change the external circumstances. These models will help the average villager grow internally while helping him mould his external life. The issue is, the societies that we have developed now, are extremely dependant on material things. These models strip away the material excesses. We can bring back the ideals of, intellectual freedom through a more simplistic lifestyle. We can strip off what we don’t need.
Why can’t we develop our Konkan based on the cultural tourism models of Bhutan or nature and agri-based tourism models Vietnam? God, nature or whatever suits your tongue, has graced this land with excess. The vast Arabian Sea has been welcoming to the strangers, she knows the concept of ‘atithi devo bhava’ (the guest is akin to God). The Sahyadris hold every adventurer in her bosom. She takes care of them by sending her children, the kaatkaris and dhangars, to the rescue of those who have lost their way. The land in between grows rice, naachni, vari, coconuts, betelnuts. She gives way for luscious mangoes and salty cashews to grow freely on her back. There are gorges, valleys, waterfalls, trails, forts, buddhist viharas, temples, raakhandars (protectors), dargahs that adorn this place and remind us of the saintly people who have walked this land. This is the land of reformers. Our ancestors have carved a close relationship with this motherly nature. The volcanic stone carved by our ancestors, tells stories of a history that goes back 15-20,000 years— these petroglyphs, hundreds of them, run all along the coastline. How can such a rich- culturally, ecologically diverse place, be transformed into an industrial nightmare? Why are we pushing oil refineries, atomic plants, MIDC’s, chemical plants, second homes, buildings and ports on this sensitive zone? The real development of this land will only happen when our God’s (the five elements which have created us) are respected. Our God is nature— that is what the Konkani person prays to.
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An excellent example of an alternate model of nature and community based tourism is in the tiny village of Nargoli, Mandangad. Sampada and Madhu who worked in the education sector in Pune, bought a land in this village to bring this model to life. But ever since coming here they have faced unique issues. This land, when they bought, was owned by a government servant, but soon they realised that the real owners of the land, who were an elderly couple in the village, were unaware of these developments. They were given fake assurances and sometimes given alcohol to write off their land in a state of intoxication. After settling an agreement with the owners and duly giving them land to build their cattleshed, they started their actual work— to assimilate in the land and community. When I went there, the old lady, the actual owner of the land which has now changed atleast four hands, was sitting next to us. She roared with joy when Madhu asked her, “Who is the original owner of this land?”
“This is my land,” she said while eating rice and dal that Sampada had offered her. She now comes and sits with them. She shares stories of her past. Past wounds were healed when she and her family realised that they had nothing to do with the way they lost their land. The villagers had to come to accept them because they were willing to negotiate and get involved in the workings of the village. This is the right way to move forward, in my opinion. By respecting the communities that live here. Many who buy land here don’t understand this common fact— that there are and were people living here long before they came on the scene.
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They have developed a unique model of agriculture, where they only cut the trees which were not helping the land. Australian Acacia, which grows wild in these jungles isn’t a native species and worst even it stunts the growth of indigenous varieties. They planted betelnuts all along the step farms that meets the river which flows at the bottom of their land. In the path, which was made previously to cut the old trees, they planted turmeric and ginger. On the plain land at the top of the hill, they grew rice and lentils. Many villagers find employment here.
During the initial years, they built a mudhouse using the old techniques and interestingly, it is one of the few specimen of mudhouses remaining in this village. These mudhouse now houses volunteers who come from all corners of the world. When I visited them, Ana from Italy was helping them to paint the homestay. She was making designs inspired by petroglyphs in Konkan. Elise, who comes from Austria, helped them with painting the walls with mud. Gazi, from Saudi Arabia, helped them with carpentary and agricultural works and Nadav, from Israel, helped them with weeding the turmeric and thrashing the rice. They all came together in the evening when some more elders from the village came and sat in to share their ideas.
Sampada teaches the village kids in the evening hours. Both Madhu and Sampada believe that the real problem in these villages, is the lack of basic skills. They want to teach them, onto to make them realise what is right and wrong for them. Critical thinking abilities open up a whole new world to them and that is what I believe too.
When the moon was up, Gazi, Nadav and I went to the community thrashing that we were invited to. The villagers offered a coconut to the nature deities, after which they sang and danced while hitting the straws of rice on the bench.
When people ask me what kind of Konkan do you envision? This is it! A Konkan that is open to invite people from all around the world. A Konkan that is inclusive and diverse. A Konkan that has preserved its culture and heritage and assimilated old with the new. These are the models of development that we need to be replicating all around Konkan. The ones that respects nature, the ones that respects the people. There is hope. Real hands on education will bring this change.
If you can please visit Sampada and Madhu in their farm in Nargoli. Book a room with them, this will help them in sustaining their project financially and I believe this will bring about a positive change in the surrounding village. If you can help them in any other way please reach out to them. Here is Sampada’s and Madhu’s instagram handle - @chirak.van
I am 25 days in on my Konkan Coastal Walk. The idea of this walk is to highlight the issues, spread an ecological conscience within the people, listen to them and bring them together to see if we can bring about a change that can move towards a future that aids people rather than pushes them away from their homeland.
If you can help me by contributing for this walk, then please do, I could start a kickstarter or manage crowdfunding through some other website, but none of those options are available to me here in India. So, I will be dependant on your donations. You can contribute through paypal - here’s the link. I will send out a personalised postcard if the donations are above $30 and if it’s above $100 then whatever comes out of this walk - a book, a documentary or anything else - you will be the first ones to receive it.
Thanks for your continual support. I am truly grateful!