Climate change may have been one of the reasons of the downfall of the Indus Valley Civilization

In the 19th and 20th centuries, archaeologists discovered traces of India's earliest civilization, one that developed in the fertile Indus River Valley between 3000 and 1900 BCE. Larger than either the Egyptian or Mesopotamian civilizations of the same period, the population of the Indus Valley (or Harappan) Civilization is estimated at anywhere between two and five million people. Among the civilization's 2000 major settlements were the planned cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, trading and craft production centers where craftspeople and villages wrought pottery and intricate beads made of gold, copper, and ivory.
Archaeological evidence shows that after 700 years of stability, the civilization declined. Most of the Indus settlements had been abandoned or had shrunk in size by about 1800 BCE. Many factors contributed to the end of the Indus civilization, but climate change is emerging as a primary reason for its gradual demise. Geological evidence shows that the region's climate grew colder and drier, in part perhaps because of a weakened monsoon. By 1800 BCE, the Ghaggar-Hakra River, a river in the region that paralleled the Indus system and that some scholars suggest is the Saraswati, the lost sacred river of Rig Veda, was severely diminished. As a result, cities were abandoned and though some of the population remained, many migrated to more fertile lands in the east around the Ganges and Jumna River

Vedic Management – Echoes of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Vedas

The great sages who delivered universal thoughts through the Vedas were concerned about unethical and profit driven human activities and its impact on society and the environment. This is echoed in several verses in the Vedas, especially in the Upanishads. What these great seers feared more than 5000 years ago have become a reality and we are already paying the price for such unethical and profit driven human activities. Today, many major companies around the world have realized the mistakes and there is more awareness and this has led to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Corporate Social Responsibility is a concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment in all aspects of their operations. (Wikipedia)
In an article titled ‘Wisdom of the ages’ in ‘The CTO Forum’ Magazine, Dr. S. Kannan presents an overview of the Vedic vision especially with reference to the concept of ‘Corporate Social Responsibility.’
Some excerpts from the article...
Based on the Vedas, CSR can be looked at from three dimensions constituting the individual, social and cosmic perspectives.Individual Dimension
The individual dimension of CSR focuses on the concept of dharma (righteousness).The Vedas call upon one to speak the truth and follow the righteous path.One shall speak the truth. (Satyam Vada - Taittiriya Upanishad i-11)One shall follow the path of righteousness. (Dharmam cara - Taittiriya Upanishad i-11)One shall do what he speaks and what he thinks. (Taittiriya Aranyaka i-90)One shall not sin against his neighbor or a foreigner. (Rig Veda Samhita v-85-7)One who does not work is a social evil. (Rig Veda Samhita x-22-8)
Fair Means of Wealth Acquisition
The Vedas emphasize that wealth has to be earned only through fair means and one should put in his best efforts to acquire wealth through ethical and moral practices. One has to acquire wealth by ethical means.Wealth has to be won by deeds of glory. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-19-10)One shall be led by the fair path to riches. (Vajasaneya Samhita v-36)One should tread the sinless path and gather wealth. (Vajasaneya Samhita iv-9)A man shall strive to win wealth by the righteous path. (Rig Veda Samhita x-31-2)One who helps others wins wealth. (Rig Veda Samhita iv-50-9)One who gets up early morning gets the treasure. (Rig Veda Samhita i-125-1)Social Distribution of Wealth
The Vedas assert that there shall be proper distribution of wealth from the wealthy to the poor. They also condemn those who enjoy wealth without partaking it with others.One shall not be selfish and consume all by himself. (Rig Veda Sam x-117-6)Wealth accumulated through 100 hands should be distributed to 1000 hands. (Atharva Veda Samhita iii-24-5)One who eats alone is a sinner. (Rig Veda Samhita x-117-6)The leader is the distributor of wondrous wealth. (Vajasaneya Samhita xxx-4)Let the rich satisfy the poor with a broader vision. (Rig Veda Samhita x-117-5)Conservation of Resources
The Vedas advocate conservation of resources to take care of future requirements. They condemn poverty and give the clarion call to eradicate it.One shall produce fair wealth for today and tomorrow. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-71-6)Poverty should be banished. (Rig Veda Samhita x-76-4)Environment
The Vedas attach great importance to environmental protection and purity. They insist on safeguarding the habitation, proper afforestation and non-pollution.
Earth, atmosphere, sky, sun, moon, stars, waters, plants, trees, moving creatures, swimming creatures, creeping creatures all are hailed and offered oblations. (Taittiriya Samhita i-8-13)Habitation
One should protect the habitation. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-71-3)Waters as friends of man give full protection to his progenies. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-50-7)Animal welfare
One shall take care of quadrupeds. (Taittiriya Samhita iv-4-10)One shall be auspicious to animals. (Taittiriya Samhita ii-3-14)One shall not find fault with animals. (Chandogya Upanishad ii-18-2)Plant Life Welfare
The Vedas stress the need for protection and development of forests. Human beings have to safeguard the trees. They assert that the plants and trees are verily the treasures for generations.One should not destroy the trees. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-48-17)Plants are mothers and Goddesses. (Rig Veda Samhita x-97-4)Trees are homes and mansions. (Rig Veda Samhita x-97-5)Sacred grass has to be protected from man's exploitation (Rig Veda Samhita vii-75-8)Plants and waters are treasures for generations. (Rig Veda Samhita vii-70-4)Non-pollution
The Vedas give the clarion call for non-pollution of the environment. They condemn in unequivocal terms those who pollute and defile the environment. Waters are invoked to be friendly to humanity.Waters represent splendor. (Atharva Veda Samhita iii-13-5)Waters bear off all defilements and cleanse people. (Vajasaneya Samhita iv-2)Whoever injures the essence of food, kine or steeds is a robber who sinks both himself and his offspring into destruction. (Rig Veda Samhita vii-104-10)Offerings are dedicated to waters of wells, pools, clefts, holes, lakes

