Today, if you say something about the nation, people immediately try to associate you with some ideology – left, right or something else. This has become a phenomenon across the country, which is an unfortunate situation because these are the mechanics of destroying a democracy.

Earlier, I used to see this in the United States and feel, “What kind of democracy is this?” There, people are already committed to being either a Democrat or a Republican. No matter what happens, they will only vote for their party.

There is a joke about this phenomenon: When a veteran Republican leader was on his deathbed, he requested, “I want to join the Democratic Party.” People said, “Not you! You have been a Republican all your life, and so were your father and your grandfather. And now on your deathbed, you want to become a Democrat?” He said, “Yes, I want to become a Democrat.” They asked, “Why?” He replied, “I would rather have one of them dying.”

Right now, only a very small percentage of the people decide the election in the United States because the rest of them are already fixed on a certain party. This is not democracy. &nbsp;If you belong to one party, and regardless of what happens, you are going to vote only for your party, then it is a feudalistic society, not a democratic society.

In a living democracy, you should evaluate your stance before every election, and that should never be a permanent stance. At the end of every term, each one of us should look at what the elected representatives have done. We must decide individually, and vote based on whether what they have done is good for the current situation and the future of the country.

Unfortunately, in recent years, our country’s political atmosphere is also becoming like that of the United States, where people are fixed on one particular party. This means they are not interested in democracy. When everyone knows who will vote for which party, what is the point of a secret ballot? What is the point of offering citizens the opportunity of choosing the political leadership? You might as well go back to a monarchy, where you belong to either this clan or that clan.

If you want a living democracy, the most important thing is that, except for a few party workers, the rest of the population should not be committed to any party or ideology. We must go beyond this feudalistic mindset of voting as a family, caste or religion because even if one family votes as one unit, then it is not democracy. The idea of a secret ballot is that everyone should think for themselves and vote accordingly. Otherwise, we will subvert the democratic process.

I request all citizens, particularly the young people, not to take political sides. You must debate every issue in the country, and whoever is going to offer solutions must get the vote. You should not have a pet politician of your own. Is the politician that you have elected working for the nation or themselves? This is the first thing you have to see. The second thing is, do they have the breadth of mind, intelligence and competence to create what the nation needs? And do they understand the heartbeat of this nation? If these qualities are present in a politician or a leader, it is our business to support them. If this is not there, it is our business to replace them. But after the election, whomever people elect, you must bow down to the people’s will and support them because this is the idea of democracy.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Today, if you say something about the nation, people immediately try to associate you with some ideology – left, right or something else. This has become a phenomenon across the country, which is an unfortunate situation because these are the mechanics of destroying a democracy.

Today, if you say something about the nation, people immediately try to associate you with some ideology – left, right or something else. This has become a phenomenon across the country, which is an unfortunate situation because these are the mechanics of destroying a democracy. Earlier, I used to see this in the United States and feel, “What kind of democracy is this?” There, people are already committed to being either a Democrat or a Republican. No matter what happens, they will only vote for their party. There is a joke about this phenomenon: When a veteran Republican leader was on his deathbed, he requested, “I want to join the Democratic Party.” People said, “Not you! You have been a Republican all your life, and so were your father and your grandfather. And now on your deathbed, you want to become a Democrat?” He said, “Yes, I want to become a Democrat.” They asked, “Why?” He replied, “I would rather have one of them dying.” Right now, only a very small percentage of the people decide the election in the United States because the rest of them are already fixed on a certain party. This is not democracy. If you belong to one party, and regardless of what happens, you are going to vote only for your party, then it is a feudalistic society, not a democratic society. In a living democracy, you should evaluate your stance before every election, and that should never be a permanent stance. At the end of every term, each one of us should look at what the elected representatives have done. We must decide individually, and vote based on whether what they have done is good for the current situation and the future of the country. Unfortunately, in recent years, our country’s political atmosphere is also becoming like that of the United States, where people are fixed on one particular party. This means they are not interested in democracy. When everyone knows who will vote for which party, what is the point of a secret ballot? What is the point of offering citizens the opportunity of choosing the political leadership? You might as well go back to a monarchy, where you belong to either this clan or that clan. If you want a living democracy, the most important thing is that, except for a few party workers, the rest of the population should not be committed to any party or ideology. We must go beyond this feudalistic mindset of voting as a family, caste or religion because even if one family votes as one unit, then it is not democracy. The idea of a secret ballot is that everyone should think for themselves and vote accordingly. Otherwise, we will subvert the democratic process. I request all citizens, particularly the young people, not to take political sides. You must debate every issue in the country, and whoever is going to offer solutions must get the vote. You should not have a pet politician of your own. Is the politician that you have elected working for the nation or themselves? This is the first thing you have to see. The second thing is, do they have the breadth of mind, intelligence and competence to create what the nation needs? And do they understand the heartbeat of this nation? If these qualities are present in a politician or a leader, it is our business to support them. If this is not there, it is our business to replace them. But after the election, whomever people elect, you must bow down to the people’s will and support them because this is the idea of democracy. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Beyond Party Lines: True Democratic Spirit

