New Delhi, Nov. 8 -- Old stories tell us that Hercules, or Lord Varaha as we know him, lifted the Earth and held it safe. The lesson is clear: the Earth must be protected, and we must never cause it harm.
Yet that is what we are doing. Our planet is 71% water and 29% land, and that small share of land holds our mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts and farms. Cities, factories, intensive farming and the destruction of forests have all pushed the Earth too far. Now even our digital world adds to the burden.
The result is global warming, El Niño, a changing climate and melting glaciers. Worst of all, we are putting food production at risk.
How our ancestors kept the balance
It was not always like this. Our ancestors understood the importance of living in harmony with nature, and farming was at the heart of that relationship.
They believed that timely rainfall was a blessing essential to the survival of all living beings. They knew that rain, soil, crops and people were part of one interconnected cycle. When this natural balance was respected, the Earth remained healthy and productive.
Our history also gives us the story of the great king Paari Vallal. He once saw a tender jasmine creeper with nothing to climb on. He left his own chariot beside it so the plant could grow. A king who cared for even a small plant showed how deeply people once valued and respected all forms of life.
This is the wisdom we must bring back: farm with nature, not against it.
When food is gone, goodness is gone
The great poet Subramania Bharati once gave a powerful warning about hunger. He believed that a world in which even one person was denied food had failed in its most fundamental responsibility towards humanity.
His message was that hunger is among the greatest forms of suffering. When hunger strikes, kindness, peace and good values begin to disappear. Food security is therefore not merely an agricultural concern but a moral responsibility shared by all humanity.
People in every corner of the world must wake up now, because time is short.
A name that guards the Earth
Dr Sridhar Vembu, Padma Shri awardee and former CEO of Zoho, is a digital leader known across the world. His surname, Vembu, means neem, the tree that guards and heals, and it fits him well. We see him as a guardian of the five elements: earth, water, fire, air and sky.
Today, he devotes his valuable time to promoting natural, organic food production for the people who work with him, without compromising on quality.
One voice, millions of listeners
Imagine what could happen if he joined hands with us. A voice like his could reach people across professions and communities through digital media, inspiring them to embrace natural farming, conserve water and protect the Earth's living layer, our bio-Earth.
Women farmers, who nurture the soil, preserve seeds and care for animals, are at the heart of organic farming. Their knowledge, dedication and connection with nature make them essential to building a sustainable agricultural future.
WOFAI believes the best way to reach Dr Vembu is through you, our readers and viewers. Through our print media, we hope this message reaches him and that he will agree to chair the Women's Organic Farming Association of India (WOFAI) and help protect farming, which is at great risk today.
If you can help carry this message to him, write to us: farmersuresh@gmail.com
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.