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IPC India 2017: The Melting Pot

India. It’s not just a country or a word; it’s an intricate illustration. A canvas that’s as diverse and distinct as Rangoli – an art form practiced in India and some of its neighbouring countries in which (typically) women express their creativity through colourful patterns. Rangoli is drawn in courtyards and wards of Indian houses and public spaces during festivals and special events.

Did you ask “what’s the connection between Rangoli and IPC India 2017?” Not so “elementary” as it may seem; nonetheless, we won’t keep you mystified for too long. They both symbolize auspicious welcoming, exhibit diversity, display creativity and, lastly, show evolution and continuity.

According to The Ramayana, an Indian epic believed to be written at least 1800 years ago, when Lord Ram won the battle against Ravan and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya after a 14-year exile, the people of Ayodhya drew rangolis to mark his welcome. This was also to mark the auspicious beginning of a new era. The IPC India 2017 wants to mark the auspicious welcome of a new era of hope, solution, and action toward the world challenges we have been facing. We, at IPC India, want to strengthen the wave of change that has swept our planet towards making it regenerative and sustainable. A planet filled with positive energies! The IPC India also marks the auspicious beginning for the 96-acre land that was once fallow but is metamorphosing towards becoming a complete permaculture farm. This farm is the convergence venue and will host at least 700 people from across the globe. You can witness the change here.

Rangoli is drawn using a variety of ingredients. The powder of the stone Shirgola (a kind of natural mineral), which is white in colour, is used to make rangoli in a lot of parts of India. Besides this, the husks of rice are burnt to make white ash to make rangoli. The colour in Rangoli comes from various sources like vermilion (a powder made from turmeric, calcium salt, and alum), turmeric, and colours from other natural ingredients. The designs and patterns for Rangoli range from geometric shapes like lines, circles, and squares to religious symbols, flowers, leaves, birds, Moon, the Sun, and many others. All this diversity to bring together elements of nature, spirituality, and aesthetics. The IPC India event is inspired by these elements and weaves together diversity in multiple forms: over 1000 delegates from across the world from various walks of life, different contexts and different experiences; over 100 speakers from 6 continents covering 6 sub-themes; and over 150 Indian and international volunteers during the event to make it run smoothly. All this diversity with the objective to look at similar issues that we all are facing, but solving them through different lenses. In essence, same problems, different solutions (all of which have worked by the way!)

All along the event, presentations will be articulated around six sub-themes, directly supporting the main theme “Towards healthy societies” and related to Aranya Agricultural Alternatives’ work in the region for the past twenty years.

“Women as agents of change” is one of the main sub-themes as the shift needed in women consideration around the world could have one of the greatest impacts in numerous areas. Vandana Shiva (India) will be addressing the audience during the opening ceremony on the role of women in communities followed by Robyn Francis (Australia) who will bespeak worldwide women in Permaculture conveying their experiences while the topic will be taken from a research angle by Dr. Marty Branagan (Australia) during the Convergence where he will account for “The Overlooked Role of Women in Environmental Nonviolent”.

Vandana Shiva at the National Permaculture Convergence, Hyderabad, India, February 2016

More and more permaculture ethics and principles are unfolding in new fields, continuously adjusting to the global situation and contributing to building a new paradigm helping to answer the question of what our societies tomorrow will look like. These contributions will be highlighted with the two subthemes “Permaculture as a social responsibility” and “Grassroots permaculture in action” under which Amani Dagher and Ghassan Al Salman from Lebanon will present “Implementing micro gardens in Syrian refugee camps”, Nicholas McGuigan and Thomas Kern from Australia will share their views on “Designing the accountable accountant: utilizing permaculture principles to create a language of regenerative business” and Tierra Martinez and Beatriz Ramirez Cruz from Argentina and Mexico will look at the topic “Building a new paradigm: Permaculture as a dream of peace” and many more speakers who are devoting their time and energy everyday to more social justice using permaculture as a tool for empowerment will come on the stage including Andy Goldring (the UK), Manish Jain (India), Walter Nyika (Zimbabwe) and Stuart Muir Wilson (Australia).

Apropos of the subtheme “Permaculture as a social responsibility”, IPC India will deliberate on one of the biggest challenges this world is facing – global refugee crisis. A panel discussion on how Permaculture and refugee crisis connect and offer solutions to the issue will be a part of the Conference.

On the other hand, experts working with nature will share their technical knowledge blending traditional practices and new discoveries and the IPC won’t miss putting demonstrations and hands-on experience at the forefront especially during the Convergence. These presentations will be articulated around three sub-themes which are particularly relevant to the need of the hour both in India and in many more places around the globe and have been at the heart of Aranya Agricultural Alternatives work. Under the banner of “Sustainable water resource management”, Jeremiah Kidd from the USA will speak about “Community drought solutions – building resilience and abundance through a holistic design approach”, Manisha Lath Gupta will share her experiences on “water management in alternating flash flood and drought” she’s had at her farm in Haryana, India and lastly, the Waterman of India, Dr. Rajendra Singh will enlighten us with the experience of his organisation Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS).

An event like IPC India wouldn’t be complete without addressing one of the other biggest challenges our planet and humanity is witnessing every day: climate change. Many of our speakers are highly inspired by our sub-theme “Permaculture and climate change adaptations” amongst which Christopher Nesbitt from Belize will speak about “Permaculture as a tool for climate change mitigation and poverty alleviation”, Starhawk from the USA will guide us through “Permaculture and climate change activism” and Brett Pritchard from Australia will share the outcome of his recent work in Asia on “Probiotic microbial to turn traditional wet paddy rice fields from methane emitters into carbon and nitrogen sinks”.

Last but not the least, in addition to the many Indian speakers still confirming their attendance who will draw attention to the ingenuity and appropriateness of some of their ancient technologies, Raya and Freedom Cole from the USA, Chris Evans living in Nepal along with three of his colleagues from Himalayan Permaculture Centre in Nepal and Julia Wright from the UK will respectively talk about “Ancient Indian agriculture: a look at Sanskrit arboriculture text history and practices and ancient treatment of plant pathology”, “Integrated rural community development using permaculture principles in remote and challenging environments” and “Quantum-based agriculture: It’s time for permaculturists to embrace the invisible”.

Traditional ploughing at Aranya farm before sowing, June 2017

The art of rangoli has stood the test of times and continued to evolve through dry and wet colours, flowers and grains being used instead of dry colours to some homes getting a permanent painting done in their courtyards in the patterns of rangoli. Yet, despite the “modernization”, Rangoli is still done in most Indian homes by the young as well the experienced. Permaculture has, similarly, evolved from grassroots to social to individual – the journey and the change continues. At IPC India, we want to highlight this evolution and continued persistence to stand by the “changing” times.

Join us for this epic event and be a part of the change. Oh! While we’re talking about colours, and diversity, I’m reminded of the saying “unity in diversity”. We took a cue from this saying and are offering group discounts to groups of 5 or more people – participants and students. Participants take home 15% discount on group registrations and students get 10%. Don’t forget to unite more comrades in this march.

Here is a little glimpse of what’s in store for you when you come for the IPC India 2017:

See you in India!

Sunset on Singur reservoir at Polam farm, the Convergence venue

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