“Sukhi Gram” Self Sustainable Village

Ar. Abhijeet Shinde1, Ar. Gaurav P Bhangale2

1
Pravara Rural College of Architecture, Loni, University of Pune, Maharashtra, India
2
Practicing Architect, Savda, Maharashtra, India

International Journal of Research in Civil Engineering, Architecture & Design

Volume 4, Issue 2, April-June, 2016, pp. 87-95
ISSN Online: 2347-2855, Print: 2347-8284, DOA: 05022016
© IASTER 2016, www.iaster.com

ABSTRACT

Critical architectural practice that adopts the foundational ideologies of sustainability as embedded
in our continuing cultures has the potential of engendering an alternative sustainable life-style for our
future generations – a life-style of grace, dignity, and beauty.

This is a brief summary of applying the Vedic economic model to a village. It is integrated, timeless and
universal in nature. It doesn’t have the deficiencies of the current economic models. However, the
difficult part is to codify the model as a set of rules. Dharma is an essential guiding force in the
implementation. It is nature’s law and in-built in the soul of India. Consequently, implementing such a
system in Indian villages is much easier than elsewhere. Development of the individual as well as the
society is ensured through this model. All four pursuits of man have been given total freedom to develop.
The growth has been guided by the principles of Dharma. Sustainable development of human
settlements combines economic development, social development and environmental protection, with
full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, and
offers a means of achieving the world of greater stability and peace, built on ethical and spiritual vision.

Keywords: Agriculture, Environment, Sustainability, Vedic Economy.

1. INTRODUCTION
Being from Semi urban town and travelled across India through various villages and cities over a
period of time from educational period till the date we have realized that there is huge surge of people
moving towards urban centers like Mumbai, Pune, and Bangalore etc.

After Series of Discussion with experts and masses we found the migration is happening because
there is limitation of source for earning income, also because of different Inadequate services like
Medical facility, Educational facility, Basic infrastructure, lack of road network, transportation
facilities, Water supply drainage etc. People don‟t wish to migrate away from their land, relatives &
people. But there is no option for their survival in the present system. Though cities are the centers of
our economy, unemployment increases because cities are unable to give employment to all migrants.
This results in increase in various crimes which ultimately leads to break-down of trust in society. Our
leaders have not been able to provide solutions to these problems. Increasing population of the cities
leads to inadequate provision of basic services such as water, drainage, electricity, etc. This further
leads to pollution of land, air, and water in the urban areas. Lack of resources also plagues villages.
Most villages lack not only in adequate provisions for water supply, drainage and electricity but also
facilities for health and education. Another key consideration is that the whole society particularly in
rural areas is dependent on the government for everything - from food to wood. There is no attitude of
independence and self-reliance in the society.

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Our aim, therefore, must be to develop a system of town and community planning which will give
self-reliance in all spheres, earning income for survival and beyond, services like health and
sanitation, roads and transportation, education and infrastructure such as uninterrupted electricity and
water supply and proper drainage. This, in our opinion will provide happiness to all.

2. AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Our aim is to make a self-sustainable village (“Sukhi Gram”) to achieve the goal of happiness, joy and
prosperity.The main Objective is development of sustainable architecture through sustainable community.

3. LITERATURE REVIEW & CASESTUDIES

Description of Ayodhya from Ramayana, construction techniques & Vedic Town Planning Principles
from „Mayamatam‟ & „Samarangan Sutradhar‟, Basics of Human Psychology from „Vedic
Metaphysics‟, Principles of Economics from „Hindu Economics‟ & Hind Swaraj, Environmental
Solutions from „Paryavaran Geeta‟ and Swadeshi Samaj helped us to understand the Vedic model of
ideal Village. Ancient cities like Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro, Verul-Ajanta, Vijaynagar-Hampi and
Madurai has worked out basic services for the welfare of the human beings at that time.

One of the modern day role model for Villages is village Baripada. Baripada is the self-sustainable
village. It is a totally independent development without taking any kind of fund or concession from
government. Mr. Chaitaram Pawar is the spirit of the village. When he returned to his village after
completing his graduation ,there were lots of problem in the village like poverty, water scarcity,
economy, no electricity, lack of education, migration of youngsters towards cities.

To solve these problems he started to collect help from outside. Some NGO‟s like „Vanvasi Kalyan
Ashram‟ Maharashtra, Janseva Foundation Pune, Dr. Hedagevar Seva Samiti Nandurbar. These
NGO‟s helped him to find out the experts opinion on all the questions. He started working and
implementing new ideas of Agriculture, education, water harvesting by self. One by one whole village
started copying him because of the benefits they got. In this way the development started and
everyone became self-sustainable.

