Gandhian, environmentalist Anupam Mishra is no more -Governance Now

Gandhian, environmentalist Anupam Mishra is no more

His 1992 book, Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talab, documented traditional water conservation practices

GN Bureau | December 19, 2016

#Gandhi Peace Foundation #Environment #Mahatma Gandhi #Anupam Mishra

Anupam Mishra

Anupam Mishra, an activist-scholar who redefined cross-connections between Gandhian thought and environmentalism, died Monday morning after a protracted battle with prostate cancer. He was 68.

Son of noted Hindi litterateur Bhavani Prasad Mishra, ‘Anupam-ji’ was associated with the Gandhi Peace Foundation (GPF) for most of his working life.

He was among the first to report on the Chipko movement in Uttarakhand. He will be long remembered for his work on water conservation. His beautifully produced 1992 book, Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talab (Lakes Are Still Standing), documented traditional water conservation practices from many parts of north India. It was a two-way process: he travelled to villages to collect the material, and also disseminated the findings. Made available free of copyright, the book has been translated into 19 languages, including the Braille.

Also see his TED Talk on ‘The ancient ingenuity of water harvesting’ here

He also edited the GPF journal, Gandhi Marg, going through the proofs of its next issue last week.

For his Gandhian activism, he was honoured with the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 2011, among numerous other awards.

Some of his online writings are collected here

Comments

Other News

V. M. Tarkunde: A legal luminary par excellence

14 Lawyers: Portraits from The Bar By Raju Ramachandran Juggernaut, 248 pages, Rs. 799

The Cost of Obesity

The latest episode of Checks and Balances focuses on the ticking time bomb of obesity in India, and Geetanjali Minhas of Governance Now spoke with a panel of experts. You can watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/mH

US-Iran deal: Path to peace or prelude to deeper regional quagmire?

In the midst of deep mistrust, the US and Iran are reported to have reached a framework deal for ending the West Asian conflict. But whether it will result in any meaningful breakthrough or pave the way for any lasting peace in the region, is in the realm of speculation. During

Lived life, philosophy, spirituality and other enigmas

The Ashes Are Warm: Memories of a Lifetime Spent with UG Krishnamurti By Mahesh Bhatt and Sunita Pant Bansal Rupa Publications, 384 pages, Rs 495

In Varanasi, fringe expansion vs. core heritage

For centuries, the urban framework of Varanasi was defined not just by its relationship with the sacred Ganga but by its multifaceted network of urban commons. Historic kunds, seasonal talabs (ponds), and open maidans served as the city’s basic ecological infrastructure. Th

What ails India`s skill development ecosystem

India’s skill development programmes were designed with a goal to make the young population ready with market-required skills and competencies, and to provide them with better employment opportunities. Yet the outcomes have fallen short of that goal: though over 1.6 crore individuals were trained acr