Once, a very modest man went for a checkup in a hospital. He was put through all the paces and all kinds of checks were done. Because of all these tests and so many other things happening, he kind of lost control over himself and what should have happened in the toilet, happened on the bed. He was a modest man. He did not want the pretty, young nurse attending to him to see this mess, so he took the sheet and threw it out of the fifth-floor window. There was a drunk walking on the street below, and this white sheet came and fell over him. He went about like a windmill, screaming and yelling. And then the sheet fell down. People. hearing all this commotion. asked, “What happened?” He looked down and said, “I think I beat the shit out of a ghost.”

Once you get into your own cycles of mind, you will be fighting ghosts that don’t exist. You can give them pretty names like stress, anxiety and whatever else, but fundamentally, these are all ghosts that you are creating and fighting. What is happening in your mind is your psychological drama. They are your ghosts. You can pop up any kind of ghost you want. But you lost control over that, and now the ghosts start playing their own game.

One thing you must clearly evaluate in your life is – what is the world doing to me, what am I doing within myself? These are two different things. Somebody might call you a fool. The word “fool” is that person’s, but what happens within you is yours. The word itself does not hurt in any way. It is not a bullet. But for every small thing that happens, a million things happen inside. If you set up this distinction, you will see, the world is hardly doing anything to you. It is not even interested in you most of the time. Most of the things are your own stuff that you think the world is doing to you. If you know this is your work, you will do your work the way you want it. If you do not recognize that this is your work, it will happen wildly, accidentally. If you take charge of what is yours, 98 per cent of your life is transformed. It is very simple, but this distinction has not been drawn. This chemical soup of a body is responding to every thought, idea, emotion and reverberation that you create. Whether you have a wonderful soup or a lousy soup depends on how much attention you pay to soup-making. If you give two people the same ingredients, one will make a fantastic soup, another, you cannot keep it in your mouth. Everyone thinks they are making the same soup but it never turns out the same. It is the same with human beings. All of us are given the same possibility but what you make out of it is yours.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Once, a very modest man went for a checkup in a hospital. He was put through all the paces and all kinds of checks were done. Because of all these tests and so many other things happening, he kind of lost control over himself and what should have happened in the toilet, happened on the bed.

Once, a very modest man went for a checkup in a hospital. He was put through all the paces and all kinds of checks were done. Because of all these tests and so many other things happening, he kind of lost control over himself and what should have happened in the toilet, happened on the bed. He was a modest man. He did not want the pretty, young nurse attending to him to see this mess, so he took the sheet and threw it out of the fifth-floor window. There was a drunk walking on the street below, and this white sheet came and fell over him. He went about like a windmill, screaming and yelling. And then the sheet fell down. People. hearing all this commotion. asked, “What happened?” He looked down and said, “I think I beat the shit out of a ghost.” Once you get into your own cycles of mind, you will be fighting ghosts that don’t exist. You can give them pretty names like stress, anxiety and whatever else, but fundamentally, these are all ghosts that you are creating and fighting. What is happening in your mind is your psychological drama. They are your ghosts. You can pop up any kind of ghost you want. But you lost control over that, and now the ghosts start playing their own game. One thing you must clearly evaluate in your life is – what is the world doing to me, what am I doing within myself? These are two different things. Somebody might call you a fool. The word “fool” is that person’s, but what happens within you is yours. The word itself does not hurt in any way. It is not a bullet. But for every small thing that happens, a million things happen inside. If you set up this distinction, you will see, the world is hardly doing anything to you. It is not even interested in you most of the time. Most of the things are your own stuff that you think the world is doing to you. If you know this is your work, you will do your work the way you want it. If you do not recognize that this is your work, it will happen wildly, accidentally. If you take charge of what is yours, 98 per cent of your life is transformed. It is very simple, but this distinction has not been drawn. This chemical soup of a body is responding to every thought, idea, emotion and reverberation that you create. Whether you have a wonderful soup or a lousy soup depends on how much attention you pay to soup-making. If you give two people the same ingredients, one will make a fantastic soup, another, you cannot keep it in your mouth. Everyone thinks they are making the same soup but it never turns out the same. It is the same with human beings. All of us are given the same possibility but what you make out of it is yours. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

