Vedic Philosophy for Himalayan Eco-System Development (Concept's Discovering Himalayan)

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Ecology and environmental awareness are the talk of the day and most acute man made problem too. It is unfortunate that today we are pondering about the global deterioration of the eco-system-as a whole. The other tragedy is that-we want to solve environmental and ecological problem of our creation-with the help of ultra modern scientific technology - which acts at all levels - only after it has taken a toll of ecological disaster. This is a cruel joke with the environmental management planning of today. On the other hand, the principles of "symbiotic existence" are among the basic precepts of our ethos and culture - as ennunciated by our Vedas. What a scientist tells today, as a remedial measure to improve the sustainable development and planning of our ecological resources- has been profusely preached by our Vedas in detail. The Vedic concepts of co-habitation with our ambient environment are so deep and intimate that-we can safely accept that "Environment is like our body, human form is its soul and Vedas its mind (Knowledge)". If we can simply follows the Vedic concepts of life "Live and Let Live" -for each micro-organism, each dust particle to each mega forma- and let the natural cycle go on its orbit, then there will be least environmental problems around us.

This book includes 25 writeups-on various aspects of environment in general and Himalayan ecology in particular, as it stands today and as it should be besides vividly as it was in our Vedic times. In fact each article is a compendium of state of art-on the title theme, itself. The book offers a kaledoscopic view of myriad aspects of our Himalayan eco-system, like, causes of its degradation, impact of, hydroelectric to deforestation and role of wild life. It is an effort to bring forth the importance of simple cultural ethos of Aryas so profoundly chanted by our vedic seers. The book is just a small window-pointing in towards the ocean of knowledge about our nature.

MADAN LAL DEWAN (Ph. D. Cornell), a Soil Scientist and Watershed Management Expert, started work on soil conservation in the Damodar Valley during 1949-52. He had a distinguished career as an International Civil Servant with the Food and Agriculture Organization for over three decades (1953-83). He worked as chief of the FAO Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and in this capacity had the privilege to serve Asian countries, including India. He had FAO assignments in Iran and Bulgaria and was at FAO Headquarters in Rome for 14 years.

Dr. Dewan's association with the conservation of the Himalayas actively started in 1975 as chief of the FAO Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific in Rome. So, over the past 18 years and particularly for the past ten years after his retirement, he has travelled widely and written extensively about the Himalayas. He was a member of the National Land Use and Conservation Board of Government of India during 1984-87. He has also been Chairman, Vice- Chairman or Member of several Non-Government Organization working in and out on the Himalayas. He is also working for the economic development of the Himalayan communities and has set up his base in Ranichauri near the Hill Campus of G.B. Pant Agriculture University. Dr. Dewan is a Resource Person to the Hill Campus and Adviser for the Himalayan Programmes of Trees for Life, a charitable voluntary organization.

PROF. B.D. JOSHI obtained his M.Sc. and Ph. D. degrees from Lucknow University and then joined Hindu College, Moradabad (1973) as lecturer; shifted to Kumaun University campus Almora (July, 1978) and then joined the Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Hardwar, as Reader and Head Department of Zoology, (1982). He became Professor in 1985, heading the Department of Zoology and Microbiology at Gurukula. Besides, working on various aspects of Mountain Ecology, with special reference to the Himalayan environment. Prof. Joshi is member of twelve national and international scientific bodies, editorial member of more than six research journals, founder President of the Indian Academy of Environmental Sciences, Hardwar, founder Vice-President of the Indian Association of Haematologists, and founder and Editor in chief of Himalayan Journal of Environment and Zoology. He has completed seven research projects sponsored by UPCST, CSIR, UGC, CGA and DO En. At present, he is engaged in completing a major eco-development research project on river Bhagirathi sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

**Contents and Sample Pages**