Everything I Need to Know

I Learned in the Forest

Vandana Shiva

COMPREHENSION: 1
1. From where did Vandana Shiva's Ecological journey start?
Vandana Shiva's ecological journey started in the forests of the
Himalaya.
2. What were Vandana Shiva's parents?
Vandana Shiva's father was a conservator of forests and her mother was
a farmer.
3. From where did Vandana gain her knowledge about ecology?
Vandana Shiva gained her knowledge about ecology from the ecosystems
and forests of the Himalaya.
4. What was the Chipko movement?
It was a non-violent response led by peasant women to the large-scale
deforestation that was taking place in the Himalayan region.
5. What are the consequences of logging?
Logging leads to landslides and floods and scarcity of fodder, water and
fuel.
6. What was the real value of forest, according to the women of
Garhwal?
According to the women of Garhwal, the real value of forests was not the
timber from a dead tree, but the springs and streams, food for their
cattle, and fuel for their hearths.
7. How did the women of Garhwal try to save the trees?
The women of Garhwal came out in defense of the forests. They declared
that they would hug the trees, and the loggers would have to kill them
before killing the trees.

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 8. Who led the resistance against cutting down of trees in the
Himalayan village of Adwani?
Bachni Devi
9. What did Vandana learn from the Chipko movement?
Vandana learned about bio-diversity and bio-diversity based living
economies, from the Chipko movement.
10. What is Navdanya movement?
Navdanya is a movement for bio-diversity conservation and organic
farming.
11. When and where was the Navdanya farm started?
The Navdanya farm was started in 1994 in the Doon Valley.
12. Name the country that has recognized the 'Rights of Nature' in
its constitution.
Ecuador
13. Name the country that has initiated the universal declaration of
the rights of Mother Earth-
Bolivia
14. Name the prominent South African environmentalist mentioned
in the essay.
Cormac Cullinan
15. Who is called as the father of modern science?
Francis Bacon
16. Where is Earth University located?
The Earth University is located at Navdanya, a bio-diversity farm located
in the Doon Valley of the Himalaya.
17. Name two of the most popular courses at the Earth University.
The 'A-Z of organic farming and Agro-ecology' and 'Gandhi and
Globalization' are two of the most popular courses at the Earth
University.
18. Who is the inspiration behind the Earth University?
The inspiration behind the Earth University is Rabindranath Tagore
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 COMPREHENSION: II
“Everything I Need To Know I Learned In The Forest” is an essay
written by Vandana Shiva, an internationally renowned activist for
biodiversity and against corporate globalization.
1. Write a note on Vandana Shiva's involvement in the Chipko
movement. March - 2017
Ans: - Vandana Shiva’s involvement in the contemporary ecology movement
began with the Chipko movement which was a nonviolent response to the
large-scale deforestation that was taking place in the Himalayan region in
the 1970s. During this period, the peasant women from the Garhwal
Himalaya, having realized that the forests were the real source of springs
and streams, fodder and fuel, declared that they would hug the trees, and
the loggers would have to kill them before cutting the trees. In 1973, when
Vandana Shiva went to the Himalaya to visit her favourite forests and swim
in her favourite stream, the forests were not there and the stream had
become a trickle. It was at this moment that she decided to become a
volunteer for the Chipko movement. She spent every vacation doing
Padayatras, documenting the deforestation, the work of the forest activists
and spreading the message of Chipko.
2. How did the women led by Bachni Devi put up resistance to felling
of trees?
When there was large scale deforestation, peasant women had come
out in defense of the forests. Women knew the real value of forests.
Vandana Shiva and other women spread the message of Chipko. A
dramatic action took place in the Himalayan village of Adwani in 1977. A
woman by name Bachni Devi led resistance against her own husband
who had obtained a contract to cut trees. When the officials arrived at
the forest, the women held up lighted lanterns and told them that they
had come there to teach forestry. But the officials retorted calling the
women foolish and asked how they could prevent tree feeling by those
who know the value of the forest. Again the women sang back in chorus
about the importance of the forest.
3. “The conservation of bio-diversity is the answer to the food and
nutrition crisis” – Discuss?
It is very important to promote biodiversity intensive farming because
there lies the answer to the food and nutrition crisis. As the population
increases, there is a tremendous need to produce large quantities of food.
Besides, to increase the yield of the crop and to retain the quality of the
soil, biodiversity intensive farming is the present necessity. Vandana
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 Shiva achieved this by starting ‘Navadanya’, a biodiversity conservation
and organic farming movement in 1987. She has worked with farmers to
set up more than 100 community seed banks across India. They have
saved more than 3,000 rice varieties. They also help farmers make a
transition from fossil-fuel and chemical-based monocultures to bio-
diverse ecological systems nourished by the sun and the soil.
4. What does the idea of the Earth University convey? How is it
different from other universities?