World Mental Health Day: Sadhguru on phantoms of the mind

Namaskaram. In the life of a nation, seventy-five years of independence is not too much time. The important thing to take into consideration is where we were and where we are today. In 1947 when India attained its independence, the average life expectancy of an Indian was twenty-eight years. Today it is seventy plus years. This is a phenomenal achievement, and this is what nation building means – that people are living longer and living better.

So Amrit is definitely beginning to flow. The only problem is it is not getting to every citizen in the country. The prosperity and wellbeing we have achieved through successful businesses, successful education system and successful scientific enterprise have touched and transformed hundreds and millions of lives. But still there are many unfortunate citizens who have not been touched by this. Right now, our endeavour should be towards this. If this needs to happen, of course, the governments have the basic responsibility; but the responsibility is also upon every citizen to ensure that the wellbeing that a large segment of India is beginning to taste happens to every citizen.

In this direction there are many things to be done. One of the most fundamental things is to ensure that we have food security. From famine conditions of the ‘50s, we have come to a place where we are producing food for the entire population of 1.3 billion people. We not only have full-scale food security in the country, we are also able to export foods and contribute to other nations which are troubled. But in this process, we have caused much damage to the environment, severe damage to the soils. It is very important to address this if we want to create a Bhavya Bharat which lasts for a long time, as a not only a wonderful nation to live in but also as a true light or beacon to the rest of the world.

We can bring wellbeing not only to Bharat but to the whole world, because we have the necessary capabilities, the knowledge and, above all, a fantastic cultural foundation which no other nation can boast of.

So here we are at seventy-five years of independence. This is a time when the citizens of this nation – such a diverse population – must get together as one and make the dream of Bhavya Bharat into a reality. Let us make it happen.

Ranked amongst the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a Yogi, mystic, visionary and a New York Times bestselling author. Sadhguru has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 2017, the highest annual civilian award, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service. He is also the founder of the world's largest people's movement, Conscious Planet – Save Soil, which has touched over 3.9 billion people.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Namaskaram. In the life of a nation, seventy-five years of independence is not too much time. The important thing to take into consideration is where we were and where we are today.

Namaskaram. In the life of a nation, seventy-five years of independence is not too much time. The important thing to take into consideration is where we were and where we are today. In 1947 when India attained its independence, the average life expectancy of an Indian was twenty-eight years. Today it is seventy plus years. This is a phenomenal achievement, and this is what nation building means – that people are living longer and living better. So Amrit is definitely beginning to flow. The only problem is it is not getting to every citizen in the country. The prosperity and wellbeing we have achieved through successful businesses, successful education system and successful scientific enterprise have touched and transformed hundreds and millions of lives. But still there are many unfortunate citizens who have not been touched by this. Right now, our endeavour should be towards this. If this needs to happen, of course, the governments have the basic responsibility; but the responsibility is also upon every citizen to ensure that the wellbeing that a large segment of India is beginning to taste happens to every citizen. In this direction there are many things to be done. One of the most fundamental things is to ensure that we have food security. From famine conditions of the ‘50s, we have come to a place where we are producing food for the entire population of 1.3 billion people. We not only have full-scale food security in the country, we are also able to export foods and contribute to other nations which are troubled. But in this process, we have caused much damage to the environment, severe damage to the soils. It is very important to address this if we want to create a Bhavya Bharat which lasts for a long time, as a not only a wonderful nation to live in but also as a true light or beacon to the rest of the world. We can bring wellbeing not only to Bharat but to the whole world, because we have the necessary capabilities, the knowledge and, above all, a fantastic cultural foundation which no other nation can boast of. So here we are at seventy-five years of independence. This is a time when the citizens of this nation – such a diverse population – must get together as one and make the dream of Bhavya Bharat into a reality. Let us make it happen. Ranked amongst the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a Yogi, mystic, visionary and a New York Times bestselling author. Sadhguru has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 2017, the highest annual civilian award, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service. He is also the founder of the world's largest people's movement, Conscious Planet – Save Soil, which has touched over 3.9 billion people. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