Table 3.1: Showing Statistics of Baripada (as in 2009)

Village Baripada
Post Shendvad
Tahsil Sakri
District Dhule
State Maharastra
Population Male- 346 Total Families - 94
Female – 367 Primary School – 01
Total - 713
Land Forest – 482he Agri. – 392he
Reservoir - 09he Cattle Field – 030he
Gavthan – 026he Total - 939he
Water Storage Well - 40
Small reservoir - 13
percolating reservoir - 03

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3.1 Features of Baripada

3.1.1 Preservation of Forests

The problem of Kitchen fuel is completely solved. The successful efforts of water harvesting results
in generation of reservoirs and also helpful in increasing the underground water table level which
results in availability of water in the wells is only at 20feets from ground level. The problem of
drinking water of Baripada and nearby villages is totally solved. The village is now secured about
food and cattle food. Agricultural production is increases due to irrigation techniques. Economical
condition of the villagers is changed. No one in the
village is under poverty line. Migration for the earning
purposes is totally stopped. They use fuel from preserved
forest.Collection of the wood is allowed only for 30 days.
Selling of forest products like fruits, flowers, gum is
increased. The raw from forest is equally distributed
among villagers. Increase in employment from various
works like security of forest, dry grass cutting, making of
rope from „Ghayapat‟. Successful forest preservation was
awarded by Maharashtra Government with1 lac Rupees.
Fig 3.1 Baripada Reservoirs
3.1.2 Agricultural Development

In 1994 Collective seed germination experiment was applied. Production of the better breed of the Pusa
Basmati, Indrayani, Ratnagiri-24 , Jaya etc. started. They used the leaves of the plant „Giripushpa‟ as a
fertilizer. „Yuria-DAP‟ briquette is used. Production from the farm got doubled. In 1997 Potato
production started successfully.For wheat new breeds are being used like HD-2189, MACS-2496 etc.
They have started the plantation of the 5 trees – 1) Nimbu 2) Aamla 3) Amarud 4) Papita 5) Munaga;
They also Developed roots: Tapioca, Ghorkand, Karanda, Mishrikand, and Aaravi.In 2000 „Hybrid
Tomatto‟ production was undertaken. In 2002 they underook the production of the Onion-N-2-4-1 and
Lahsun-Godavari, Jwar-„Parabhani Shweta‟- black anti fungus breed. In 2003 plantation of the sugar-
cane by gap system with intermediate onion plantation was done. New breed of the Sugar-cane (94012
and 80-94005) is being used. Tissue cultured Banana plantation was also done.

3.1.3 Employment Opportunities

Before 1992 Villagers from Baripada was migrating after „Kharip‟ season for earning. After the
development in irrigation field employment increased.Production of Sugarcane and Onion gives better
opportunities for employment. Jaggery production from sugarcane gives employment to the 40
people per day. Mango and Mohu trees forest gives opportunities like Security guard, collection of
fruits–flowers and drying them. Forest product selling Nagali Papad Udyog and selling management
also increased employment. Fisheries, poultry farms, Honey production, Rope making from ghayapat,
electricity generation from extract of Mohu seeds also increased employment.

3.1.4 Personality Development

Primary education is made compulsory and fine is charged to parents who are not doing so. Even
teachers are fined if not follow the daily duty. It helped in reducing illiteracy to large extent. This
resulted in 4 Graduates, 8 with Higher Secondary Education, 09 Secondary passed. This also resulted
in self-dependent groups of males and females.

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Table 3.2 Changes in 1992 and now in 2006

Subject 1992 2006

Percolating Reservoirs 00 03
Built houses 03 30
Doctor‟s treatment Required 70% 20%
Addiction – Alcoholic 80% 20%
Tobacco 80% 40%
Tapakir 100% 20%
Smoking 80% 30%
Entertaining services-
1. T.V. 00 06
2. Radio 00 05
3. C .D. players 00 04
1. Transportation means 0% 100%
2. Bullock Cart 02 11
3. Motor Bike 00 01
4. Tractors 00 01
Source : Local Survey

3.1.5 Social Activities

89 percolating tank for dirty water, 66 Toilet for every house, 206 stop dams of stone for soil
preservation , Development of recreational spaces around „Bhavani Mandir‟ all was done by Villagers
through shramdan.

