Magis November, 2016

| COVer sTOrY |

november 2016

magis

"India needs to show an honest face,

a kind face, a human face - and not an

arrogant face as the powerful nations

of today (do). What you need is good

management with farmer power.”

Dr. Verghese Kurien

Milkman of India

he 3rd

Dr. Verghese Kurien

Memorial Oration on Sustainable

Development was delivered by

eminent social activist Dr. Ela

Bhatt. The oration is organised by XLRI

under the aegis of Fr Arrupe Center for

Ecology and Sustainability (FACES) with

the aim to provide a platform to listen to

and learn from thought leaders, social entre-

preneurs, development sector professionals

and policy makers who have made a signifi-

cant contribution to the idea of an empow-

ered, prosperous and sustainable society.

Dr. Bhatt, an eminent social activist and

Founder of SEWA (Self Employed Wom-

en’s Association) delivered the oration on

the topic Living with Anubandh: AWay to

Sustainability.

Explaining what Anubandh stands for

in her oration, Dr. Bhatt said, “Anubandh

means to follow a connection. It is a world-

view that encourages us to follow the links

of mutual inter connectedness towards a

sense of wholeness. We are all bound to

each other and to the land. The world is

sustained by the sum of all our correlated

actions. Growth in one area is dependent on

growth in other areas. For example, one's

economic wellbeing affects one's mental

and physical health, as it affects one's social

standing.”

In her speech, she emphasized on the

need for interconnection between the

consumer and the local producers. “As

consumers, when we buy hand-made goods,

we are making clear statements with our

money. We are saying that we support the

poor village craftswoman and her empow-

erment; we value the rich cultural heritage

of our country.”

She expressed her concern on how

globalization has left a declining impact on

local producers - “Globalization is excit-

ing, but the excitement of the new and

wondrous has dulled our awareness of what

is happening under our nose, in our own

back yard. Our concern for the local has

been steadily declining. We believe that

non-industrial modes of production too

have a place in our economy. We are saying

traditional crafts are not our past; they are

also our future,” she said.

In his address, Fr E Abraham, SJ, Direc-

tor of XLRI, said, “Dr. Verghese Kurien

best known as the Father of the White

Revolution in India is recognized globally

as an extraordinary social entrepreneur who

envisaged the billion-litre idea or Opera-

tion Flood - the world's biggest agricultural

development program. His remarkable life

and achievements are an embodiment of his

faith in the ability of the common man to

exercise control over his destiny. This faith

helped him to create world-class institutions

that become shining examples of excellence

(e.g., GCMMF, IRMA, NDDB, etc.), which

enabled ordinary people to achieve extraor-

dinary results. He strongly believed that by

placing technology and professional man-

agement in the hands of farmers, the living

standards of millions of rural poor could

be improved. His creation of community-

owned co-operatives empowered millions

of rural families, most of whom were land-

less and small farmers, in India.”

“We decided to institute this Annual Ora-

tion to commemorate Dr Kurien’s legacy

- because his life and work exemplifies the

model for a responsible management leader,

combining business skills with the larger

good of the society and nation-building. Ela

Bhatt, the “gentle revolutionist", is a deter-

mined, and dedicated visionary. She works

for the improvement of all. She has silenced

her skeptics, sent change makers back to

school, and given evidence that regardless

of how poor, illiterate, oppressed one may

be, through self-empowerment and trust,

lives can be changed for the betterment of

all. We are thankful to her for graciously

accepting our invitation and are truly

privileged to have her address the Third

Dr. Verghese Kurien Memorial Oration at

XLRI” Fr. Abraham added.

The event was also graced by Mr.

TV Narendran, Chairman, XLRI Board

of Governors and MD – Tata Steel, Fr. E

Abraham, S. J. Director of XLRI and Dr.

Ashis K. Pani, Dean (Academics), XLRI

and Dr. Madhukar Shukla, Chairperson of

FACES.

Please write to us at

magis@xlri.ac.in

ela bhatt alongwith

Prof. madhukar Shukla, Fr. e

Abraham, SJ, and Dr. Ashis K

Pani lights the inaugural lamp