morasses, ponds, tanks, marshes, rains, rime, streams, rivers and ocean. (Taittiriya Samhita vii-4-13)There was only water in the beginning. (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad v-5-1)Waters and herbs should have no poison. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-39-5)Waters are to be freed from defilement. (Atharva Veda Samhita x-5-24)Waters cleanse humanity from the evil of pollution committed by it. (Atharva Veda Samhita xii-2-40)Waters are healing and they strengthen one to see great joy. (Taittiriya Samhita vii-4-19)
Dr. S Kannan is a Chartered Accountant and Management Accountant, a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) as well as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) of Information Systems Audit and Control Association, U.S.A

VEDAS AND ENVIRONMENT

Human beings are never alone as a species in the Universe. They are also inter-connected with the Earth, Sun, Moon and other planets orbiting in their appointed domains. In the ultimate reality, nothing remains unconnected in the cosmos. Aligning one’s consciousness in line with the principles of natural law, he can march towards perfection and maximise his efficiency as well as effectiveness. Maintenance of natural order and pristine ecological balance is the sine qua non for ensuring human well-being.The Vedas specify four types of living beings, namely, andaja (born of eggs), jivaja (born of womb), svedaja (born of moisture) and udbhija (born of earth) and declare that these are impelled by Prajnanam (consciousness) .The Vedas deal exhaustively with the splendors of the cosmos in a wholesome manner. They unravel the mysteries of the vast and unexplored forests.The Vedas present picturesque, spectacular and diversified range of fauna and flora. They urge the human beings to protect, preserve, nurture and nourish the environment and natural habitation in its pristine glorious form.1.1 Environment managementThe Vedas attach great importance to environmental protection and purity. They insist on safeguarding the habitation, proper afforestation and non-pollution.For the welfare of all the humans and other beings, the Vedas seek a sweet and pleasant environment consisting of sweet breeze, sweet flowing rivers, sweet and beneficial herbs, sweet day and night, sweetness of earth particles, sweet fruit bearing trees, sweet and beneficial Sun and sweet bearing cows.1.1.1 HabitationThe Vedas insist that one shall protect the habitation.One should protect the habitation.There should be a fair and spacious habitation.Waters as friends of man give full protection to man's progenies.1.1.2 AfforestationThe Vedas stress the need for protection and development of forests. Human beings have to safeguard the trees. The Vedas assert that the plants and trees are verily the treasures for generations.1.1.2a Vedic quotes on afforestation1. One shall not destroy the trees.2. One shall delight in plants and waters.3. Plants are mothers and deities.4. Trees are homes and mansions.5. Gods delight themselves in plants and waters.6. Let plants be friendly to us.7. Speech is the voice of the trees, the voice that is heard in the drum, the lute and the flute.8. Trees are connected with Visnu.9. Plants and waters are treasures for generations.1.1.3 Non-PollutionThe Vedas give the clarion call for non-pollution of the environment. They condemn in unequivocal terms those who pollute and defile the environment. Waters are invoked to be friendly to humanity.1.1.3a Vedic quotes on Water1. This Universe was only water in the beginning.2. Waters and herbs should have no poison.3. Waters are to be freed from defilement.4. Waters cleanse humanity from the evil of pollution committed by it.5. Waters have satisfying savour of the honey-mixed with splendor.6. Waters bear off all defilements and cleanse people.7. Waters and plants shall be friendly to people.Vedas contain reference to a wide variety of animals and urge humanity to safeguard their well-being. Protection of animal welfare is considered important for proper human welfare. Three-fold divisions of animals are seen in the Vedas in terms of those of the air (vayavya), those of the jungle (aranya) and those of village (gramya).1.2a Vedic quotes on animals1. Let the animals of the earth and heaven, wild beasts of the forest and winged birds protect humanity from calamity.2. So many are animals, bipeds and quadrupeds.3. Prayers are offered for the welfare of animals and men.4. As haya (steed) it carries the gods, as arvan (courser) the asuras, as vajin (racer) the gandharvas and as asva (horse) the men.5. Homage is paid to the serpents on the earth, in the atmosphere in the sky, among the trees and in the wells and waters.6. Happiness is sought for quadrupeds.7. All bipeds and quadrupeds shall be free from disease.8. One shall not find fault with the animals.9. One shall increase the cattle wealth.1.3 Plant lifeThe Vedas call upon the human beings to safeguard and nourish plants and trees. The Vedas mention about plants and trees.1.3a Vedic quotes on Plant lifeThe Vedas hail the trees, the roots, the panicles, the corona, the branches, the leaves, the flowers and the fruits.Let plant and creepers grow upwards.One shall not damage the roots of the plant.Herbs have remedial powers.May fruit-bearing plants ripen.1.4 Panca bhutaThe Vedas specify the cosmic Panca bhutas ( five elements). These are akasah (space), vayuh (air), Agnih (fire), apah ( water) and Prithivi (earth).Earth, air, space, water and fire are the five great elements.The link between the Panca bhutas and men is clearly established by the following Vedic expression.From space, air.From air, fire.From fire, water.From water, earth .From earth, the herbs.From herbs, food.From food, man.1.4.1 SpaceThat which accommodates is space.Vedic quotes on Space1. Akasa is the body of the Brahman.2. This space is honey to all beings and all beings are honey to this space.1.4.2 AirThe Vedas declare that air is sweet and pleasant . It has healing powers.Vedic quotes on Air1. This air is honey to all beings and all beings are honey to this air.2. May wind blow pleasantly for us .3. Wind blows healing balm, blows all disease away.1.4.3 FireThe Vedas eulogise Agni (fire) in the form of an important cosmic force. Fire is considered to be the bestower of wealth. It is only through fire that all the oblations to the deities and forefathers are offered.Vedic quotes on Fire1. This fire is honey to all beings and all beings are honey to this fire.2. Agni is worshipped for increase in wealth and riches.3. Riches, heroes, food, progeny and longevity are sought from Agni.4. Agni is worshipped for bliss.5. Agni slays the foes.6. Agni purifies one and drives ill-fortune far away.7. One shall be victorious through the victory of Agni.8. Agni is the Brahman.1.4.4 WaterThe Vedas declare that all that is seen is water and that they are the nectar conferring happiness to all. With a social objective, they emphasise that the waters are common resources to be used by all. Water is the essence of food.Vedic quotes on water1. This water is honey to all beings and all beings are honey to this water.2. Water is mother.3. The divine water full of sweetness averts the diseases of men.4. Waters are the nectar.5. Waters are propitiated for being friendly.6. Waters are healing.7. Waters are verily bliss-conferring.8. Verily all this is water; All the created beings are waters; The vital breaths are waters; The quadrupeds are waters; Edible crops are waters; Ambrosia is water; The creator is water ; Man is water; Metres are waters; Vedic formulas are waters; Truth is water; All the desires are waters; Three worlds earth, sky and heaven are waters; Plants are waters.9. Water when drunk gets divided into three parts; The grossest ingredient is urine; The middling is blood; the subtlest is Prana.1.4.5 EarthThe Vedas glorify the earth as one’s mother and advise one not to cause injury to the earth. They proclaim that earth is the bestower of happiness, sustainer and supporter of all forms of life.Vedic quotes on Earth1. The Earth is the mother.2. The Earth makes one sharpened and brilliant3. The Earth is adorned with variegated things.4. The Earth is the giver of happiness, the sustainer of life and the supporter of all living beings5. This earth is honey to all beings and all beings are honey to this earth.

