Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Mar 4: This land stayed barren for over two decades. About a hundred days back, people came together to plant seeds there after preparing the land. The result was there for everyone to see, in the form of lush green paddy plants which beautifully waved in tune with wind.
This rare scene was in evidence at the land located near historically famous Lord Brahma's shrine at Brahmarakootlu near here. This is the result of selfless work rendered by Jumadigudde Hindu Seva Sangha under the leadership of progressive farmer, Ulipadiguthu Rajesh Naik, on November 23, 2014. The standing crop was harvested with the help of machines on Monday March 2, in the presence of hundreds of people including Odiyoor Sri Gurudevananda Swamiji.
The initiative, aptly titled 'Tulunadad Krishi Kranti', has in real terms given impetus to a new concept which has the potential to become a model towards heralding new agricultural revolution in the entire state. The guidance and leadership provided by Rajesh Naik to Jumadiguddee Hindu Seva Sangha, which has been organizing, 'Kesaradad Onji Dina' annually to give fillip to rural sports, has brought transformation in a land that was barren. This time around, on the occasion of this rural sports meet on November 23 last year, the task of offering milk to the field and planting of seedlings therein had been undertaken.
The standing crop, which was harvested with the help of machinery, yielded five tonnes of paddy.
Rajesh Naik had conceptualized the dream of cultivating crops in about 300 acres of barren land in the district with the help of local Yuvaka and Yuvati Mandalas. As a first step in bringing to practice this concept, he had encouraged the local youth to cultivate the above wasteland. The variety of paddy known as 'Jaya (white)' was planted here. Sri Gurudevananda Swamiji initiated the harvesting processing by cutting a few paddy stalks with a sickle.
Locals are happy for being instrumental in giving a beginning to a concept which might give birth to a new agricultural revolution. This work has received all-round appreciation.
Sages and agriculture are two eyes of India - Gurudevananda Swamiji
'Farming and sages have been like two eyes of our country. While farming activity feeds the physical body, sages enrich cultural heritage and refinement of Indian society,' said Sri Odiyoor Gurudevananda Swamiji.
He was delivering benedictory address after inaugurating the programme of harvesting paddy crop grown in barren land at Brahmarakootlu by Jumadigudde Hindu Seva Sangha, on Monday March 2. He hailed Rajesh Naik for taking lead in undertaking agricultural activity, which has of late been neglected by the new generation. He said that the Sangha has emerged as a model for others by turning its interest to agricultural, pointing out that most youngsters prefer to while away time at their disposal by shaking a leg in the name of modernity. He called upon people to support every activity that is supportive of nature,and oppose anything that is detrimental to nature. He wished that the model step taken by the Sangha will provide a strong foothold for more such programmes in future.
Progressive farmer, Rajesh Naik, who had taken the lead in 'Tulunadada Krishi Kranti' programme aimed at extracting food crops out of barren land, felt that youth forums such as Hindu Seva Sangha should come forward to undertake such activities in view of the fact that agriculture has touched its nadir in Dakshina Kannada district in the recent past.
Former MLA, Padmanabha Kottary, addressed the gathering. Harinath Bhandary, land owner, Kuppilaguthu Ramanath Shetty, Sathish Bhandary, and Hindu Seva Sangha president, Charan Jumadigudde, were at the dais. Municipal councillor, Devadas Shetty, hosted the programme.