Ans: The idea of Earth University considers freedom for all species to
evolve within the web of life. It also means freedom and responsibility of
humans, as members of the Earth family, to recognize, protect and
respect the rights of other species. Earth University teaches Earth
Democracy, which is a shift from anthropocentrism to eco-centrism.
Unlike other universities, here participants learn to work with living
seeds, living soil, and the web of life. Participants include farmers, school
children and people from across the world.
5. What ideas of Tagore inspired the author to start the Earth
University? March - 2015
Ans: - Tagore says that India's best ideas have come from the forests where
man was in communion with trees and rivers and lakes, away from the
crowds. The peace of the forest has helped the intellectual evolution of
man and the culture of the forest has fueled the culture of Indian society.
The culture that has arisen from the forest has been influenced by the
diverse processes of renewal of life, which are always at play in the forest,
varying from species to species, from season to season, in sight and sound
and smell. The unifying principle of life in diversity, of democratic
pluralism, thus became the principle of Indian civilization.

Comprehension III

1. “Tagore saw unity with nature as the highest stage of human

evolution.” Do you think consumerism and accumulation of wealth
comes in the way of realizing Tagore’s vision of human evolution?

Ans: This is from the essay “Everything I Need To Know I Learned In The
Forest” by Vandana Shiva, an internationally renowned activist for
biodiversity and against corporate globalization. When Tagore started
Shantiniketan in West Bengal, he drew inspiration from nature. Tagore
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 saw the sacred bond between man and nature. He says that India’s best
ideas have come where man was in communion with nature. The forest
teaches us enoughness; how to enjoy the gifts of nature without
exploitation and accumulation. Yes, consumerism and accumulation are
deterrents to Tagore’s view of human evolution. He attempted to create an
Indian cultural renaissance through his words and actions. But the
continuing generations have declined to adopt his ideals. Under the
influences of fast cultures and new media in particular, the modern world
is more prone to accumulation. There is good education and awareness
about global issues these days. Conservation of nature has become much
more comprehensive, yet the presence of supermarkets, worldwide market
outlets and the latest online stores continue to lure the impressionable
youth. Thus, Tagore’s vision is yet to be accomplished.

2. “The conservation of bio-diversity is the answer to the food and

nutrition crisis.” Discuss.

OR

“Conservation of diversity is crucial for the sustenance of both nature

and human society.” Discuss.

Ans: This is from the essay “Everything I Need To Know I Learned In The
Forest” by Vandana Shiva, an internationally renowned activist for
biodiversity and against corporate globalization. The conservation of bio-
diversity is key to solving the problems of food and nutrition. Monoculture
is the cause of impoverishment of nature and culture. Most of India’s
traditional farming consisted of growing a single crop on the field. Though
commercial approaches benefited the farmers instantly, they do not help
a nation in the long run. Vandana Shiva realized the importance of bio-
diversity very early and started saving seeds from farmers’ fields.
Navadanya Farm resulted in the Doon Valley, in the lower elevation
Himalayan region in 1994. They now conserve and grow 630 varieties of
rice, 150 varieties of wheat, and hundreds of other species. They practice
and promote a bio-diversity intensive form of farming that produces more
food and nutrition per acre. They also help farmers make a transition from
fossil-fuel and chemical-based monocultures to bio-diverse ecological

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 systems nourished by the sun and the soil. That is how the conservation
of bio-diversity is the need of the hour.

3. In the light of this essay how does one synthesize the wisdom of
the past with the modern knowledge systems?

Ans: This is from the essay “Everything I Need To Know I Learned In The
Forest” by Vandana Shiva, an internationally renowned activist for
biodiversity and against corporate globalization. The early Indian
civilization was largely influenced by the tree culture and nature. The
peace of the forest has helped the intellectual evolution of man. The
culture of the forest has fuelled the culture of Indian society. The
unifying principle of life in diversity, of democratic pluralism became the
principle of Indian civilization. This premise was bypassed during the
days of Industrial revolution. Since those days the world has been in an
illusion to create luxury by exploiting nature. The modern knowledge
systems should enlighten the current generation against its tendency to
be separate from nature. We need to overcome this crisis of separateness
of humans from nature. We should reconnect with nature to move
forward. The past wisdom always guides us to live in harmony with
nature. The forest teaches us union and compassion. The progress of
human society depends greatly on co-existing with nature. It is only by
concurring with the wisdom of the past that we can evolve.