Climate Change in India

ndia sits on both sides of the table in climate change negotiations. Already the world's 4th largest emitter of greenhouse gases, its emissions are projected to treble by 2050 at current rates – a new coal-fired power station is scheduled to come on stream almost every month for the next 10 years. The country has no obligations under the Kyoto protocol and has stipulated that it is unwilling to agree to any targets that deny its right to per capita use of energy on a par with that of the current major emitting countries. Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, has said that social development is the first priority and that "the developing world cannot accept a freeze on global inequity". India's per capita carbon dioxide emissions are 1.1 tonnes per annum against 20 tonnes in the US. On the other hand, faultlines in India’s food security are deep enough already without the uncertain impact of climate change. With more than 60% of agriculture dependent on rain-fed crops, even modest alteration in the intensity, frequency and timing of rainfall should cause consternation. Greenpeace is striving to raise awareness by campaigning in India’s coastal cities where it says 50 million people are at risk from rising sea levels. Adaptation plans are conspicuous by their absence; the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra K. Pachauri, himself an Indian, has expressed the view that India is completely unprepared for the impact of climate change which he considers could lead to social unrest. Criticism of management of the 2008 monsoon floods which displaced 3 million people in Bihar alone, and which have been described as the worst for 50 years, may hold lessons for the future. Apart from rainfall patterns, water resources are threatened by theretreat of Himalayan glaciers which currently account for 85% of the source water of India’s 3 major rivers, in particular securing their flow in the summer months. Over 400 million people live in the catchment of the Ganges. Predictions that the glaciers could disappear within decades make a nonsense of the ambitious $200 billion River-Linking Project which aims to connect the apparently healthy rivers in the north to those in the drier south.

UK: CLIMATE CHANGE SET TO AFFECT INDIAN AGRICULTURE, HEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE, STUDY REVEALS

ndia sits on both sides of the table in climate change negotiations. Already the world's 4th largest emitter of greenhouse gases, its emissions are projected to treble by 2050 at current rates – a new coal-fired power station is scheduled to come on stream almost every month for the next 10 years. The country has no obligations under the Kyoto protocol and has stipulated that it is unwilling to agree to any targets that deny its right to per capita use of energy on a par with that of the current major emitting countries. Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, has said that social development is the first priority and that "the developing world cannot accept a freeze on global inequity". India's per capita carbon dioxide emissions are 1.1 tonnes per annum against 20 tonnes in the US. On the other hand, faultlines in India’s food security are deep enough already without the uncertain impact of climate change. With more than 60% of agriculture dependent on rain-fed crops, even modest alteration in the intensity, frequency and timing of rainfall should cause consternation. Greenpeace is striving to raise awareness by campaigning in India’s coastal cities where it says 50 million people are at risk from rising sea levels. Adaptation plans are conspicuous by their absence; the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra K. Pachauri, himself an Indian, has expressed the view that India is completely unprepared for the impact of climate change which he considers could lead to social unrest. Criticism of management of the 2008 monsoon floods which displaced 3 million people in Bihar alone, and which have been described as the worst for 50 years, may hold lessons for the future. Apart from rainfall patterns, water resources are threatened by theretreat of Himalayan glaciers which currently account for 85% of the source water of India’s 3 major rivers, in particular securing their flow in the summer months. Over 400 million people live in the catchment of the Ganges. Predictions that the glaciers could disappear within decades make a nonsense of the ambitious $200 billion River-Linking Project which aims to connect the apparently healthy rivers in the north to those in the drier south.

UK: CLIMATE CHANGE SET TO AFFECT INDIAN AGRICULTURE, HEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE, STUDY REVEALS

he £450,000 study, which looked at the impacts of climate change, found that India was likely to face significant adverse effects in a range of sectors, including agriculture, health, forestry and infrastructure. The study found that temperatures were likely to rise in the next few decades, leading to a reduction in wheat and rice yields in India. While rainfall is predicted to rise in some regions, periods of drought are expected to become longer in others, leading to changes in forestry and vegetation. Researchers found that the incidence of malaria could increase in areas that are already prone to the disease, and the effects of climate change could introduce malaria into new regions. The study also looked at the impacts of climate change on a coastal railway system in southwest India and showed that rising sea levels could cause severe disruption of services. The programme involved eight Indian institutes that are working to assess the impacts of climate change on sea level variability, water resources, forests, agriculture, health, energy, industry and transport infrastructure. Environment Minister Elliot Morley said the programme had enhanced India's understanding of the impacts of climate change across a wide-range of sectors. "I welcome the fact that the project has helped increase close working relations on climate change as well as enhancing the capacity for climate change research in India. The project has contributed to a rise in awareness of the potential consequences of climate change in India and then importance of taking action. "Climate change in India represents an additional stress on a country that is already facing tremendous pressures due to rapid development. With its growing population, India is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Understanding climate change and its consequences is critical to protect lives and assets upon which India's economy is dependent. Awareness of climate change and its impacts on people, the economy and livelihoods will be important to balance economic growth and development with a changing resource base." During the project, Indian scientists spent time working with UK research institutes, such as the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, Exeter. NOTES TO EDITORS: 1 Defra and the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests set up the research programme on the impacts of climate change in India. The programme originated as a response to the Prime Minister's announcement of UK enhanced collaboration with key developing countries, delivered at the UN General Assembly Special Session in 1997. 2 The three-year programme has been managed by ERM (Environmental Resources Management), a UK and India-based environmental consultancy. Final project reports have undergone peer review and are being finalised and will be published shortly. 3 The set of key sheets on the programme released today are available on the Defra website athttp://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/impacts-india/index.htm 4 India has one of the largest developing economies and has been participating in a number of climate change meetings during the UK's G8 Presidency, including the Energy and Environment Ministerial Roundtable in London in March and the G8 Summit at Gleneagles in July.

