They delete the negatives, accentuate the positives and build a strong foundation with the bricks thrown at them. Indian women are strong enough to stand alone and smart enough to ask for help if needed. Born in Uttarakhand in 1952, Vandana Shiva is a determined protector of the environment. She is an Indian activist who opposed the modern day agriculture practices and the use of technology in agriculture.
Her campaign mainly focusses on the use of organic seeds and indigenous technology for agriculture and anti-globalization. Dr. Vandana Shiva strongly opposes the industrial model of controlling the seeds. A scientist by profession, Vandana Shiva has always questioned conventional wisdom. She is the founder of Navdanya, which conserves biodiversity and protects the farmers’ rights. Dr. Vandana Shiva’s father was also a protector of environment, which motivated Vandana since she was a child.
Vandana loved physics and did her specialization in nuclear physics. A follower of Albert Einstein, she discovered the dark side of science and therefore changed her stream. Vandana Shiva was also involved with the Chipko movement, which was undertaken to protect the trees from being cut in the Himalayan region. The Navdanya organization formed by Vandana protects people’s rights to information, biodiversity, food and water. They provide employment to the native people by setting up of local seed banks. Dr. Vandana Shiva is strictly against the use of chemicals to grow crops. She strongly opposes the involvement of corporate organization with the growth of seeds. Her firm belief in seed sovereignty has been a blessing in disguise against seed slavery.
After attending one of the agriculture seminars in 1987, Dr. Vandana formed the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology. The main objective of this organization was to decontrol the food supplies and international pharmaceutical supplies which were spearheaded by multi-national companies. She strongly opposed the patenting of seeds by corporate companies. She explained to the people that if a patent is granted on seeds, the farmer who has harvested the crop cannot save the seed because it would breach the intellectual property right of the seed.
She also initiated a Seed Satyagraha movement which was aimed at standing against seed monopolization. The Seed Satyagraha was a non-cooperative and non-violent movement against the cooperative dependence of seeds. A promoter of eco-feminism, Dr. Vandana Shiva suggested that a more feasible and fruitful approach to agriculture can be successful only with the involvement of native women. She also holds the view that Green Revolution resulted into the use of chemical fertilizers and inorganic material which has depleted the soil quality and harmed the crops.
Dr. Vandana Shiva, also known as the rockstar of the genetically modified organisms protest, has preserved earth’s democracy and has restored the faith of people in nature. A renowned author of many books on bio-piracy, genetic engineering and biotechnology, Dr. Shiva’s use of indigenous knowledge has helped revive the ecological balance. She is a global figure and is known worldwide for her initiatives and campaigns. Her promotion of biodiversity in agriculture was honored with several prestigious awards. Dr. Vandana Shiva encourages the need to move to an eco-friendly paradigm and for this, she considers Mother Nature as the best guide.
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