How to make 'Bhavya Bharat' dream a reality

We have heard of dinosaurs and dodos going extinct, and we are talking about how pandas and polar bears may go extinct. But the issue now is of soil extinction. How is soil becoming extinct? We must understand, that if you add enough organic content to sand, it will become rich soil. Similarly, if you take away all the organic content from soil, it will become sand. Today, we are turning soil into sand because there is no organic material anymore – no leaves or animal waste.&nbsp;

For any soil to have agricultural potential, it must have a minimum of 3–6% organic content. But in large parts of the world, it is well below 1%. In 60% of India’s soil, it is below 0.5%. Our ability to grow food itself is disappearing because we are turning the land into a desert. Right now, United Nations statistics say that the world may have agricultural soil only for another 80–100 crops. This means after 45–60 years, there could be severe food shortages, and getting rich soil will become the basis of wars on this planet.&nbsp;

Soil extinction is a new term, but soil extinction itself is not new. For the last 100–150 years, we have been unfolding this process, and now it has reached a cusp. If we take concrete action now, then in the next 25–30 years, we could turn the soil around quite reasonably. But if we wait to act after 50 years, it will take 100–150 years to turn the soil around. That means four or five generations will go through terrible states of life because of the weak condition of soil. That is why the urgency.&nbsp;

We have the opportunity to turn this around. To ensure that soil has at least 3–6% organic content in every nation across the planet, it must get enshrined in government policy. This is why I am doing a lone motorcycle ride from London to southern India, covering 30,000 km and 27 nations in 100 days. It is not a joyride. Along the way, we have fixed up appointments with various heads of state, agriculture and environment ministers, influencers and well-known personalities. We have also prepared a general policy document with special editions for each region of the world. We have written to 730 political parties in the world to bring soil regeneration into their political agendas. The idea behind this motorcycle ride is just for this – if I fly into different countries, doors will not open. They have to see that I am staking my life a bit.&nbsp;

So we will do this, but people need to be on board. If people don't care, why will any government do anything? A government is there only to manifest the people's mandate. That is the responsibility that people have. We are trying to move sixty per cent of the world's electorate, that is at least 3.5 billion people, to speak up about their concern for soil. You don't have to go and fix the soil; you just have to make your voice loud and clear. This does not mean you have to go out and shout on the street – use technology: Twitter, Facebook, Telegram, or whatever you have. Every day, spend 5–10 minutes and say something about soil. It will all get aggregated on the social media. If we can get 4 billion people talking about soil during these 100 days, no government on the planet can ignore it. Let us make it happen.

Note: As part of the Save Soil Movement, Sadhguru on 21st March 2022 embarked on a lone motorcycle journey of 30,000 km across 27 nations passing through the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East to raise awareness and build political consensus for urgent policy initiatives to prevent soil extinction. Sadhguru began the 100 days journey from London on March 21 and will culminate his journey in southern India, where Isha is implementing the ambitious Cauvery Calling project. The 12-year project will support farmers to plant 242 crore trees on their own farmlands through tree-based agriculture, bringing one-third of Cauvery basin under tree cover.&nbsp;

The Save Soil Movement aims to reach 3.5 billion people globally or 60% of the world’s electorate who can vote to Save Soil. It is critical to get the whole world concerned and talking about this issue; to create a global momentum that cannot be ignored. To know more and to join the movement visit: <a href="https://consciousplanet.org/">Savesoil.org</a>

We have heard of dinosaurs and dodos going extinct, and we are talking about how pandas and polar bears may go extinct. But the issue now is of soil extinction. How is soil becoming extinct?

