Baghel becomes beacon of change for farmers

 

 

Chandrashekhar Baghel, a retired mechanical engineer from Chhattisgarh, has become a beacon of change for over a thousand farmers, guiding them toward a more sustainable and prosperous future through natural farming. Inspired by the teachings of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and The Art of Living, Baghel’s journey is a testament to the power of holistic transformation, proving that true well-being stems from nurturing both the land and the human spirit. Baghel’s story began in 2002 when he first attended an Art of Living programme and learned the Sudarshan Kriya, a powerful breathing technique. This practice not only helped him overcome personal struggles with smoking and drinking but also instilled in him a new purpose: to uplift his community. Recognising that farming was more than just a livelihood, Baghel saw it as a means to foster harmony between people and the environment. His approach to natural farming is simple yet compelling: he lets the results speak for themselves.

 

In his model farms, Baghel has demonstrated that farmers can achieve the same yields as they did with chemical farming, but with a staggering 50% reduction in investment. “Wherever you pour nectar instead of poison, Mother Earth gives you lots of blessings,” says Gurudev, a sentiment Baghel has brought to life. This practical, results-driven method has inspired a wave of farmers to switch to natural farming, witnessing the tangible benefits in their own fields. Baghel’s impact extends far beyond the fields. He has trained over 1,000 farmers, but his work is not merely about transferring knowledge. He collaborates with The Art of Living’s Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Trust (SSIAST) and the Rural Welfare Board to scale up natural farming projects and provide logistical support. His efforts have reached numerous villages across Chhattisgarh, including Bithkuli, Korba, Lungargarh, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur, Karsala, Kushmunda, and Bastar.

 

His mission to transform his village into an agricultural and spiritual hub has also led him to address other pressing social issues. Baghel has inspired local women to lead the ‘Nasha-Mukti Abhyaan,’ or addiction-free drives, in farming communities. In a village in the Korba district, he mobilised 40 to 50 women to form a de-addiction awareness group called ‘Hariyali.’ “People usually don’t pay attention to a handful of women, but nobody can ignore the ‘sangha-shakti’ of 40 to 50 women,” he explains. This collective power has positively influenced 2,000 families in 36 villages, helping them combat alcoholism and other socio-economic challenges. Baghel also conducts awareness drives against superstitions, encouraging villagers to practice powerful breathing techniques like the Sudarshan Kriya to bring about inner transformation and cultivate compassion. The Art of Living has been a driving force behind this movement, having sparked a national natural farming initiative that has benefited over 30 lakh farmers. Chandrashekhar Baghel’s life mission, inspired by this vision, demonstrates that true prosperity is achieved by nurturing both the land and the human spirit. His work stands as a powerful example of how one individual, driven by a compassionate vision, can ignite a chain of positive change, reviving rural economies and protecting the land for generations to come.