when you hear that in India there are 440 million people living below the
440 million people living below the
440 million people living below the poverty line right down at the bottom of
poverty line right down at the bottom of
poverty line right down at the bottom of the pyramid it’s reasonable to feel shot
the pyramid it’s reasonable to feel shot
the pyramid it’s reasonable to feel shot saddened and even painfully helpless but
saddened and even painfully helpless but
saddened and even painfully helpless but consider this if we somehow figure out a
consider this if we somehow figure out a
consider this if we somehow figure out a way to make everyone in the country
way to make everyone in the country
way to make everyone in the country capable of spending a little over a
capable of spending a little over a
capable of spending a little over a dollar a day will we have created a
dollar a day will we have created a
dollar a day will we have created a happy country further if the poverty
happy country further if the poverty
happy country further if the poverty line is 1.25 dollars a day today
line is 1.25 dollars a day today
line is 1.25 dollars a day today it’ll be $5 a day tomorrow it’ll be $10
it’ll be $5 a day tomorrow it’ll be $10
it’ll be $5 a day tomorrow it’ll be $10 a day the day after in that sense
a day the day after in that sense
a day the day after in that sense there’s always going to be a poverty
there’s always going to be a poverty
there’s always going to be a poverty line just as a pyramid will always have
line just as a pyramid will always have
line just as a pyramid will always have a bottom so the whole exercise of
a bottom so the whole exercise of
a bottom so the whole exercise of poverty eradication in such terms seem
poverty eradication in such terms seem
poverty eradication in such terms seem to me like wanting to do a world trip
to me like wanting to do a world trip
to me like wanting to do a world trip but on a treadmill by reacting and
but on a treadmill by reacting and
but on a treadmill by reacting and responding to the mere symptoms of
responding to the mere symptoms of
responding to the mere symptoms of poverty whose definition by the way has
poverty whose definition by the way has
poverty whose definition by the way has been reduced down to dollar terms we are
been reduced down to dollar terms we are
been reduced down to dollar terms we are simply feeding the very patterns that
simply feeding the very patterns that
simply feeding the very patterns that perpetuate the disease of poverty I
perpetuate the disease of poverty I
perpetuate the disease of poverty I decided to travel across India in early
decided to travel across India in early
decided to travel across India in early 2008 and I set a condition for myself
2008 and I set a condition for myself
2008 and I set a condition for myself just to make it a little more
just to make it a little more
just to make it a little more interesting the condition was that I
interesting the condition was that I
interesting the condition was that I shouldn’t need to pay for my stay or for
shouldn’t need to pay for my stay or for
shouldn’t need to pay for my stay or for my food and I soon realized that I could
my food and I soon realized that I could
my food and I soon realized that I could survive on that condition only if I
survive on that condition only if I
survive on that condition only if I traveled through rural India and I
traveled through rural India and I
traveled through rural India and I thought I could probably last a couple
thought I could probably last a couple
thought I could probably last a couple of weeks or a max a month but rural
of weeks or a max a month but rural
of weeks or a max a month but rural India kept me alive on the road for two
India kept me alive on the road for two
India kept me alive on the road for two and a half years
the scores of families that hosted me
the scores of families that hosted me and fed me across the country they were
and fed me across the country they were
and fed me across the country they were all below the poverty line having
all below the poverty line having
all below the poverty line having survived on their love and on their
survived on their love and on their
survived on their love and on their generosity having seen their stories of
generosity having seen their stories of
generosity having seen their stories of pain and glory and of the beauty that
pain and glory and of the beauty that
pain and glory and of the beauty that they’re capable of I feel it’s
they’re capable of I feel it’s
they’re capable of I feel it’s absolutely absurd to treat them as mere
absolutely absurd to treat them as mere
absolutely absurd to treat them as mere dots on a plot incidentally below a
dots on a plot incidentally below a
dots on a plot incidentally below a certain poverty line the journey also
certain poverty line the journey also
certain poverty line the journey also gave me a chance to spend about ten
gave me a chance to spend about ten
gave me a chance to spend about ten months in the tribal bells that extend
months in the tribal bells that extend
months in the tribal bells that extend from touch in the Far West all the way
from touch in the Far West all the way
from touch in the Far West all the way to similar buns in the East I was amazed
to similar buns in the East I was amazed
to similar buns in the East I was amazed to see some of these communities living
to see some of these communities living
to see some of these communities living the answers to the kind of questions I
the answers to the kind of questions I
