Don't give him fish curry, Teach how to catch Fish
A humble beginning.
Deenabandhu Sahu was born in the temple town Puri in Odisha. none of his family members were literates. Deenabandhu was the first graduate in his family. Because of poverty, Deenabandhu had to undertake tuitions to pay for his college fees.his efforts paid. He stood first in the university exam. Deenabandhu's strong desire to do something bigger and significant in life has grown up with his success in academics. He thought, Puri is not a place for achieving his ambitions. With this, Deenabandhu applied for doing doctorate in Delhi University.
With great difficulty, he managed to get 800 rupees and left for Delhi, which he never visited.
His determination paid him rich dividends. Deenabandhu got a seat in M.Sc , botany and the National scholarship. After completion of the course, he has come to square No. 1
What next?
Though he worked for a Japanese newspaper, the emptiness and dissatisfaction remained. He was badly in need of the 'Right direction'. This made him opt for a research scholar in Delhi university. And as was the practice among the research scholars, he started preparing simultaneously for Civil services.
An unexpected Turn.
Deenabandhu, got a break in the year 1987. He was selected for visiting Antarctica as a part of the 7th Indian Scientific Tour. He was the first Indian student to have got this opportunity. An irresistible offer indeed. Deenabandhu said the scientific tour has changed his outlook towards the world. He could grasp the difference between the developed countries and India.
In the year 1989, after completing his Ph.D Sahu left for America. Despite his rise in his profession and a plethora of perks at his disposal, His thoughts about India never deserted him. Though physically he was in America, his heart was lying with India.
Something different.
While doing his research, Sahu decided to concentrate on the Chilika lake in Odisha because he knew about it since his childhood. I never viewed it as a mere lake. He viewed the those people whose lives are entwined with Chilika lake and the ecological balance in the surroundings.
A special interest in the marine flora and fauna.
There is very less awareness about Marine flora and fauna. Many are not aware of its utilities and nutritional values. In some of the south eastern Asian countries herbs and roots of flora and fauna are a part of the people's diet in those countries.
Unlimited uses of Marine flora and fauna.
The marine flora and fauna is used in a wide range of industries that range from tooth paste, ice cream, tomato ketchup, chocolates, colors,printing on fabrics,medicines to name a few.
Chilika lake, haven for a variety of Red algae.
Red algae have different variations and versions. Gracilaria verrucosa , one variety of Red Algae is widely used for commercial purposes. Unfortunately, the amount of gracilaria is not adequate for the commercial purposes needed.
While many countries use Gracilaria in cuisine, there are countries where Gracilaria is used as food. Japanese cuisine is called ‘agonori’. In Philippines it’s called ‘gulaman’. In Jamaica it’s known with the name ‘Irish Moss’.
Gariclaria in its form ’macro algae’ has an important place in the aquarium business. Its capacity to absorb nutrients is ideally suited to for Refugium or fish keeping. And above all many herbivorous fish love Gracilaria’s macro algae.
Abundant opportunities.
The social and economic conditions of Coastal regions of India are far different from the other regions of India. In Metropolises, cities and towns the value of ten rupees is next to nothing. Whereas in the coastal regions ten rupees is a royal amount. The coastal regions of Odisha is not different.
Coastal region of Ganjam district , Odisha has infinite opportunities for exploring and exploiting the Marine flora and fauna. Unfortunately, the present trend in the people living in these coastal regions of Ganjam is concentrated on Aquaculture. It is also known as aqua farming which is farming water based organisms. Fishing is an important part of Aqua farming.
Due to heavy activities of aqua farming around Chilika lake , the eco balance in Chilika lake is damaged to a great extent.
Farming Marine Moss boosts ecological balance.
The most effective way to repair the torn ecological balance is Farming the Ocean Moss or Marine Moss. Farming marine Moss will enhance the employment opportunities. Deenabandhu Sahu has decided to design a scheme that enables create sources of income and resources to the local people around Chilika lake.
Deenabandhu thinks that once the venture of ‘farming the Ocean’ starts, it sets a tone for starting of the scheme in other regions of the country.
As this scheme is very simple, by creating awareness in the advantages of ‘Farming the ocean’, it is possible to converting in to a commercially viable scheme. Similarly, an agreement has to be reached with the companies that manufacture Moss based products to buy the Moss for a pre agreed rate. This ensures a regular income to the farmers.
