BookPDF Available

Alternative Futures: India Unshackled

November 2017

Publisher: Authors Upfront
ISBN: 9788193392478

Authors:

Kalpavriksh

A remarkable, first-ever collection of 35 essays on India's future, by a diverse set of authors-activists, researchers, media practitioners, those who have influenced policies and those working at the grassroots. This book brings together scenarios of an India that is politically and socially egalitarian, radically democratic, economically sustainable and equitable, and socio-culturally diverse and harmonious. Alternative Futures: India Unshackled covers a wide range of issues, organized under four sections. It explores ecological futures including environmental governance, biodiversity conservation, water and energy. Next, it envisions political futures including those of democracy and power, law, ideology, and India's role in the globe. A number of essays then look at economic futures, including agriculture, pastoralism, industry, crafts, villages and cities, localization, markets, transportation and technology. Finally, it explores socio-cultural futures, encompassing languages, learning and education, knowledge, health, sexuality and gender, and marginalized sections like dalits, adivasis, and religious minorities. Introductory and concluding essays tie these diverse visions together. Most essays include both futuristic scenarios and present initiatives that demonstrate the possibility of such futures. At a time when India faces increasing polarization along parochial, physical and mental boundaries, these essays provide a breath of fresh air and hope in the grounded possibilities for an alternative, decentralized, eco-culturally centred future. The essays range from the dreamy-eyed to the hard-headed, from the provocative to the gently persuasive.

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Alternative Futures: India Unshackled

Now available for free download, at:

https://www.authorsupfront.com/alternative_futures_book.php

We are delighted to present a freely downloadable copy of Alternative Futures: India Unshackled, as

a full book as also as individual sections and chapters. This is to fulfil a commitment that we as

editors and our publishers Authors UpFront had made when the book was published in November

2017, to enable wider access to the book for those who cannot afford or for other reasons prefer not

to have a hard copy. The printed copy will of course continue also to be available.

This book is a unique collection of 35 essays on India’s future, by a diverse set of authors – activists,

researchers, mediapersons, those who have influenced policies and those working at the grassroots.

This book brings together scenarios of an India that is politically and socially egalitarian, radically

democratic, economically sustainable and equitable, and socio-culturally diverse and harmonious.

Since its publication, the book has been received well in critical reviews, as also in various circles

where it has been noticed. A couple of universities have decided to put it into their recommended

readings for students of various subjects.

The book covers a wide range of issues, organized under four sections. It explores ecological futures

including environmental governance, biodiversity conservation, water and energy. Next, it envisions

political futures including those of democracy and power, law, ideology, and India’s role in the globe.

A number of essays then look at economic futures, including agriculture, pastoralism, industry, crafts,

villages and cities, localization, markets, transportation and technology. Finally, it explores socio-

cultural futures, encompassing languages, learning and education, knowledge, health, sexuality and

gender, and marginalized sections like dalits, adivasis, and religious minorities. Introductory and

concluding essays tie these diverse visions together. Most essays include both futuristic scenarios and

present initiatives that demonstrate the possibility of such futures.

We hope that the book’s online, free availability will substantially enhance its accessibility. Please

note that the book is published under Creative Commons licence, which means you can download,

print, disseminate, copy as you like, as also use material from the text in ways you feel appropriate,

with due credit. There is no need to take permission from the editors or authors!

There is however one earnest request. If you do download, it would be nice if you put in a comment

on why you are doing so, and how you intend using it. Additionally, we’d love to receive your

comments on the content, and on how (or if!) you have found it useful once you do start using it.

You can email one or both of us.

Thanks!

Ashish Kothari (chikikothari@gmail.com) and KJ Joy (joykjjoy2@gmail.com)

Editors, Alternative Futures: India Unshackled

Exploring Sustainable Degrowth-Based Adaptation to Climate Change-Aggravated Water Scarcity in Parts of Rural India: A Gender Relations Approach

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022

Nairita Roy Chaudhuri

This article reviews the theoretical concept of ‘sustainable adaptation’ to climate change and water scarcity using a gender-relations approach by answering the following questions: i) What is a sustainable adaptation to climate change? ii) Based on a literature review, how does gender interact with climate change ad�aptation to water scarcity and droughts in rural India? (iii) How do the concepts of sustainable adaptation, degrowth, and gender relations interact on the ground, pertaining to water justice? The paper argues that climate change adaptation and development goals can harmonize only if they rectify root causes of vulnerabilities. For adaptation ac�tions to yield sustainable outcomes, they need to be embedded in a just degrowth politics that transforms unequal power relations, including gender relations with water. In India, degrowth is about ecological, economic, and social justice that calls for transformation of the economy. This transformation looks into the life�cycle of goods - how goods are produced, composed, assembled, distributed, consumed, and regenerated today; further degrowth strategy explores alternate, just, non-extractive, decolonial, and democratically led trajectories that sustain the web of life. This paper discusses five interrelated principles of sustainable degrowth-based adaptation that center on community-based notions of water and gender justice.

Harnessing Constitutional And Policy Spaces For Organized Resistance Movement To Save Hasdeo Aranya Forests

Chapter

Full-text available

May 2022

Priyanshu Gupta

This chapter documents the decade-long journey of Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti-an adivasi community-led resistance movement to resist displacement and protect their densely forested and biodiversity-rich region. The movement has successfully resisted the capitalist expansion of mining and infrastructure projects by utilising the available policy and constitutional spaces. The use of decentralized governance provisions (PESA and FRA), continuous, and often proactive, engagement with policy processes for environmental and social clearances have become the focal points of resistance. The 'gram sabha' resolutions and dialogues across scales of governance (local to state and central government), have emerged as valuable tools to bridge the tyranny of distance from the seats of political power and media influence. Further, the strategy of careful framing that amalgamates environmental and social dimensions of resource conflict and tactically leveraging the broader civil society network to amplify local voices has allowed Hasdeo Aranya forests to emerge at the centre stage of energy-conservation policy debates in India. Thus, this article showcases the potential and limits of harnessing the institutional spaces for organized resistance, as available in a constitutional democracy.