4. RESULTS & DISCUSSION

4.1 Root Cause of the Problem
To give the long-term solutions to problems in our systems we have to go to the roots of the system;
which starts from individual (human being). The individual is the center of the activity the whole
system, economy; society is developed for, developed by individuals. So, to the root there is
individual‟s (human‟s) desire.

Our forefathers had developed the organizations of personal , social , work oriented, economical
structures to give and take the happiness. All the relations between human beings or individuals were
for giving and taking of happiness. The ancient Vedic civilization is based on thought of „everyone is
happy‟ i.e. “Individual is happy (sukhi) and others also happy (sukhi). „Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam‟ was
the motto of their life means the whole universe is one family this is the concept of their life style.
This concept developed many truths, discoveries, branches to flourish human life with all others in
environment. As mentioned above they develop some organizational structure from personal life to
universe. They develop the management system such as “Nadandnadandikyo …” That there is no
ruler, no ruled; everyone is progressing and protecting every one by their duty of Dharma. But in the
course of time because of various philosophies and invasions Vedic principles got forgotten and new
system took place.

4.2 Present and Future of the Problem

Current system is self-centered. This leads to the development of industrialization in big cities and
destruction of the old social structure developed in Vedic period. With help of technology they
destroyed the whole small scale industry of every village in India.Due to the destruction of the
ecology cycle seasons break down. This made adverse effect on agriculture and other related
industries.

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Now today being a Sukhi (happiness) is the most impossible achievement..!, and if we don‟t give any
solution to this condition human life in future will become more valueless than the lower living
organisms. So what did exactly we want?

4.3 Analysis and solution given

Why we need happiness? We need happiness by different means by earning, by eating, doing
everything which we want! What is the goal?. If we put it in philosophical terms as found in
Upanishad‟s the goal of mankind is perfection. It may be physical perfection, material, political,
educational, intellectual, and spiritual perfection. All-round perfection is what man seeks.

It is the matter of universal experience within the reach of every one of us that, in spite of all of the
hundreds and thousands of differences that divide individuals from individuals with regards to ideas, with
regards to conduct, etc, the goal, objective sought to be obtained by all, in spite of these differences.

Desire to live, desire to know, desire to be happy, Desire to be free, desire to dominate are the five
instinctive desires in all of us. I call this self-analysis in which we don‟t want to author to tell us. These
things are not needed from others. We know them on our own examination of our own hearts. These are
the thing we desire.Our own aspirations and the realized aspirations are the attributes of the God.

So the ultimate solution of the problems from the center of the system is that the development system
should be such that it will support our aspirations and our and helpful achieve our attributes towards
God. The ancient Vedic system (organizations) like social, economical, educational, political are
developed on the basis of human aspirations. That was the sustainable solution for the human being
to achieve attributes towards God.

Our Vedic forefathers knew the target of the human beings; so they develop different system on the
common base of happiness of the mankind. The target of the system is “Sarveapisukhinahsantu,
sarvesantuniraamayaah.sarvebhadraanipashyantumaakashchitduhkhabhaaghbhavet” means may all
people enjoy happiness; may not even a single person be unhappy.

4.4 Implied Solution by Ancestors

Dharma or spiritual duties, Artha or economic activities, Kama or sense gratification and Moksha or
liberation are the four goals of life. Without Dharma one cannot be civilized, without economic
development one cannot maintain himself and his family and sense gratification is a natural
requirement of the human body. And when one has accomplished these three needs of life liberation
offers one the opportunity to go beyond this cycle of birth and death, into a higher spiritual world.

While the Vedic way of life provides us with the means to fulfill our gross and subtle human desires it
is not totally blind like the materialism of the present day. Instead it teaches us in the background of
all these activities to dedicate all our words and actions in the service of God so that we can gratify
our senses in a restrained manner and at the same time reach our higher spiritual goals in life. So to
support this sustainable communal system they develop the responsive architecture systems. We have
the examples of Hampi, Vijaynagar. They develop the economy based on environment cycle instead
of changing that cycle.

4.5 Present Scenario

The recent articulation in universal terms of the concepts of “sustainability” and “sustainable
development” perhaps pre-sages an imminent paradigm shift in the reflexive practices of architecture
and urbanism. The growing acceptance of the “sustainability” principle as the ideal that should guide the

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pursuit of the good life is an ironic counterpoint to the more dominant theme of globalization.By
including environmental protection in its Agenda UN established its role in ensuring stability and peace.