A hopeless situation.
Deenabandhu roamed fro pillar to post to get a financial support for his dream project, “Farming the Ocean.”
Deenabandhu, then started seeing the reality in its true perspective. As a scientist, preparing a paper on a project and publishing it in scientific journals and winning the acclaim of the world is one thing. The real challenge surfaces, when your scientific knowledge is converted to the actual ground conditions.
Everybody from central officials, Ministers and the state ministers appreciated the scheme, but when it came to financial support, Deenabandhu was shown an empty hand. As a last effort Deenabandhu, approached DST, Department of Science and Technology. It’s wing, ’Science and Society’ provides financial support to the researchers conducted on the issues related to schemes that help the society. The committee that was appointed to examine the proposal of Deenabandhu’s, ‘Farming the Ocean’, released Rs. 20 lakhs as a first installment. This project runs for a period of 3 years.
Chilika Model.
Deenabandhu’s project has designed a model in such a way that it is uniform for all the farmers in the country to train the villagers.
How Chilika Model works.
The model is quite a simple one. Unlike agriculture, the farmer need not plough, water the crops and sprinkle chemicals and pesticides on the crop.
Just take a branch of the Moss and allow it to grow. Moss has a quality of spreading on its own. After 45 days, take the crop. That’s all. The expenditure for this is very small.
Water pits and the combined property belongs to the societies that organize these ‘Farming the Ocean ‘ projects.
Deenabandhu said, ‘we identified four varieties of Moss. All these varieties enjoy heavy demand nationally and internationally. And the demand is increasing at a rate of 10 percent every year.
Factors to be taken care of for farming the Moss.
It's of primary importance to have a clear idea about which kind of Moss needs what kind of conditions for it to grow in full bloom. Temperature, quality of water etc play a key role in the growth of the Moss.
"What all we do" says Deenabandhu , " is, survey in the most scientific manner and test the amount of salt, impurities and Ph of the water and recommend that type of Moss that's ideal that grows in full bloom."
Key aspect.
The contents of the findings have to be detailed in a simple and straight way to the villagers who are mostly illiterates. All the matter related to the findings are translated in to Oriya, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi languages.
Audio visual shows and training camps are regularly conducted.
The first programme related to Graccilaria Moss was held in February, 2009 on the coast of Chilika lake at Satapada. The entire programme was held with the active cooperation of voluntary organizations and self help groups. Deenabandhu acted as a coordinator and as a teacher.
Simplicity is the characteristic of 'Farming the Ocean'
The entire project, ' Farming the Ocean'is very simple. The implements needed are ,a long bamboo,a rope made of Nylon, old fishing nets and hammers. After undergoing the brief training, four women from the self help group gone to a place known as Langaleswara and started farming Garcillaria Verrucossa type of moss.
"Just after farming for 15days, we could achieve overwhelming results." said the overjoyed Deenabandhu . The buying price of the moss was decided as Rs.10 per Kg. a farmer can earn as much as Rs. 5000 per month, which is a big sum for a villager.
Farming of Ocean gives a regular income.
The government scheme NREGA, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is an alternative scheme that assures an income to the farmer. But that is for a limited period.Whereas, 'farming of Ocean' gives income to the farmer all along the year.
Take for example ,3members from a family are working In 5acres of watery area. On one side planting of the moss starts. And while its going on, After 45 days, the first crop of Moss will be ready. While the cutting and gathering of of Moss goes on, sowing for the next crop will start.
A cyclic process that goes on and on.
There won't be idle time. All along the year ocean farming goes on. It goes without saying, it goes on giving money to the farmer and to the entire family.
If you give fish to a person, that will be food for him for that day. Instead if you teach the person how to catch fish, that will be livelihood for him all his life.
Deenabandhu used this Chinese proverb to apply to his 'Farming of Ocean' and says, "teach a man how to grow the Moss. You will be giving him a livelihood for his entire life."
Deenabandhu says that farming of ocean works slowly but steadily. It takes time to spread its roots deep in to the Society.Presently Farming of Ocean has been taken in and around Chilika lake regions. It takes time to spread in to other coastal regions. Because we are not taking any kind of help from the government.
Differences between aqua culture and 'Farming of Ocean.
