Jamshedpur: XLRI- Xavier School of Management organized the 3rd “Dr Verghese Kurien Memorial Oration on Sustainable Development” on Saturday, September 24, 2016. The oration was 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 entrepreneurs, development sector professionals and policy makers who have made a significant contribution to the idea of an empowered, prosperous and sustainable society.
Dr. Ela Bhatt, eminent social activist and Founder of SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association) delivered the oration on the topic “Living with Anubandh: A Way to Sustainability”. Explaining what “Anubandh” stands for, in her oration Dr. Bhatt said, “Anubandh means to follow a connection. It is a worldview that encourages us to follow the links of mutual interconnectedness 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 empowerment; 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 exciting, 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.
She said, “We can solve a lot more problems by using multi-pronged, integrated, and sustainable approaches. Let us revive those old bonds wherever we can, create new bonds and new links between people, professions and products to enrich not only our economy, but also our culture.”
In his address, Fr. E Abraham, S. J. Director 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 Operation 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.”
Quoting Dr. Kurien in his speech, Fr. Abraham said, “Life is a privilege and to waste it would be wrong. In living this privileged life, you must accept responsibility for yourself, always use your talents to the best of your ability and contribute somehow to the common good.”
The event was also graced by Mr. T V 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, Fr. Arrupe Center for Ecology & Sustainability, XLRI.