We have heard of dinosaurs and dodos going extinct, and we are talking about how pandas and polar bears may go extinct. But the issue now is of soil extinction. How is soil becoming extinct? We must understand, that if you add enough organic content to sand, it will become rich soil. Similarly, if you take away all the organic content from soil, it will become sand. Today, we are turning soil into sand because there is no organic material anymore – no leaves or animal waste. For any soil to have agricultural potential, it must have a minimum of 3–6% organic content. But in large parts of the world, it is well below 1%. In 60% of India’s soil, it is below 0.5%. Our ability to grow food itself is disappearing because we are turning the land into a desert. Right now, United Nations statistics say that the world may have agricultural soil only for another 80–100 crops. This means after 45–60 years, there could be severe food shortages, and getting rich soil will become the basis of wars on this planet. Soil extinction is a new term, but soil extinction itself is not new. For the last 100–150 years, we have been unfolding this process, and now it has reached a cusp. If we take concrete action now, then in the next 25–30 years, we could turn the soil around quite reasonably. But if we wait to act after 50 years, it will take 100–150 years to turn the soil around. That means four or five generations will go through terrible states of life because of the weak condition of soil. That is why the urgency. We have the opportunity to turn this around. To ensure that soil has at least 3–6% organic content in every nation across the planet, it must get enshrined in government policy. This is why I am doing a lone motorcycle ride from London to southern India, covering 30,000 km and 27 nations in 100 days. It is not a joyride. Along the way, we have fixed up appointments with various heads of state, agriculture and environment ministers, influencers and well-known personalities. We have also prepared a general policy document with special editions for each region of the world. We have written to 730 political parties in the world to bring soil regeneration into their political agendas. The idea behind this motorcycle ride is just for this – if I fly into different countries, doors will not open. They have to see that I am staking my life a bit. So we will do this, but people need to be on board. If people don't care, why will any government do anything? A government is there only to manifest the people's mandate. That is the responsibility that people have. We are trying to move sixty per cent of the world's electorate, that is at least 3.5 billion people, to speak up about their concern for soil. You don't have to go and fix the soil; you just have to make your voice loud and clear. This does not mean you have to go out and shout on the street – use technology: Twitter, Facebook, Telegram, or whatever you have. Every day, spend 5–10 minutes and say something about soil. It will all get aggregated on the social media. If we can get 4 billion people talking about soil during these 100 days, no government on the planet can ignore it. Let us make it happen. Note: As part of the Save Soil Movement, Sadhguru on 21st March 2022 embarked on a lone motorcycle journey of 30,000 km across 27 nations passing through the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East to raise awareness and build political consensus for urgent policy initiatives to prevent soil extinction. Sadhguru began the 100 days journey from London on March 21 and will culminate his journey in southern India, where Isha is implementing the ambitious Cauvery Calling project. The 12-year project will support farmers to plant 242 crore trees on their own farmlands through tree-based agriculture, bringing one-third of Cauvery basin under tree cover. The Save Soil Movement aims to reach 3.5 billion people globally or 60% of the world’s electorate who can vote to Save Soil. It is critical to get the whole world concerned and talking about this issue; to create a global momentum that cannot be ignored. To know more and to join the movement visit: Savesoil.org

Sadhguru: Why I am riding motorcycle for 30,000 kms in 100 days

On the occasion of World Soil Day, Sadhguru, Founder-Isha Foundation, has called for urgent steps to revive soil's organic content.

"For soil to be agricultural, it must contain a minimum of 3 per cent&nbsp;organic content,” the spiritual leader emphasised.

Taking to Twitter, Sadhguru said, “Living Soil, our very body, is moving towards extinction. Addressing this with utmost urgency is the most important Responsibility that all nations have to fulfill. #ConsciousPlanet. Let Us Make It Happen".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Living Soil, our very body, is moving towards extinction. Addressing this with utmost urgency is the most important Responsibility that all nations have to fulfill. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ConsciousPlanet?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ConsciousPlanet</a>. Let Us Make It Happen. - Sg <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldSoilDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldSoilDay</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveSoil?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveSoil</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UNCCD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNCCD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UNEP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNEP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FAO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FAO</a> <a href="https://t.co/c3oG2qWcJb">pic.twitter.com/c3oG2qWcJb</a>
— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) <a href="https://twitter.com/SadhguruJV/status/1467365618462695424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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To fight the threat of desertification in the world, Sadhguru says that preserving the biodiversity of the soil is the single most significant and urgent concern on the planet today. "Our attention has to shift to the soil,” he said.

As part of this, Sadhguru would be unfolding a movement to save soil called “Conscious Planet”. “Right now, it looks like climate change and ecology are the playgrounds of the rich and elite. This must change. Individual human beings should become conscious about the danger that we are facing," he said.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/fires-floods-flying-insects-climate-fuelled-disasters-that-wreaked-havoc-across-world-432546">Fires, floods, flying insects: Climate-fuelled disasters that wreaked havoc across world</a>

"Ecological issues must become election issues. Governments must be elected for their concern for ecological issues," the spiritual leader, who championed "Rally for Rivers" campaign in 2017 and the "Cauvery Calling" movement in 2019, added.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has shared alarming facts in its report. "Every year, 75 billion tons of fertile soil is lost to land degradation. Similarly, 12 million hectares of land are lost every year to desertification and drought alone. This is an area that could produce 20 million tons of grain," the UNCCD has stated.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/melting-arctic-is-a-bonanza-for-the-oceans-natural-born-killers-434066">Also read |&nbsp;Melting Arctic is a bonanza for the ocean’s natural born killers</a>

The United Nations agencies have also brought forward that the world is left with agricultural soil for 80-100 crops, or another 45-60 years. 80% of the biomass insects have disappeared over the last 30 years and it is predicted that within 45 to 50 years, there will be an inevitable food crisis on the planet, which will bring tremendous chaos and suffering to populations around the world.

