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Cultural Dimension o...
Cultural Dimension of Ecology
by: Baidyanath SaraswatiFocussing on the ecological systems in the mountains, forests and islands vis-a-vis the hitherto-adopted modes of aggressive development, these articles underscore the urgency of changing the modern lifestyles, befriending Nature and returning to wisdom tradition.
$24.00
ISBN: 9788124601020
Year Of Publication: 1998
Edition: 1st
Pages : xviii, 185+[16]
Bibliographic Details : 20 Colour illustrations
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Foreword By : Kapila Vatsyayan
Size: 25 cm.
Weight: 850 gm.
Urbanization. Industrialization. Market Economy. Technocentric Lifestyles. Degenerated Consumerism. Air, Water and Land Pollutions. These are some of the tell-tale expressions, recurringly surfacing in the concerns about ecological disturbances across the continents. Today, however, as we are headed for an ecological disaster, there is not only a growing awareness against the cornucopian technocentrism, but also a far-stretched disillusionment with the one-way exploitative, economic development. And even the national planners are being questioned: Can the law of a nation supersede the Law of Nature? Should the rights of the people be allowed to be destructively manipulated by the rules of power? Must the wisdom-tradition of our ancestors be shelved to accomodate the flagrant hypocrisies of the Planning tradition? As a part of the Unesco Chair activities at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, a Conference: 13-16 October 1995, New Delhi, involved some of the highly reputed scholars in a stimulating dialogue on the Cultural Dimension of Education and Ecology. Its presentations are now offered in two volumes: setting out independently the Cultural Dimension of (1) Education, and (2) Ecology. Focussing on the ecological systems in the mountains, forests and islands vis-a-vis the hitherto-adopted modes of aggressive development, the 15 articles here underscore the urgency of changing the modern lifestyles, of befriending Nature and, above all, of returning to wisdom-tradition. Also included here are case-studies highlighting the aspects of culture that are being lived in the day-to-day lives of people even today! This collection is invaluable to environmentalists, social activists, economic planners, policy-makers, and cultural scholars working for the revival of traditional wisdom.
Foreword
— Kapila Vatsyayan
Prologue
— John V. Kingston
Introduction
— Baidyanath Saraswati
1. Environment and Education
— Sunderlal Bahuguna
2. Subsistence Strategies and Environmental Management
— R. S. Negi
3. Traditional Knowledge and Management of Natural Resources
— A.S. Mishra
4. Ecological Degradation Due to Exploitation of Natural Resources and Development
— Ramkar Pant
— Rakesh Khanduri
5. Water Resources and their Management in Kashmir
— B. L. Malla
6. Sacred Response to Environment : The Gaddi and His Mountain
— Molly Kaushal
7. Ecology and Traditional Wisdom
— P. S. Ramakrishnan
8. The Nature-centric Culture of the Nepalese
— D. S. Rasaily
— R. P. Lama
9. The Brahmaputras Changing River Ecology
— A. K. Das
10. The Warlis and the Dhangars : The Context of the Commons
— Ajay Dandekar
11. Cultural Dimension of Ecology : A Case Study of the Oraons
— Virginius Xaxa
12. Ecological cultivation in the Karanpura Region : A Case Study
— Sachchidananda
— Rajiv Ranjan Jha
13. Ecology, Culture, History and World-view : The Andaman and Nicobar Islanders
— T. N. Pandit
14. Moral Education for Environmental Protection : The Sarvodaya Model
— H. M. D. R. Herath
15. African Modes of Transmission of Traditional Knowledge
— Charles S. Makari
List of Contributors
Plates
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Action, Freedom and Responsibility $30.00
This book, a work on human doing, analyses and applies three central aspects of human life – Action, Freedom and Responsibility – in the wide spectrum of the Philosophy of Mind. Reflections on these issues and their interconnections have a significant effect on the Philosophy of Value and application of ethical theories in practical life. This book even reconstructs the conceptual connection between action and freedom, on the one hand, and that between freedom and responsibility, on the other.
It also puts the concepts of freedom and determinism to critical test and reinterprets them from different angles and perspectives. The conventional doctrine of karma, based on the teachings of the Bhagavadgātā, is relieved from its usual deterministic presentation and a logically reasonable explanation is offered.