the answers to the kind of questions I hadn’t even begun to ask I was blown
hadn’t even begun to ask I was blown
hadn’t even begun to ask I was blown away and inspired by the depth of their
away and inspired by the depth of their
away and inspired by the depth of their happiness I became curious to understand
happiness I became curious to understand
happiness I became curious to understand the recipe I learned from them that
the recipe I learned from them that
the recipe I learned from them that there is something called essential
there is something called essential
there is something called essential knowledge the knowledge of how to
knowledge the knowledge of how to
knowledge the knowledge of how to coexist in synergy with nature this
coexist in synergy with nature this
coexist in synergy with nature this according to them is absolutely
according to them is absolutely
according to them is absolutely essential it’s a must-have kind of
essential it’s a must-have kind of
essential it’s a must-have kind of knowledge all else is bonus this
knowledge all else is bonus this
knowledge all else is bonus this essential knowledge is based on a very
essential knowledge is based on a very
essential knowledge is based on a very deep understanding of the natural
deep understanding of the natural
deep understanding of the natural environment of a particular region so it
environment of a particular region so it
environment of a particular region so it is specific to that region all the
is specific to that region all the
is specific to that region all the aspects of lifestyle for example
aspects of lifestyle for example
aspects of lifestyle for example architecture of food clothing they all
architecture of food clothing they all
architecture of food clothing they all invariably evolve around this knowledge
invariably evolve around this knowledge
invariably evolve around this knowledge and so they also evolved to be unique to
and so they also evolved to be unique to
and so they also evolved to be unique to that region and this uniqueness gives an
that region and this uniqueness gives an
that region and this uniqueness gives an identity to the inhabitants of that
identity to the inhabitants of that
identity to the inhabitants of that particular region and binds them into a
particular region and binds them into a
particular region and binds them into a strong community this deep sense of
strong community this deep sense of
strong community this deep sense of community rooted in the knowledge of how
community rooted in the knowledge of how
community rooted in the knowledge of how to coexist is what enhances the immunity
to coexist is what enhances the immunity
to coexist is what enhances the immunity of inhabitants against odds and makes
of inhabitants against odds and makes
of inhabitants against odds and makes them resilient a community in which
them resilient a community in which
them resilient a community in which lifestyles undergo drastic changes then
lifestyles undergo drastic changes then
lifestyles undergo drastic changes then habitants gradually start losing connect
habitants gradually start losing connect
habitants gradually start losing connect with the knowledge so the ways of the
with the knowledge so the ways of the
with the knowledge so the ways of the community come into direct conflict with
community come into direct conflict with
community come into direct conflict with the rhythms of nature so the
the rhythms of nature so the
the rhythms of nature so the relationship between the community and
relationship between the community and
relationship between the community and its natural environment gets under
its natural environment gets under
its natural environment gets under severe stress and the community starts
severe stress and the community starts
severe stress and the community starts breaking down disintegrating into its
breaking down disintegrating into its
breaking down disintegrating into its loose bunch of individuals and these
loose bunch of individuals and these
loose bunch of individuals and these individuals having lost access to their
individuals having lost access to their
individuals having lost access to their collective intelligence to that
collective intelligence to that
collective intelligence to that knowledge have no option but to depend
knowledge have no option but to depend
knowledge have no option but to depend on money and markets to fulfill even the
on money and markets to fulfill even the
on money and markets to fulfill even the most basic of their needs when the
most basic of their needs when the
most basic of their needs when the presence of money becomes so
presence of money becomes so
presence of money becomes so unquestionably essential and important
unquestionably essential and important
unquestionably essential and important its absence can starve and kill and
its absence can starve and kill and
its absence can starve and kill and that’s how I think people enter the game
that’s how I think people enter the game
that’s how I think people enter the game of poverty it’s not to say that
of poverty it’s not to say that
of poverty it’s not to say that lifestyles cannot or should not change
lifestyles cannot or should not change
lifestyles cannot or should not change it’s just that their evolution should be
it’s just that their evolution should be
it’s just that their evolution should be in sync with what the natural
in sync with what the natural
in sync with what the natural Constitution of a region can sustain and
Constitution of a region can sustain and
