Dr. G. Nammalvar:
He born 6 April 1938 – 30 December 2013) was an Indian green crusader, agricultural scientist, environmental activist and organic farming.
He is a expert of best known for his work on spreading ecological farming and organic farming. He led the protest against the methane gas project started by Great Eastern Energy Corporation proposed in the Cauvery delta region of Tamilnadu. Nammalvar was the author of several Tamil and English books on natural farming, natural pesticides & natural fertilizers and was featured in magazines & television programs.
Life of a green crusader:
Nammalvar was born in 1938 in the village of Elangadu in Thanjavur District, Tamilnadu. He graduated from Annamalai University with a BSc degree in Agriculture. In 1963, he began working for the Agricultural Regional Research Station, a government organisation in Kovilpatti, as a scientist, conducting trials on spacing and manure levels of various chemical fertilizers in cotton and millet crops. During his tenure there, the government had conducted various experiments in rain fed land, using expensive inputs like hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides which Nammalvar considered futile as the rain fed farmers were resource poor. Based on his experience, he felt very strongly that it was imperative to totally reorient the research work being undertaken. But his peers at the institute paid little attention to his advice. Frustrated, he left the institute.
For the next 10 years, he was an agronomist for Islands of Peace, an organisation founded by the Nobel Laureate Dominique Pire. His focus was on improving the standard of living through agricultural development in the Kalakad block of Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. It was at this time that he realized that in order to get optimal results in farming, farmers should rely only minimally on external inputs. All inputs should come from within the farm. So-called wastes should be recycled and used as input. This revelation was a turning point in his life. He completely lost trust in conventional farming practices and began experimenting with sustainable agricultural methods.
In the late 1970s, Nammalvar became greatly influenced by Paulo Freire and Vinoba Bhave and their theories on education. The purpose of education should be freedom. Freedom is essentially self-reliance. Self-sufficiency means that one should not depend on others for one’s daily bread. Secondly, one should have developed the power to acquire knowledge for oneself. And last but not the least, a man should be able to rule himself, to control his thoughts and feelings.
Eager to propagate these new theories on education, specifically to aid farmers in becoming self-sufficient, he started a Society, Kudumbam in 1979.
He led the Historic Protest against The Methane Gas project which was Started by Great Eastern Energy Corporation an American multinational. The project was proposed in the Fertile Cauvery Delta region of Tamil Nadu which is a major agricultural region providing food resources for the majority of Tamil Nadu. Nammalvar was the Chief Guest for the practical session conducted on organic farming titled “iniyellam iyarkai” (Now all natural) on 20–21 July 2013 by the Ramanathapuram district collector.
Participated:
- Movement against the use Chemical Pesticides
- Movement against Methane extraction in Tamil Nadu
- Movement against the introduction of Bt brinjal in India
- Movement against the consumption of beef and Trafficking of Cows to kerala
Forming Vanagam:
Nammalvar founded Nammalvar Ecological Foundation For Farm Research and Global Food Security Trust (NEFFFRGFST) or simply Vanagam to create public awareness about the benefits of Natural Farming and about the dangers and difficulties faced in the recent farming practices. Vanagam is located in Kadavur, Karur Dist, Tamilnadu.
Nammalvar died on 30 December 2013, near Pattukottai, due to age-related ailments. He was on a trip to protest against methane programme (ONGC) that he had been opposing for a long time
Books:
1. உழவுக்கும் உண்டு வரலாறு – Ulavukkum undu Varalaru (there is also a history behind farming)
2. எந்நாடுடைய இயற்கையே போற்றி – Ennaadudaya Iyarkaye Potri (Hail to my motherland’s nature)
3. இனி எல்லாம் இயற்கையே – Ini Ellam Iyarkaiye (Here onward it’s nature)
4. தாய் மண் -Thai Mann (Motherland)
5. தாய் மண்ணே வணக்கம் – Thaimanne Vanakkam (Greetings to my motherland)
6. இனி விதைகளே பேராயுதம் – Ini Vithaigale Perayutham (Seeds are the weapons of the future)
7. பூமித்தாயே – Boomiththaye (Mother Earth)
8. விதையிலிருந்து துளிர்க்கும் மாறுதல் – Vithaiyilirunthu Thulirkkum Maruthal (A change begotten from seeds)
9. வயிற்றுக்கு சோறிடல் வேண்டும் – Vayittrukku Choridal Vendum
10. நோயினைக் கொண்டாடுவோம் – Noyinai Kondaaduvom (Celebrate diseases)
11. ஏன் வேண்டும் இயற்கை உழவாண்மை