With much attention being directed at carbon, emissions, and pollution as fundamental environmental issues, Sadhguru prompts everyone to distinguish between ecological issues and civic issues that can be addressed and reversed with the needed awareness and law enforcement. The real issue, he contends, is soil extinction.

"Soil is a very significant carbon sink, the largest water soak on the planet, and the basis of all life. The 36-39 inches of topsoil on average around the planet is the basis of 87 per cent&nbsp;of life on the planet. The very body that we carry is soil. Without soil being rich and well, this body and every other life cannot be well,” he said.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

On the occasion of World Soil Day, Sadhguru, Founder-Isha Foundation, has called for urgent steps to revive soil's organic content. "For soil to be agricultural, it must contain a minimum of 3 per cent organic content,” the spiritual leader emphasised.

On the occasion of World Soil Day, Sadhguru, Founder-Isha Foundation, has called for urgent steps to revive soil's organic content. "For soil to be agricultural, it must contain a minimum of 3 per cent organic content,” the spiritual leader emphasised. Taking to Twitter, Sadhguru said, “Living Soil, our very body, is moving towards extinction. Addressing this with utmost urgency is the most important Responsibility that all nations have to fulfill. #ConsciousPlanet. Let Us Make It Happen". Living Soil, our very body, is moving towards extinction. Addressing this with utmost urgency is the most important Responsibility that all nations have to fulfill. #ConsciousPlanet. Let Us Make It Happen. - Sg #WorldSoilDay#SaveSoil @UNCCD @UNEP @FAO pic.twitter.com/c3oG2qWcJb — Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) December 5, 2021 × To fight the threat of desertification in the world, Sadhguru says that preserving the biodiversity of the soil is the single most significant and urgent concern on the planet today. "Our attention has to shift to the soil,” he said. As part of this, Sadhguru would be unfolding a movement to save soil called “Conscious Planet”. “Right now, it looks like climate change and ecology are the playgrounds of the rich and elite. This must change. Individual human beings should become conscious about the danger that we are facing," he said. Also see | Fires, floods, flying insects: Climate-fuelled disasters that wreaked havoc across world "Ecological issues must become election issues. Governments must be elected for their concern for ecological issues," the spiritual leader, who championed "Rally for Rivers" campaign in 2017 and the "Cauvery Calling" movement in 2019, added. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has shared alarming facts in its report. "Every year, 75 billion tons of fertile soil is lost to land degradation. Similarly, 12 million hectares of land are lost every year to desertification and drought alone. This is an area that could produce 20 million tons of grain," the UNCCD has stated. Also read | Melting Arctic is a bonanza for the ocean’s natural born killers The United Nations agencies have also brought forward that the world is left with agricultural soil for 80-100 crops, or another 45-60 years. 80% of the biomass insects have disappeared over the last 30 years and it is predicted that within 45 to 50 years, there will be an inevitable food crisis on the planet, which will bring tremendous chaos and suffering to populations around the world. With much attention being directed at carbon, emissions, and pollution as fundamental environmental issues, Sadhguru prompts everyone to distinguish between ecological issues and civic issues that can be addressed and reversed with the needed awareness and law enforcement. The real issue, he contends, is soil extinction. "Soil is a very significant carbon sink, the largest water soak on the planet, and the basis of all life. The 36-39 inches of topsoil on average around the planet is the basis of 87 per cent of life on the planet. The very body that we carry is soil. Without soil being rich and well, this body and every other life cannot be well,” he said. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Soil moving towards extinction, urgent steps needed: Sadhguru on World Soil Day

Attracting Businesses to India&nbsp;

If we have to put India’s markets and industry back in place, we will need strong investment from outside the country. The trust that people had in certain economies has been seriously eroded, and over 300 top companies in the world are looking for a new home, if not fully, at least partially. This is a great opportunity and India is eminently positioned to take advantage of this. This will need a very determined effort from the industry lobby, the businesses, and of course the government. How efficiently we do it and how hungrily we grab this will determine its success.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tapping into our DNA of Innovation&nbsp;