Constitution of a region can sustain and it’s also not that money isn’t important
it’s also not that money isn’t important
it’s also not that money isn’t important money is absolutely important it’s just
money is absolutely important it’s just
money is absolutely important it’s just that money alone cannot guarantee our
that money alone cannot guarantee our
that money alone cannot guarantee our sense of security and happiness we
sense of security and happiness we
sense of security and happiness we derive our security and happiness from
derive our security and happiness from
derive our security and happiness from the way we engage with our communities
the way we engage with our communities
the way we engage with our communities from the way our communities are
from the way our communities are
from the way our communities are organized to preserve and leverage our
organized to preserve and leverage our
organized to preserve and leverage our collective intelligence when we think of
collective intelligence when we think of
collective intelligence when we think of money as the only means to everything we
money as the only means to everything we
money as the only means to everything we start getting entrapped it’s like
start getting entrapped it’s like
start getting entrapped it’s like wearing a binoculars all the time just
wearing a binoculars all the time just
wearing a binoculars all the time just as that will gradually degenerate our
as that will gradually degenerate our
as that will gradually degenerate our inherent capacity to see and comprehend
inherent capacity to see and comprehend
inherent capacity to see and comprehend excessive dependence on money and
excessive dependence on money and
excessive dependence on money and markets also tend to degenerate our
markets also tend to degenerate our
markets also tend to degenerate our inherent ability to survive and to self
inherent ability to survive and to self
inherent ability to survive and to self organize a wise man I know often tells
organize a wise man I know often tells
organize a wise man I know often tells me that the true purpose of martial arts
me that the true purpose of martial arts
me that the true purpose of martial arts is to create a world
is to create a world
is to create a world in which we don’t need to defend
in which we don’t need to defend
in which we don’t need to defend ourselves on similar lines I was and I
ourselves on similar lines I was and I
ourselves on similar lines I was and I continue to be inspired to contribute to
continue to be inspired to contribute to
continue to be inspired to contribute to the creation of a world in which we
the creation of a world in which we
the creation of a world in which we don’t have to fight or eradicate poverty
don’t have to fight or eradicate poverty
don’t have to fight or eradicate poverty a world in which poverty just cannot
a world in which poverty just cannot
a world in which poverty just cannot exist I believe that the defining
exist I believe that the defining
exist I believe that the defining characteristic of such a world would be
characteristic of such a world would be
characteristic of such a world would be resilience clearly resilience has very
resilience clearly resilience has very
resilience clearly resilience has very little to do with material riches it was
little to do with material riches it was
little to do with material riches it was a lot of itself to the way communities
a lot of itself to the way communities
a lot of itself to the way communities organized themselves and to my mind a
organized themselves and to my mind a
organized themselves and to my mind a resilient community has three simple
resilient community has three simple
resilient community has three simple building blocks number one a very deep
building blocks number one a very deep
building blocks number one a very deep respect for soil air and water and all
respect for soil air and water and all
respect for soil air and water and all of the life that these three elements
of the life that these three elements
of the life that these three elements carry and number two interdependence
carry and number two interdependence
carry and number two interdependence it’s only when the individual
it’s only when the individual
it’s only when the individual inhabitants establish and practice
inhabitants establish and practice
inhabitants establish and practice traditions of interdependence that the
traditions of interdependence that the
traditions of interdependence that the collective or the whole community has
collective or the whole community has
collective or the whole community has any chance of being independent and
any chance of being independent and
any chance of being independent and number three is self-reliance with
number three is self-reliance with
number three is self-reliance with respect nine basic needs food and water
respect nine basic needs food and water
respect nine basic needs food and water shelter clothing health care energy
shelter clothing health care energy
shelter clothing health care energy connectivity trade education and
connectivity trade education and
connectivity trade education and Disaster Management
Disaster Management
Disaster Management so in short resilience is a state in
so in short resilience is a state in
so in short resilience is a state in which a community employs ecologically
which a community employs ecologically
which a community employs ecologically sustainable means to fulfill the nine
sustainable means to fulfill the nine
sustainable means to fulfill the nine basic needs of all the inhabitants I
basic needs of all the inhabitants I
