Finding a path to the ideal of Swaraj in the 21st century
The Hindu
Janapada Seva Trust hopes to steer its activists towards ecological concerns
Inspired by the idea of Swaraj and with the aim of creating a “non-violent social order”, Sumanas Koulagi’s grandparents Surendra and Girija Koulagi founded the Janapada Seva Trust at Melkote in 1960.
Growing up with what he calls an “overdose of Gandhi”, there was a time when he felt that most of the Mahatma’s ideas were outdated.
Now, at the age of 28, Mr. Sumanas Koulagi holds a different view. “I have always been interested in wildlife and ecology. The conflict between conservation and development slowly brought me to Gandhian philosophy. Gandhi and J.C. Kumarappa seem to hold many answers to questions that the world faces today, including climate change,” he told The Hindu.