Guha's 'Speaking with Nature' warns against unchecked economic growth
In a fascinating exploration of India's environmental past, renowned historian Ramachandra Guha's latest book, "Speaking with Nature," sheds light on the unsung heroes who paved the way for the country's ecological movement.
In an exclusive interview with The Tribune’s Editor-in-Chief, Jyoti Malhotra, Guha discussed his motivation for writing the book, which explores the intellectual history of environmental thought in India.
Guha's labour of love is a return to his roots, drawing from his 1984 PhD research on the history of peasants and forests in the Himalaya. "This book is a return to my roots," he said. Guha asserted, “After a very long time, I came back to my first field of research, hopefully with a fresh eye, with new material, with maybe some more, a more mature understanding of Indian politics and society in which I could locate these thinkers. But in a sense, this is going back to where I began.”
The book profiles ten visionary individuals, including Rabindranath Tagore, Madeleine Slade (Mira Behn), and JC Kumarappa, who dared to challenge the status quo and advocate for a harmonious coexistence with nature.
About Mira Behn, Guha said, "She's an utterly fascinating person. And, you know, she has been assigned a role, almost a kind of Amar Chitra Katha kind of role in the Indian nationalist hagiography, but there is the Amar Chitra Katha comic on her too. But here is this rich white woman who comes, touches Gandhi's feet and becomes a slave, his slave for the rest of her life.”
One such pioneer, JC Kumarappa, a Tamil Christian economist and close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, championed decentralised development and environmentally responsible economics. His influential work inspired EF Schumacher's iconic "small is beautiful" concept, a testament to the power of grassroots innovation.
Guha's research reveals the striking relevance of these pioneers' ideas to contemporary India. Their writings on sustainable agriculture, forest conservation, and ecological economics remain eerily prescient, serving as a warning against the dangers of unchecked economic growth.
As India grapples with pressing environmental concerns – deforestation, soil erosion, and water scarcity – Guha's book serves as a timely reminder of the importance of balancing development with environmental sustainability. The historian highlights the need for interdisciplinary approaches, citing Radha Kamal Mukherjee's pioneering work integrating natural and social sciences.
Patrick Geddes, a visionary town planner, also features prominently in the book. His recognition of urbanisation's inevitability and advocacy for environmentally responsible city planning offer valuable lessons for India's rapidly expanding cities.
"Speaking with Nature" is a testament to Guha's tireless research and commitment to environmental scholarship. This captivating book uncovers the forgotten stories of India's eco-pioneers, inspiring a new generation to rethink the country's relationship with nature.