basic needs of all the inhabitants I found the idea of creating resilience
found the idea of creating resilience
found the idea of creating resilience far more inspiring empowering and
far more inspiring empowering and
far more inspiring empowering and liberating as compared to the idea of
liberating as compared to the idea of
liberating as compared to the idea of eradicating poverty a turn I couldn’t
eradicating poverty a turn I couldn’t
eradicating poverty a turn I couldn’t even come to define properly it’s a
even come to define properly it’s a
even come to define properly it’s a little shift in terms of thinking it’s
little shift in terms of thinking it’s
little shift in terms of thinking it’s like wanting to build immunity with a
like wanting to build immunity with a
like wanting to build immunity with a vision of good health versus eating a
vision of good health versus eating a
vision of good health versus eating a lot of junk and paying our doctor
lot of junk and paying our doctor
lot of junk and paying our doctor secures of the symptoms
secures of the symptoms
secures of the symptoms the sickness perpetuates so the real
the sickness perpetuates so the real
the sickness perpetuates so the real challenge is not how to make people rich
challenge is not how to make people rich
challenge is not how to make people rich the real challenge is to get them to
the real challenge is to get them to
the real challenge is to get them to organize themselves into such
organize themselves into such
organize themselves into such communities but it’s not exactly
communities but it’s not exactly
communities but it’s not exactly comforting to know that India has six
comforting to know that India has six
comforting to know that India has six and a half lakh villages and when a
and a half lakh villages and when a
and a half lakh villages and when a scale is so mind-numbing I agree we
scale is so mind-numbing I agree we
scale is so mind-numbing I agree we often don’t know where to start and how
often don’t know where to start and how
often don’t know where to start and how I find my inspiration against such odds
I find my inspiration against such odds
I find my inspiration against such odds in a little story from a different world
in a little story from a different world
in a little story from a different world and just for a perspective let me share
and just for a perspective let me share
and just for a perspective let me share that story from the world of bacteria in
that story from the world of bacteria in
that story from the world of bacteria in a composting pile that might just
a composting pile that might just
a composting pile that might just indicate that the odds aren’t as hot
indicate that the odds aren’t as hot
indicate that the odds aren’t as hot crushing as they may seem so the primary
crushing as they may seem so the primary
crushing as they may seem so the primary function of bacteria in a composting
function of bacteria in a composting
function of bacteria in a composting file is to decompose organic stuff 15%
file is to decompose organic stuff 15%
file is to decompose organic stuff 15% of those bacteria they decomposed off in
of those bacteria they decomposed off in
of those bacteria they decomposed off in a way that doesn’t cause any stench so
a way that doesn’t cause any stench so
a way that doesn’t cause any stench so let’s call them the good bacteria
let’s call them the good bacteria
let’s call them the good bacteria there’s another 15% the decomposed stuff
there’s another 15% the decomposed stuff
there’s another 15% the decomposed stuff in ways that cause terrible terrible
in ways that cause terrible terrible
in ways that cause terrible terrible stench let’s call them the bad bacteria
stench let’s call them the bad bacteria
stench let’s call them the bad bacteria for a good reason that leaves us with
for a good reason that leaves us with
for a good reason that leaves us with 70% these guys who are actually capable
70% these guys who are actually capable
70% these guys who are actually capable of building the balance they have no
of building the balance they have no
of building the balance they have no clue they have no idea what the hell to
clue they have no idea what the hell to
clue they have no idea what the hell to do they’re simply waiting to take that
do they’re simply waiting to take that
do they’re simply waiting to take that side that starts seeming to win so our
side that starts seeming to win so our
side that starts seeming to win so our job as good composters is to not concern
job as good composters is to not concern
job as good composters is to not concern ourselves for the whole 100 percent it’s
ourselves for the whole 100 percent it’s
ourselves for the whole 100 percent it’s to focus on the 15% and create an
to focus on the 15% and create an
to focus on the 15% and create an environment in which that 15% can thrive
environment in which that 15% can thrive
environment in which that 15% can thrive knowing that that’s what it takes to
knowing that that’s what it takes to
knowing that that’s what it takes to tilt the balance I don’t know if the
tilt the balance I don’t know if the
tilt the balance I don’t know if the story of bacteria is true and I don’t
story of bacteria is true and I don’t
story of bacteria is true and I don’t even know of any empirical study that
even know of any empirical study that
even know of any empirical study that says it could be true of humans but I
says it could be true of humans but I
says it could be true of humans but I intuitively feel
intuitively feel