Human actions and human agency are central concepts in the philosophy of mind and action. Free will and responsibility constitute the bedrock of the moral life of the human agents and the book pinpoints that freedom is meant to undertake the goal-oriented actions. It is, therefore, focused on the enquiry into the various aspects of philosophy of mind, as well as the philosophy of value. -
Forest Tribe of Orissa: Vol. 2: The Kuttia Kondh $40.00
In the management of renewable resources, forests have undeniably a vital role, and today, as never before, their conservation is an urgency. In view of this dire necessity the series Man and Forest tries to highlight the relevance of indigenous knowledge of various South Asian tribal communities in the sustainable management of forests/local resources more specially against the growing challenges of economic development vis-a-vis environmental hazards and a rapidly declining resource base. A scientific inquiry into indigenous knowledge is an effort to discover/rediscover the tribals traditional modes of production and conservation. For them it is the only source to cope with the problems of modernity affecting their lives and precarious environments. Forest Tribes of Orissa: The Kuttia Kondh is the sixth monograph in the series Man and Forest and, after the publication of an account of the forest world of the Dongaria Kondh in 2002, the second volume to deal with an aboriginal tribe of Orissa. Being a tribal community in transition, the authors have tried to document and thus safeguard its local traditional knowledge of conservation, use and management of forests and natural resources. They give an account of how the Kuttia Kondh classify trees and other plants, hills, forests, crops and animals. Their subsistence economy, agricultural system, social organization, religious beliefs and other important socio-cultural aspects of forest life have been extensively treated. The lifestyle of this tribal community is finally reflected on the background of forest policy and the impact it has on their livelihood. The present book is, as most of the volumes in the series, the outcome of nearly ten years research venture involving an interdisciplinary, intercultural team of sociologists, ethnobotanists, social anthropologists and other social scientists.
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Forestry Research in India $42.00
Forestry research is a niche segment in India and has yet to find a deserving place as a science. Many universities/premier institutes haven’t realized its potential and, therefore, are not keen to offer courses on it. This book is an effort to highlight the importance of the topic and thus presents a detailed study, critical analyses, strengths and weaknesses of forestry research in India since its inception towards the end of the nineteenth century.
It very clearly analyses and summarizes relevant issues enabling readers understand approaches adopted, their failures and successes, and provides main conclusions. Based on such detailed critical analyses, it identifies major issues and gives suggestions for improvement and future direction. Strong and appropriate forestry research support is critical to realize the potential of forests of our country to mitigate climate-change effects, conservation of biodiversity, support sustainable agriculture through climate amelioration and perpetual supply of water for irrigation to ensure food security for the country, alleviation of poverty of tribals and other forest-dependent communities and to provide a number of goods and services needed for economic development of the country.
The book provides suggestions for strengthening and reorientation of forestry research in the country. First of its kind on the subject, this book should generate keen interest on forestry research among the policy-makers, educators and even to the intellectuals and students involved in forestry studies and services. -
Cinema Through Rasa $50.00
Cinema Through Rasa discusses the important works of the world cinema in the light of Rasa Siddhānta of the Indian classical aesthetics. Rasa Siddhānta was first mentioned in Bharata Muni’s Nāṭyaśāstra – the ancient treatise on dramaturgy. This book catalogues the major cinematic works in the light of Abhinavabhāratī – a tenth-century commentary on the Nāṭyaśāstra by the great Kashmiri Śaivite philosopher Abhinavagupta. Further, it outlines the links between puruṣārtha, the cultural value system of life pursuits in Indian tradition, and aesthetics while citing examples from the works of major directors such as Orson Welles, Luis Buñuel, Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa, Andrei Tarkovsky, Alfred Hitchcock, Carl Dreyer, Charlie Chaplin, Sergei Eisenstein, Robert Bresson and Satyajit Ray.
Using contemporary scholars’ interpretation of non-dualistic Kashmir Śaivism tradition, Cinema Through Rasa aims to serve as a tribute to Abhinavagupta’s genius, a commentary on important ideas such as rasa, nature of emotions, cinema and beauty along with a tryst with the masterpieces of the world cinema. The meaning of this book is summarized by this verse – na hi rasād r̥te kaścid arthaḥ pravartate – the medium of cinema, though modern, should be seen as resting in the power of rasa without which nothing makes any sense.
This book is a translation of the original Hindi book Abhinava Cinema, which was first published in 2016. Abhinava Cinema was lauded as innovative, path-breaking and a must-read for students of literature and cinema studies by scholars and critics. -
Bhog-Moksha Sambhava $34.00
This book contains 57 essays on the history of Kashi. They highlight the important religions, sects, factions of Kashi and their involvement in cultural traditions social and economic.