Indians have always been patting our own backs, saying we are a very innovative society. This is the time to show how innovative we really are. There is no magic wand for the challenge that we are facing. All of us have to rethink the fundamentals of what we are doing. We must be ready to make enormous innovation. We must be willing to come down to the ground from whatever comfortable towers we are sitting on, and reinvent a lot of things. Unfortunately, over the last few decades, we have been left out of the economic development in the world, including Asia. We have to level that in the next three to five years.&nbsp;

Reviving Rural India&nbsp;

Statistics say that around 72 per cent of the world's investment is just in some thirty-odd cities in the world. It is quite natural for people from other areas to migrate there. In India, it was estimated that 220 million people will move from rural to urban India. You can imagine the plight of the cities if this happens. If we do not focus on spreading industry across the seven-hundred and odd districts in the country, migration will become too difficult to manage. The only way you can spread it is by taking it to rural India in some way. I understand that it is much more difficult because to get talent and train people in rural India takes much more. But if you do this now, the economy will be far more resilient. If ten years later another virus or something else comes our way, we will be able to sail through those things much better. &nbsp;

Business Opportunities in Agriculture&nbsp;

Right now, India is the only nation in the world where 60 per cent&nbsp;of the population still knows how to perform this magic of transforming mud into food. We are capable of growing food twelve months of the year, and we have the soil types, climatic conditions and latitudinal spread to grow almost any crop in the world. In the next five to ten years, if we do the right things, we can establish India as the breadbasket of the world. We need to focus on rural India. That is where the people are, that is where the land is and that is where India's wealth is.&nbsp;

Rethinking Education&nbsp;

Everyone does not have an academic mindset. They do not have to go to university. They have to learn other skills, innovations and a variety of disciplines. The industry needs skills. They can make a slightly long-term investment and train tenth standard children for their industry’s requirements. A certain amount of disruption will be there, but we must be willing to go through that. Only then will we unleash the potential of our youthful population. &nbsp;

We must set up a structure that by the time you are eighteen, either you must be going to a university or you must have some livelihood skills. If you do not have both, you must be conscripted into either the military or paramilitary or a one-year residential skill development institution. They must go through the discipline of becoming physically fit, mentally fit and disciplined enough to learn a skill and execute it. You will develop an enormous amount of skill in the country with this. &nbsp;

Turning Waste into Wealth&nbsp;

Right now for many polluting industries, there is a law in the country that they must set up their own treatment plants. That has been our biggest mistake because such treatment plants will only work on the inspection day! It is most important that a treatment industry grows in such a way that your effluent is my business and my raw material. Then I will make sure my raw material is always flowing and my business is to treat it. You can make the treatment industry very lucrative. &nbsp;

For domestic waste, as there is a charge for how much water or electricity you use, there must also be a charge for how much sewage you discharge. Today, there are many technologies to transform filth into wealth. If there is an economic value to it, people will not let it go waste. &nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

Attracting Businesses to India If we have to put India’s markets and industry back in place, we will need strong investment from outside the country. The trust that people had in certain economies has been seriously eroded, and over 300 top companies in the world are looking for a new home, if not fully, at least partially.