intuitively feel the story holds up for a human
the story holds up for a human
the story holds up for a human population as well and the nods and
population as well and the nods and
population as well and the nods and smiles that I see in front of me
smiles that I see in front of me
smiles that I see in front of me actually reinforce that feeling into a
actually reinforce that feeling into a
actually reinforce that feeling into a belief so I believe that the reason why
belief so I believe that the reason why
belief so I believe that the reason why communities disintegrate is because the
communities disintegrate is because the
communities disintegrate is because the role models that reinforce
role models that reinforce
role models that reinforce disintegration through consumption
disintegration through consumption
disintegration through consumption driven growth overwhelmingly outnumber
driven growth overwhelmingly outnumber
driven growth overwhelmingly outnumber the role models that reinforce
the role models that reinforce
the role models that reinforce resilience so the solution is to build a
resilience so the solution is to build a
resilience so the solution is to build a whole lot of good role model communities
whole lot of good role model communities
whole lot of good role model communities across the country at least one but
across the country at least one but
across the country at least one but every district so where do we start I
every district so where do we start I
every district so where do we start I thought we should start with a prototype
thought we should start with a prototype
thought we should start with a prototype of such a community so right after my
of such a community so right after my
of such a community so right after my journey I spent three years apprenticing
journey I spent three years apprenticing
journey I spent three years apprenticing with one of the poorest families in a
with one of the poorest families in a
with one of the poorest families in a remote village in the second driest
remote village in the second driest
remote village in the second driest district in India called
district in India called
district in India called anantapur in the state of Andhra Pradesh
anantapur in the state of Andhra Pradesh
anantapur in the state of Andhra Pradesh the goal was simple I wanted to learn
the goal was simple I wanted to learn
the goal was simple I wanted to learn the ways of life in a village I wanted
the ways of life in a village I wanted
the ways of life in a village I wanted to learn how to hold a spade like a
to learn how to hold a spade like a
to learn how to hold a spade like a farmer and how to use it like one and I
farmer and how to use it like one and I
farmer and how to use it like one and I wanted to basically blend in with the
wanted to basically blend in with the
wanted to basically blend in with the locals the experience taught me one
locals the experience taught me one
locals the experience taught me one important lesson that any attempts to
important lesson that any attempts to
important lesson that any attempts to tinker with the existing systems and
tinker with the existing systems and
tinker with the existing systems and paradigms would require methods like
paradigms would require methods like
paradigms would require methods like confrontation negotiation activism
confrontation negotiation activism
confrontation negotiation activism etcetera these methods dissipate
etcetera these methods dissipate
etcetera these methods dissipate enormous amounts of energy it’s not
enormous amounts of energy it’s not
enormous amounts of energy it’s not funny it’s not sustainable so we chose
funny it’s not sustainable so we chose
funny it’s not sustainable so we chose to demonstrate the new possibility and
to demonstrate the new possibility and
to demonstrate the new possibility and to trust the collective intelligence to
to trust the collective intelligence to
to trust the collective intelligence to take it forward so in other words we
take it forward so in other words we
take it forward so in other words we chose to be the change that we wish to
chose to be the change that we wish to
chose to be the change that we wish to see so in 2014 we bought about twelve
see so in 2014 we bought about twelve
see so in 2014 we bought about twelve and half acres of absolutely dry and
and half acres of absolutely dry and
and half acres of absolutely dry and barren land in the same panchayat the
barren land in the same panchayat the
barren land in the same panchayat the same cluster of villages with the intent
same cluster of villages with the intent
same cluster of villages with the intent of setting up the prototype of a
of setting up the prototype of a
of setting up the prototype of a resilient rule
resilient rule
resilient rule community to be built by the villagers
community to be built by the villagers
community to be built by the villagers for the villagers the community would
for the villagers the community would
for the villagers the community would derive its designs by blending the
derive its designs by blending the
derive its designs by blending the inputs of the elders in the region with
inputs of the elders in the region with
inputs of the elders in the region with contemporary appropriate technology when
contemporary appropriate technology when
contemporary appropriate technology when we shared this intention with the
we shared this intention with the
we shared this intention with the villagers twelve families moved into the
villagers twelve families moved into the