To return to the premise of this discussion, how does this way lead to an improved quality of
architecture? This possibly can be identified in several processes that are extant across the subcontinent.
We chose a symbolic triumvirate to share my optimism. Geoffrey Bawa, Joseph Allen Stein and Laurie
Baker, I would argue, have produced architectures that are inspired by a sustainability ethic. In each
case, and this is extremely significant, they have produced a culture of building that integrates the total
process of the making of architecture. The resource base of material and skill, the continuities of cultural
languages and the recognition of the physicality of climate and geography all converge to make the
architectural expression. Their architectures have established a deep resonance with their host cultures.
They grow from within even as they appropriate universal knowledge. This triumvirate also symbolizes
the validity of the sustainability principle across the total range of the built environment - from the
simple shelter of a home to a complexity of intense urbanism.

5. FINDING & CONCLUSION

5.1 Solution and its Sustainability

To achieve the target of happiness of all mankind we have to dissolve the problems which are
categorized above; according to guidance from Veda‟s. We have categorize our problems like
personal, human needs &economical, social, system, and environmental.

The sustainable development, sustainable community, sustainable industry, sustainable agriculture, and
sustainable life these all are not different phrases. We can‟t look them differently. Sustainability is related
to the quality of life in a community whether the economic, social, and environmental systems make up the
community are providing a healthy, productive, meaningful, creative, happy life of the resident.

Fig 5.1A View of the Community as in Separate Fig 5.2 A View of the Community that Shows the
Parts Links Among tts Three Parts

However, when these entire five categories environment, system, society, economy & individual are
viewed as separate, unrelated parts of a community, the community‟s problems are also viewed as
isolated issues.

Rather than piecemeal approach we need to a view of the community that takes into account the link
between all five components and the solution will be sustainable.Action to improve community in a
sustainable community takes these connections into account. But still this is not exact sustainable
solution, because the current system is going on the same principle of balancing. Still happiness is not
there .more work is required in this system to achieve goal separately. This shows that some parts of
the categories are only connected to each other. So the perfection is not there.

According to Veda‟s, though the subjects are different there is something common in between us. i.e.
Happiness. We have categorized our problems like personal, social, economical, environmental,
system etc. So man is the center of whole systems.

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Fig 5.3 A view of community as four concentric circles: individual is the center of all systems the economy
exists within society, and both the economy and society exist within the environment.

As this figure illustrates, man is the base common for design of all services. The happiness, perfection
of the mankind is the goal of each of three systems. The economy exists entirely within society,
because all parts of the human economy require interaction among people. However, society is much
more than just the economy. Friends and families, music and art, religion and ethics are important
elements of society, but are not primarily based on exchanging goods and services.

5.2 Development on the basis of solution

The solution given by forefathers and obtained by analysis is that the system should be developed on
the basis of truth of human being; that the truth of perfection and achievement of root desires to get
supreme happiness; which will make joyful life of every one. Man is the root of every system.

To develop Self – Sustainable Village we need a sustainable community. To develop such community
we need sustainable system (Ruling). For the development of such rule/system we need Sustainable
society. For such society sustainable personals should be required. And lastly to develop sustainable
personals the supporting systems like education, economy and relationships, fulfillment of human
needs should be sustainable.The development of self-sustainable personals leads to the change in the
every system which is currently working.

The sustainable village development can make whole country self-sustainable. When agriculture is the
main trade then there are lots of agricultural products which get developed; the extra products can sent
to other villages. Those products which are not available at gram will be available to Peth. In this way
trade can be explored. So this will become the goal of „Sukhi Gram to Sukhi Rashtra‟. And it further
goes to „Sukhi Rashtra to Sukhi Vishwa‟ .That was the target of the our Vedic Forefathers.

5.3 Architectural Sustainability

The primary function of a building is to provide a comfortable Indoor environment. Traditional

buildings of earlier times had many built-in architectural features for achieving comfort. Unlike
animals and birds that build their shelters intuitively and adapt themselves to environmental changes,
man has relied on various resources to build shelters for protection from heat, Cold and rain. They are
shaped and planned to take maximum advantage of the climate and surroundings. Gradually, as newer
materials and techniques of construction developed, vernacular built forms evolved to provide a
harmonious balance between buildings, climate and people‟s lifestyle.

With technological advancement, people failed to continue the tradition of maintaining harmonious
balance between buildings, climate and their lifestyle. Modem architecture has become a conquest of

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nature In the sense that, environmental conditions notwithstanding, a building could be given a sleek,
clean and well-proportioned exterior façade, and the Intoner made as comfortable as required with the
help of artificial devices. However, the drawback is that, such buildings consume an enormous
amount of energy.

A growing worldwide concern for conservation of energy has reawakened interest in eco-friendly
sustainable materials, processes and sources of energy with the availability of newer materials.