Climate Change & its possible Impact on India

ndia, the seventh largest country in the world and the second largest in Asia, has a total geographical area of 329 Mha, of which only 305 Mha is the reporting area (the area as per the land records of villages and towns). The mainland stretches from 8o4' N to 37o6' N and 68o7' E to 97o 25' E. It has a land frontier of 15,200 km and a coastline of 7,516 km.
In developing countries like India, climate change could represent an additional stress on ecological and socioeconomic systems that are already facing tremendous pressures due to rapid urbanization, industrialization and economic development. With its huge and growing population, a 7500-km long densely populated and low-lying coastline, and an economy that is closely tied to its natural resource base, India is considerably vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The various studies conducted in the country have shown that the surface air temperatures in India are going up at the rate of 0.4oC per hundred years, particularly during the post-monsoon and winter season. Using models, they predict that mean winter temperatures will increase by as much as 3.2oC in the 2050s and 4.5oC by 2080s, due to Greenhouse gases. Summer temperatures will increase by 2.2oC in the 2050s and 3.2oC in the 2080s.
Extreme temperatures and heat spells have already become common over Northern India, often causing loss of human life. In 1998 alone, 650 deaths occurred in Orissa due to heat waves.
Climate change has had an effect on the monsoons too. India is heavily dependent on the monsoon to meet its agricultural and water needs, and also for protecting and propagating its rich biodiversity. Subtle changes have already been noted in the monsoon rain patterns by scientists at IIT, Delhi. They also warn that India will experience a decline in summer rainfall by the 2050s, summer rainfall accounts for almost 70% of the total annual rainfall over India and is crucial to Indian agriculture.Relatively small climatic changes can cause large water resource problems, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions such as northwest India. This will have an impact on agriculture, drinking water and on generation of hydro-electric power.
Apart from monsoon rains, India uses perennial rivers, which originate and depend on glacial melt-water in the Hindukush and Himalayan ranges. Since the melting season coincides with the summer monsoon season, any intensification of the monsoon is likely to contribute to flood disasters in the Himalayan catchment. Rising temperatures will also contribute to the raising of snowline, reducing the capacity of this natural reservoir, and increasing the risk of flash floods during the wet season.
Increased temperatures will impact agricultural production. Higher temperatures reduce the total duration of a crop cycle by inducing early flowering, thus shortening the `grain fill’ period. The shorter the crop cycle, the lower the yield per unit area.
A trend of sea level rise of 1 cm per decade has been recorded along the Indian coast. Sea level rise due to thermal expansion of sea water in the Indian Ocean is expected to be about 25-040 cm by 2050. This could inundate low lying areas, down coastal marshes and wetlands, erode beaches, exacerbate flooding and increase the salinity of rivers, bays and aquifers.
Deltas will be threatened by flooding, erosion and salt intrusion. Loss of coastal mangroves will have an impact on fisheries. The major delta area of the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus rivers, which have large populations reliant on riverine resources will be affected by changes in water regimes, salt water intrusions and land loss.
Increase in temperatures will result in shifts of lower altitude tropical and subtropical forests to higher altitude temperate forest regions, resulting in the extinction of some temperate vegetation types. Decrease in rainfall and the resultant soil moisture stress could result in drier teak dominated forests replacing sal trees in central India. Increased dry spells could also place dry and moist deciduous forests at increased risk from forest fires.
Medical Science suggests that the rise in temperature and change in humidity will adversely affect human health in India. Heat stress could result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heal stroke, and damage physiological functions, metabolic processes and immune systems. Increased temperatures can increase the range of vector borne diseases such as malaria, particularly in regions where minimum temperatures currently limited pathogen and vector development.