villagers twelve families moved into the land as co-owners with absolutely
land as co-owners with absolutely
land as co-owners with absolutely nothing but a shared dream and a
nothing but a shared dream and a
nothing but a shared dream and a commitment to a resilient life we bonded
commitment to a resilient life we bonded
commitment to a resilient life we bonded like one family and we stuck together
like one family and we stuck together
like one family and we stuck together through the periods of self-doubt and in
through the periods of self-doubt and in
through the periods of self-doubt and in the last two years in the two years
the last two years in the two years
the last two years in the two years since then we managed to harvest close
since then we managed to harvest close
since then we managed to harvest close to two crore litres of rainwater we
to two crore litres of rainwater we
to two crore litres of rainwater we brought back life into the soil
brought back life into the soil
brought back life into the soil we built wind solar and biogas systems
we built wind solar and biogas systems
we built wind solar and biogas systems for our energy needs we got connected to
for our energy needs we got connected to
for our energy needs we got connected to the world of information in fact we are
the world of information in fact we are
the world of information in fact we are Wi-Fi enabled and we are beaming
Wi-Fi enabled and we are beaming
Wi-Fi enabled and we are beaming internet wirelessly to all the
internet wirelessly to all the
internet wirelessly to all the neighboring remote villages and we built
neighboring remote villages and we built
neighboring remote villages and we built eco friendly shelters gaining expertise
eco friendly shelters gaining expertise
eco friendly shelters gaining expertise as we built them some of the youth who
as we built them some of the youth who
as we built them some of the youth who are trained in these methods of
are trained in these methods of
are trained in these methods of construction they’re actually building a
construction they’re actually building a
construction they’re actually building a management Learning Centre for a major
management Learning Centre for a major
management Learning Centre for a major corporation in Hyderabad we are a couple
corporation in Hyderabad we are a couple
corporation in Hyderabad we are a couple of months away from becoming completely
of months away from becoming completely
of months away from becoming completely food and energy secure and in January of
food and energy secure and in January of
food and energy secure and in January of 2017
2017
2017 we’ll be launching an entrepreneurial
we’ll be launching an entrepreneurial
we’ll be launching an entrepreneurial model for all the villages in the region
model for all the villages in the region
model for all the villages in the region to adopt the three principles of
to adopt the three principles of
to adopt the three principles of resilience we hope to complete the
resilience we hope to complete the
resilience we hope to complete the prototype in the later part of next year
prototype in the later part of next year
prototype in the later part of next year with a model of education that’s being
with a model of education that’s being
with a model of education that’s being designed to sustain the change we hope
designed to sustain the change we hope
designed to sustain the change we hope to cause later next year we’ll also be
to cause later next year we’ll also be
to cause later next year we’ll also be launching a fellowship program for teams
launching a fellowship program for teams
launching a fellowship program for teams from across the country to
from across the country to
from across the country to collaboratively set up role model
collaboratively set up role model
collaboratively set up role model communities in their respective regions
communities in their respective regions
communities in their respective regions kind of scale it out while
kind of scale it out while
kind of scale it out while scale-up implies one drop wanting to
scale-up implies one drop wanting to
scale-up implies one drop wanting to become the ocean scale-out
become the ocean scale-out
become the ocean scale-out implies a lot of like-minded drops
implies a lot of like-minded drops
implies a lot of like-minded drops coming together to form the ocean all
coming together to form the ocean all
coming together to form the ocean all this cannot be limited to and by the
this cannot be limited to and by the
this cannot be limited to and by the vision of a small team this could be and
vision of a small team this could be and
vision of a small team this could be and should be an amazing exercise of
should be an amazing exercise of
should be an amazing exercise of co-creation that sees is all coming
co-creation that sees is all coming
co-creation that sees is all coming together leveraging our collective
together leveraging our collective
together leveraging our collective intelligence and consciousness India has
intelligence and consciousness India has
intelligence and consciousness India has 650 plus districts each waiting for its
650 plus districts each waiting for its
650 plus districts each waiting for its own role model community let’s join
own role model community let’s join
own role model community let’s join hands
hands
hands it’s demystifying development and let’s
it’s demystifying development and let’s
it’s demystifying development and let’s make rural india resilient
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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