Aqua culture especially prawn culture needs lot of safety measures. The crop needs the protection from the pests. Hence the usage of chemicals and fertilizers becomes mandatory.
Whereas, 'Farming of Ocean' doesn't require chemicals or fertilizers. Moss grows using natural Sunlight. It enables dissolving of carbon content in the water.
With this trait in 'Farming of Ocean', Deenabandhu is confident that in future it leads to design a project for the removal of carbon di oxide from the ocean.
Deenabandhu is a member of an Asia Pacific network that is working for the removal of Carbon dioxide.
Deenabandhu's real concern was, to spread the awareness of this vital aspect in to a common man who cannot understand the equations and calculations.
His mission was to show Chilika Lake, as cultural symbol.
Mission Chilika.
Deenabandhu's life ambition was to Show Chilika lake beyond its natural bounty and beauty. His mission of life was to depict Chilika lake as a cultural symbol.
"I often talk in my training classes and workshops about how Chilika lake has become an influencing factor on the society ,how it has become a theme for the writers and why it has become the Pride of Odisha." says Deenabandhu with an emotion filled voice.
From these waves of thoughts of Deenabandhu ,"Chilika, the untold story"' a documentary film was born. The documentary was made with the society's own efforts and money. The documentary depicts not only the natural beauty of Chilika, but also delineates the life of people who are depending on Chilika lake and it's surroundings.
Deenabandhu was inspired by the documentary made on Sundar bans in Bengal by a non-government organization. Deenabandhu invited the members of the NGO to his workshop and requested them to picturize the workshop proceedings. After seeing it Deenabandhu thought of making a short movie with a theme.
Deenabandhu has shaped the script with all his thoughts. He hired a crew and a camera to shoot the movie. But to his disappointment the movie didn't turn up as he thought. After a series of attempts, Deenabandhu succeeded in shooting movie of his satisfaction. Lion's share of the expenditure was borne by Deenabandhu . He has given credit to the NGO, nature environment wildlife society NEWS, which was directed by Biswajit Raichoudhury. The non government organization NGO was kind enough to allow to use its studio and equipment.
Won the acclaim of SIDA, Swedish international development.
The documentary won the appreciation of all especially the Swedish International Development SIDA, who took the documentary as a project that depicted the necessity of "Change."
Deenabandhu is very optimistic about his project 'Chilika Model' that it's not going to influence just Odisha or India, but it's going to influence many neighboring countries like Maldives, Thailand etc.
One should return back,what's been given by the Society.
When someone asked Deenabandhu ," why on earth you undergo all the hardships? You could have very well sit in the cosy comforts of the office , draft papers on your projects and attending the international conferences.Why you should step in to those hostile terrains and add pain and discomfort to yourself?"
Deenabandhu smiled at the questioner and said, "when I turned and looked back, it appeared to me that there was something ,I had done to the Society, that has given me many things. I considered it as a loan I took from the society. I am obliged to pay back the debt. And, to pay back the society, I have to go back to the society. How can I pay back the society sitting in the cozy comforts of my house or society?
Whatever may be your knowledge, if you lack the thought to do something for the society, one’s life is useless and meaningless.
In his endeavors to make ‘Farming of the ocean’ a success, Deenabandhu did not gain anything economically. He has not established any institution or organization with his money. Deenabandhu lamented on some of the practices in institutions like universities.
Even if you work in the field and conduct training camps connected with your project, the existing practice in the universities is not proper. You will be asked to apply for leave. These practices should be changed as they throw cold water on the enthusiasm and zeal of the person involved.
Deenabandhu charges if a company wants to use his technology. But he never charges poor.
Blue Revolution, the ultimate aim of Deenabandhu.
We are aware of the Green revolution and White revolution. Deenabandhu dreamed of unearthing the hidden treasures under the depths of the ocean and create new opportunities to enhance the living and economic conditions of his backward state Odisha. His strong desire is to prove that 100 grams of ocean Moss is more than one kilogram of vegetables.
Advise to young entrepreneurs.
Every individual who is gained by the society is obliged to pay the society In some form or other depending on his capacity. If everybody thinks in terms of ‘I’ and everything is linked with ‘I’, where this society heads ?
History is replete with examples of those great souls who sacrificed for the society.
“ I’m not in a position to relinquish my job. Still I want to serve the society while remaining my job.” Says Deenabandhu.
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