EXTRA Model Answers

Q.1. Why is it important to promote biodiversity intensive farming?

How did the author achieve it? OR

Write about Navadanya Movement and Navadanya Farm.

Vandana Shiva is a globally acknowledged votary of biodiversity based

living economies. In her essay “Everything I Need To Know...” she stresses
the need of biodiversity intensive farming, for that is the need of the hour.
The failure to understand biodiversity and its functions has impoverished
nature and culture. In order to translate her early lessons of diversity in
the Himalayan forests into reality she launched Navadanya, the Movement
for biodiversity conservation and organic farming in 1987. She has set up
more than more than 100 community seed banks across India with
farmers. They have saved more than 3,000 rice varieties. She needed a
farm for demonstration and training. Thus, Navadanya Farm was started
in 1994 in the Doon Valley in Uttarkhand Province. Today, they conserve
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 and grow 63 varieties of rice, 150 varieties of wheat and hundreds of other
species. They practice and promote a biodiversity intensive form of farming
that produces more food and nutrition per acre, for this is the answer to
the food and nutrition crisis.

Q.2. What does the idea of the Earth University convey? How is it
different from other Universities? OR

Write about the Earth University.

Vandana Shiva is a globally acknowledged votary of biodiversity based

living economies. In her essay “Everything I Need To Know...” she stresses
the need of biodiversity intensive farming, for that is the need of the hour.
The Earth University is inspired by Rabindranath Tagore. It teaches Earth
Democracy, which is the freedom for all all species to evolve within the
web of life, and the freedom and responsibility of humans to recognize,
protect and respect the rights of other species. Earth Democracy is a shift
from anthrocentrism to ecocentrism. Since this is located at Navadanya
Farm, farmers, school children and people from across the world learn to
work with living seeds, living soil and the web of life.

Q.3. What is the impact of the dead-earth world view on nature?

"Everything I need To Know...” is an essay by Vandana Shiva, who is an

internationally renowned environmental activist. In the essay, the author
underlines the urgent need for mankind to shift from an anthropocentric
paradigm to an ecological paradigm. The term 'dead-earth' implies that
earth is lifeless, manipulable matter that can be utilized as raw materials
for purposes that serve the material well-being of the human species. With
this view, which originated from the thought that humans and nature are
separate entities, the former having the power to subdue the latter,
mankind gave itself the sanction to exploit nature in all its forms. The
consequence of this long-term exploitation is that an almost irreparable
damage has been caused to ecosystems, large and small, resulting in
climate change, extinction of several species, and a depletion of natural
resources. The dead-earth worldview denies nature, including billions of
animal and plant species that are part of it, its right to exist in freedom
from violence and exploitation. This view, which has completely
abandoned the idea of earth as a nurturing mother, has perfectly served

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 the ends of a capitalist mode of economy and living that is marked by
endless greed and consumerism.

4. In the light of this essay how does one synthesize the wisdom of
the past with the modern knowledge systems?

Ans: Rabindranath Tagore quotes from the ancient texts written in the
forest, "know all that moves in this, moving world as enveloped by God; and
find enjoyment through renunciation, not through greed of possession.”

It is really the wisdom of the past, present and future. People in the past
understand this and lived a happy and peaceful life. They worshipped every
element in Nature. They lived in communion with Nature. They never
thought the Earth is a separate entity. It is a part of their life. The people in
the past never even dreamt of consumerism and accumulation. They knew
the real joy of living. We know that it is the wisdom of the past. Today we
think that Nature is a separate entity and we move away from Nature and if
at all we look at it, we look with greed. We have become greedy instead of
needy. In the name of progress, we have compromised our culture. The
modern knowledge system never aims at looking Nature as one part of our
life.
9. Write a brief not on ‘Chipko Movement’ which took place in the
Himalayan region? March - 2018
Ans: - Chipko Movement is a nonnon-violent
violent movement against cutting down
trees in the Himalayan region. Vandana Shiva was inspired by the songs
about forests taught by her mother in her childhood. She became a Chipko
volunteer and took part in a 'Padayatras' to make people understand the
importance of trees and forests. She was happy when the village women
hugged the trees to stop the loggers from cutti
cutting
ng them. She wrote articles
on ecology in newspapers and magazines to spread the message of Chipko
movement. Indiscriminate cutting of trees led to landslides, floods and
scarcity of water, fodder and fuel. Vandana Shiva wanted people to
understand the value
ue of forests and stop
stop-cutting
cutting trees. Many women from
the Himalayan villages joined her movement and became activists of the
Chipko Movement.

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