Heartfulness Encourages Nurturing Young Agri Scholars For A Self-Sufficient India
Hyderabad, 12 January 2023: Heartfulness Education Trust in association with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Govt. of India inaugurated a three-day one-of-a-kind Agro Youth Summit at Kanha Shanti Vanam – the Headquarters of Heartfulness in the outskirts of Hyderabad city. The summit that is being organised between 12-14 January was inaugurated by Hon. Shri R C Agarwal, Deputy Director General, ICAR, and Shri Kamlesh Patel ‘Daaji’, Guide of Heartfulness Meditation Worldwide. The summit which coincides with the National Youth Day and also the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda intends at empowering the youth of the country studying agriculture with knowledge transfer and technical know-how while keeping meditative minds at the heart of agricultural advancements. Vice Chancellors, academicians, and faculties were also present at the summit besides Mr. Ramesh Krishnan – Director of Heartful Campus, and Dr. Nivedita Shreyans – Convenor of the summit.
The summit is significant especially since over 2,00,000 students studying agriculture in India can now utilise the resources from HET as agreed upon through an MoU that was signed between HET and ICAR signed in August 2022. The students are expected to gain insights into the Heartfulness facility as well at Kanha Shanti Vanam through their tissue culture lab, bio charcoal projects, hydroponics, etc. for exploration. The visit at the summit also carries course credits (2 credit courses for 30 hours) and the attendance is therefore counted.
Speaking on the inauguration Shri R C Agarwal, Deputy Director General, ICAR said, “It’s a matter of great pride for me because this agro youth fest is being organised in one of the most beautiful places in our country on the auspicious occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, and in front of a great motivator – Pujya Daaji. In August 2022, HET and ICAR signed an MoU and since then 10000 students from 50 universities have benefited and universities have incorporated their modules. Students have shown a great change in their mindset. Students are very happy undergoing this meditation and wanted to come to the campus. Agriculture is one of the backbone of our country. Students have to focus on their inner strength and self-realization that comes from meditation.
About 300 entrepreneurs have developed from these graduates. We have already established incubation centres and 900 experiential learning centres in our universities with all the facilities accessible to every student. The potential of agriculture is enormous and academicians are surprised at this. Students have now developed a vision for agriculture and can understand Daaji’s vision of making the country self-sufficient. We can easily meet the demands by growing more from fewer resources (amid climate change, water pollution, lesser land, etc). Agriculture alone will save us in case of any calamity such as another covid or a lockdown. You can never lock agriculture. We have got good progress on students turning entrepreneurs and creating agro jobs. Implementing ideas is necessary which can only be achieved through Dhyan and meditation. We have such potential today that we can feed another 30-40 countries. Did you know that out of 1kg of rice 3000 liters of water? We waste much-hidden water. We waste 40% of 340 million grains annually. According to FAO – 80% of biodiversity is already lost. Thankfully, we have Heartfulness education training students and showing them how to adopt new technology making the country great through self-reliance.”
Shri Kamlesh Patel – Guide of Heartfulness Meditation Worldwide said, “Agriculture goes hand in hand with spirituality only a farmer can surrender to nature absolutely. They have to prayerfully wait for the right climatic conditions and nature. But the attitude of worship has to be there. Prayerful surrender is different – visiting the place you want to farm gives ideas on how every corner. Sleep on the farm and meditate on your farm one night and see what happens. When you do this prayerfully vs. doing it like a laborer. With a positive attitude the entire – smile and work give productive work. FEAST And songs affect through happy vibrations. Youth going to the gym vs. labor in the farmland. There is a difference in attitude. Farmers can think that they are wasting time. If entrepreneurs have no enthusiasm, then the people who work with them will also not have enthusiasm. Honor your work, respect and worship your work. Vivekananda said people of my country need food, not God. Balance and enrich lives, prosper, without any limits in one direction in the material world. But immerse in spirituality. Fly with both together, or else life will become topsy-turvy. As students drive all your energies into education. Immerse yourself in adhyatmikta. I am not talking about religion. Break your heart, not coconuts. Breaking coconuts every day will make no difference. Open your heart and approach God. I am looking forward to an interactive summit with the students on the auspicious occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s birthday.”
A plethora of activities is slated for the youth summit. Batchwise practical and observational learning with highlights of various Agri innovative projects at Kanha will be led by the Agri team of Kanha Shantivanam, headed by Dr. Sairam Reddy, Dr. Ramakanta, and Mr. Sarvanan and with youth volunteers. Experience sharing/Ice Breaking games/Cultural activities/group games/networking activities for youth at Main Meditation activities headed by Heartfulness Youth Volunteers. Credit-based assignments will also involve case study analysis and group activity for all students on the National bestselling book Wisdom Bridge authored by Shri Kamlesh D Patel ‘Daaji’. Open interaction forum, experiential sharing session with all the students, participants, and faculty members, led by Mr. Ramesh Krishnan, Director of Heartful campus, and Dr. Nivedita Shreyans, Convener of the summit are also part of the agenda for the program.