Attracting Businesses to India If we have to put India’s markets and industry back in place, we will need strong investment from outside the country. The trust that people had in certain economies has been seriously eroded, and over 300 top companies in the world are looking for a new home, if not fully, at least partially. This is a great opportunity and India is eminently positioned to take advantage of this. This will need a very determined effort from the industry lobby, the businesses, and of course the government. How efficiently we do it and how hungrily we grab this will determine its success. Tapping into our DNA of Innovation Indians have always been patting our own backs, saying we are a very innovative society. This is the time to show how innovative we really are. There is no magic wand for the challenge that we are facing. All of us have to rethink the fundamentals of what we are doing. We must be ready to make enormous innovation. We must be willing to come down to the ground from whatever comfortable towers we are sitting on, and reinvent a lot of things. Unfortunately, over the last few decades, we have been left out of the economic development in the world, including Asia. We have to level that in the next three to five years. Reviving Rural India Statistics say that around 72 per cent of the world's investment is just in some thirty-odd cities in the world. It is quite natural for people from other areas to migrate there. In India, it was estimated that 220 million people will move from rural to urban India. You can imagine the plight of the cities if this happens. If we do not focus on spreading industry across the seven-hundred and odd districts in the country, migration will become too difficult to manage. The only way you can spread it is by taking it to rural India in some way. I understand that it is much more difficult because to get talent and train people in rural India takes much more. But if you do this now, the economy will be far more resilient. If ten years later another virus or something else comes our way, we will be able to sail through those things much better.  Business Opportunities in Agriculture Right now, India is the only nation in the world where 60 per cent of the population still knows how to perform this magic of transforming mud into food. We are capable of growing food twelve months of the year, and we have the soil types, climatic conditions and latitudinal spread to grow almost any crop in the world. In the next five to ten years, if we do the right things, we can establish India as the breadbasket of the world. We need to focus on rural India. That is where the people are, that is where the land is and that is where India's wealth is. Rethinking Education Everyone does not have an academic mindset. They do not have to go to university. They have to learn other skills, innovations and a variety of disciplines. The industry needs skills. They can make a slightly long-term investment and train tenth standard children for their industry’s requirements. A certain amount of disruption will be there, but we must be willing to go through that. Only then will we unleash the potential of our youthful population.  We must set up a structure that by the time you are eighteen, either you must be going to a university or you must have some livelihood skills. If you do not have both, you must be conscripted into either the military or paramilitary or a one-year residential skill development institution. They must go through the discipline of becoming physically fit, mentally fit and disciplined enough to learn a skill and execute it. You will develop an enormous amount of skill in the country with this. Turning Waste into Wealth Right now for many polluting industries, there is a law in the country that they must set up their own treatment plants. That has been our biggest mistake because such treatment plants will only work on the inspection day! It is most important that a treatment industry grows in such a way that your effluent is my business and my raw material. Then I will make sure my raw material is always flowing and my business is to treat it. You can make the treatment industry very lucrative.  For domestic waste, as there is a charge for how much water or electricity you use, there must also be a charge for how much sewage you discharge. Today, there are many technologies to transform filth into wealth. If there is an economic value to it, people will not let it go waste. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Innovative ideas to revive the Indian economy

With the way this pandemic is playing out, India could especially be hit hard simply because we don’t have a sizeable economy to service 1.4 billion people. The last twenty years of economic development in the country has been substantial; we pulled nearly 240 million people out of poverty. Unfortunately, if we do not handle things right in the next two years' time, we may push them straight back below the poverty line. &nbsp;

But in all this, there are bright spots. Without a strong investment from outside the country, we will not have the capability to put the markets and industry back in place and move populations back to their workplaces.&nbsp;

There is a great opportunity for India as the trust that people had in the Chinese economy has been seriously eroded. Already Japan has offered over $500 billion dollars to move their industry out of China, and the United States could do something even more drastic. Over 300 top companies in the world may start partially moving out of China.&nbsp;

India is eminently positioned to benefit if they come here even for partial production. This will need a very determined effort from the industry lobby, the businesses, and the government has to pitch in. We must set up a single-point clearance without any bureaucratic process – for land, electricity, and all clearances. If necessary, pass an Economic Emergency bill to empower states to execute the facilitation of big investments. A billion-dollar-plus investment must be given immunity from PILs and cost litigation for a period of five years. If we do this, we can get the economy buzzing. It all depends on how efficiently and hungrily we grab this opportunity.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

With the way this pandemic is playing out, India could especially be hit hard simply because we don’t have a sizeable economy to service 1.4 billion people. The last twenty years of economic development in the country has been substantial; we pulled nearly 240 million people out of poverty.

With the way this pandemic is playing out, India could especially be hit hard simply because we don’t have a sizeable economy to service 1.4 billion people. The last twenty years of economic development in the country has been substantial; we pulled nearly 240 million people out of poverty. Unfortunately, if we do not handle things right in the next two years' time, we may push them straight back below the poverty line. But in all this, there are bright spots. Without a strong investment from outside the country, we will not have the capability to put the markets and industry back in place and move populations back to their workplaces. There is a great opportunity for India as the trust that people had in the Chinese economy has been seriously eroded. Already Japan has offered over $500 billion dollars to move their industry out of China, and the United States could do something even more drastic. Over 300 top companies in the world may start partially moving out of China. India is eminently positioned to benefit if they come here even for partial production. This will need a very determined effort from the industry lobby, the businesses, and the government has to pitch in. We must set up a single-point clearance without any bureaucratic process – for land, electricity, and all clearances. If necessary, pass an Economic Emergency bill to empower states to execute the facilitation of big investments. A billion-dollar-plus investment must be given immunity from PILs and cost litigation for a period of five years. If we do this, we can get the economy buzzing. It all depends on how efficiently and hungrily we grab this opportunity. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

To get the  economy buzzing, India should woo foreign industry

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