At a time when the farmers in our country are in dire straits, Padma and Narsanna Koppula are helping them build sustainable, self-sufficient agricultural ecosystems, says Jamuna Rangachari
Narsanna Koppula was introduced to permaculture by Dr Venkat, Bill Mollison, and Robyn Francis, and participated in India’s first Permaculture Design Course conducted in 1987. He and his wife (and colleague), Padma, who were working for the DDS (Deccan Development Society), resonated with it completely and dedicated all their efforts to knowing more about it. In 1998, Narsanna quit his job at the DDS to spread permaculture across India and founded the Permaculture Association of India, along with Dr Venkat. Together, they conducted short, practice-oriented workshops, held demonstrations, and distributed literature in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
In 1999, Padma and Narsanna founded their own NGO, Aranya Agricultural Alternatives (AAA), to introduce permaculture in large scale projects. They truly believed that it had the power to solve the many challenges faced by Indian farmers. Further, they wanted to ensure better implementation of government projects, especially those related to watershed management, and the duo quickly became a bridge between the government and local communities. “I felt I must restore the ownership of land back to farmers, especially rural women, so that they remain self-sufficient,” said Padma, adding that these farmers and women were her main inspiration on this journey. As I spoke to her, I could sense her passion for the mission she has undertaken, along with her husband.
Aranya Agricultural Alternatives
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Denne historien er fra December 2017-utgaven av Life Positive.
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Miracles of Mount Maunganui
A hike to Mount Maunganui in New Zealand filled Rashi Bunny with a sense of awe and wonder equivalent to witnessing the glory of the Divine Himself
Navigating Your 20s: A Simple Guide
By embracing the tumultuous journey through her 20s, Abhilasha Srivastava learnt to triumph over the challenges encountered and carve the path for her future
Inducing Sweet Slumber
As we are well aware, lack of sound sleep can give rise to physical and mental problems. To ensure a good night's rest, you could follow the suggestions given by Jamuna Rangachari in the next few pages
Days for the Divine
Guided by her mentor Megha Bajaj, Meghana Acharya sends positive vibes into the Universe to ensure the well-being and success of others
Voices from the beyond
Near-Death Experiences (NDES) have long fascinated humanity-a glimpse beyond the veil, a sneak peek into the unknown that pulsates with wonders, mysteries and intrigue. Jamuna Rangachari takes us through the narrations of a few who went to the other side and returned to share in great detail what they experienced and how it transformed them
All for the best
An academic disaster turned opportunity led Rajeev Hallur to understand the jigsaw puzzle of life, initially incomprehensible to most of us
Many Lives, One Master
Dr Bijal Maroo probes into the enigmatic charisma of Swami Omkaranandaji to discover the story behind his uncanny healing powers
Modern art with a tribal touch
Gautam Bharati and Avani Jain, based in Dungarpur, Rajasthan saw the incredible ability and passion of tribals for arts and decided to do something about it.
Laugh your way to health
Rupa Bannur, a former IT professional turned holistic health coach from Bangalore began turning to laughter yoga in 2001 after she faced profound loss of precious family members.
Healing Hands
When Rupesh Budh Ahmedabad from was 15 years of age, he learnt meditation from his martial arts (Karate) teacher. His teacher also introduced him to Reiki as a healing modality that can cure with just a touch. He told him that advanced Reiki practitioners can cure even from a distance without touching.
