Complex Changes Occurring in the World
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 10 Oct 2022
Dr. Ravi P. Bhatia – TRANSCEND Media Service
Wherever you may be, you will observe changes taking place. The changes could be cultural, political, linguistic, regarding food habits, etc. This is inevitable and we have to adjust accordingly. For example, we are noticing in India, changes taking place in patterns of temperature and rainfall etc — what may be termed as climate changes.
Due to these factors, we observe changes in specific agricultural practices. Farmers sow specific seeds keeping this factor in mind. In summer months they sow only those seeds that do not require large amounts of water. If there is a river nearby they allow the waterways to provide necessary water for the germination of seeds. If waterways are not available, they hope rainfall would do the job — otherwise the seeds would be destroyed and agriculture would fail.
How should farmers be aided and trained to keep the requirement of water in mind? There are some people who work in villages and help the farmers in various ways. We also have a lot of literature for this purpose — unfortunately most of this is in English which farmers or local people do not understand.
This is not only a linguistic issue but also arises because of climate changes taking place both in the region, and also worldwide . As a result, some regions are going slow on food producing agri practices. They feel it is an economic issue. If they or the country has enough financial resources, they can import particular items that would quench the needs of farmers and ordinary people. This is necessitating both financial resources as well as understanding of climate changes occurring worldwide.
What I have written above is well known, however what necessary steps should be taken to avert the impending crisis is debatable. One possibility is to make suitable agri practices, the other is to explore regional and cross country cooperation. For example, Bangladesh, India’s neighbour on the north east border is having serious discussions with India not only on political or financial issues but also in agricultural areas that would be helpful for people of both countries. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has come to India for having detailed deliberations with the Indian counterpart Mr Modi.
Apart from problems on agricultural front, climate changes are leading to rise in oceanic water levels and also creating military problems. India has developed indigenously a large aircraft carrier submarine.
Not to be overlooked is China’s military response and activities around Taiwan and even in Sri Lanka. Thus one issue is leading to another in different domains — agricultural, political, military and economic. What needs to be done to tackle the complex problem that the world is engulfed with, cannot be discussed in this small essay. However, countries, even USA, feel that they must be alert to the new dangers facing mankind.
What is clear from the above is the inevitability of change and search for possible alternatives to prevent large scale catastrophic outcomes.
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Dr Ravi P Bhatia is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, an educationist, Gandhian scholar and peace researcher. Retired professor, Delhi University. His new book, A Garland of Ideas—Gandhian, Religious, Educational, Environmental was published recently in Delhi. ravipbhatia@gmail.com
Tags: Change, Development, Progress
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 10 Oct 2022.
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