5.4 Energy Management

5.4.1 Renewable Energy Technologies for Decentralized Rural Power Plants

This program ultimately envisages the use of the renewable energy source which is most suitable for a
given location. In many cases the optimum solution usually turns out to be a hybrid system with more
than one energy source to take care of the daily or seasonal variations in the availability of one or the
other source of renewable energy. In many cases hybridization with fossil fuels also becomes essential
for reasons of technology, availability of the renewable source of energy or the security of power supply.
A list of mature RETs is given below. The following Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) are now
mature and commercially available for installation and operation in rural areas - 1. Biomass Charcoal
Production; 2.Biomass Combustion; 3.Biomass Gasification; 4.Energy plantations and agro-forestry;
5.Methanation: Biogas; 6. Mini-hydro; 7. Solar Photovoltaic; 8. Solar Thermal; 9. Wind Generators.

5.4.2 Biomass Gasification

The goal is to utilize the selected and proven energy technology in a socially fair commercialization
system which enabled the villagers to establish and own local value addition chains for the production
of goods and services which also generated local jobs. Energy services for cooking, lighting, water
supply and social services was planned to be provided as an integral part of the village project. Our
analysis is that biomass gasification is the most promising technology for providing affordable and
competitive electricity supply and energy services to rural areas where agricultural and plantations
wastes are available.

Biomass is a natural substance, which accumulates solar energy as chemical energy by the process of
photosynthesis in the presence of sunlight. Biomass chiefly contains cellulose, hemi-cellulose and
lignin, having an average composition of C6H10O5, with slight variations. For the complete
combustion of biomass the theoretically amount of air required (defined as the stoichiometric
quantity) is 6 to 6.5 kg of air per kg of biomass and the end products are CO2 and H2O. In
gasification, biomass is subjected to partial pyrolysis under sub-stoichiometric conditions with the air
quantity being limited to 1.5 - 1.8 kg of air per kg of biomass. The resultant mixture of gases
generated during the gasification process is called producer gas, contains CO and H2 and is
combustible. The raw producer gas also contains tar and particulate matter which have to be removed
as they are harmful to the engine.

Producer gas Obtained by the process of gasification, can be employed in thermal application or for
mechanical / electrical power generation.For thermal applications, gasifier are a good option as a
gasifier can be retrofitted with existing devices such as ovens, furnaces, boilers, etc. Thermal energy
of the order of 4.5 to 5.0 MJ is released by burning 1 m3 of producer gas in the burner. Flame
temperatures (as high as 1200°C) can be obtained by optimal air preheating and pre-mixing of air with
gas. Producer gas can thus replace fossil fuels in a wide range of devices. A few of the devices which
could be retrofitted with gasifiers are furnaces for melting non-ferrous metals and for heat treatment,
tea dryers, ceramic kilns, boilers for process steam and thermal fluid heaters.

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5.4.3 Recycling

Re-use of any material or for that matter any forms such as Energy, Material, Built Environment, Waste,
Product component, neglected by its original function, bearing potential for new use in recycling.

Recycling will achieve various purposes. It will maintain ecology. It will preserve natural
values.Since most manmade system involve enormous amount of energy and materials, the attitude of
recycling is that of conserving resources.Since it involves great amount of energy input, which may be
in the form of human labor, it can generate labor-intensive technology, which is required to a large
degree in developing countries. Recycling can also be done to use waste as a construction material.

Recycling can substantially reduce the cost of construction. It conserves natural resources. It can help
improve the utilization of resources at larger level. It can generate employment. It can reduce the
problem of waste of management. It saves energy in production and transport (by reusing a product
rather than making a new one). It also reduces demand for landfill sites. It enables goods to be
produced more cheaply by embodying recycled material or by using energy from waste.

REFERENCES

[1] Mayamatam- translated by Bruno Dagens.

[2] Vedic Metaphysics – Shankaracharya
[3] Hindu Economics - A.Shukla.
[4] Hind Swaraj - Mr. M. K. Gandhi
[5] ParyavaranGeeta - Profe.Deshpande.
[6] Swadeshi Samaj - SaaneGuruji.
[7] The Potential of “Sustainability” forArchitectural Practice in India - Ashok B. Lall. November
2003, New Delhi.
[8] Handbook of Energy Conscious Buildings - J. K. Pathak J.Prajapati.
[9] Housing and Urbanization - Charles Correa.
[10] Improved Building Technologiea - A. G. Malhotra. D. S. Runchandra.
[11] www.desipower.com

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