Karma, Dharma, and Climate: Naresh Tyagi’s Vision for a Just Transition

Since India and the US are both among the top CO₂ emitting countries, it is tempting to judge them with the same yardstick. However, such an inference might not only be simplistic but unfair, because India has never been in climate denial unlike the US. In fact, the country’s tryst with sustainable practices, innovations, movements and governance stretches way back in time, ages before sustainability became a buzz word. Sustainability strategist and futurist Naresh Tyagi’s book Sustainable Promises: Harmonising Horizon, weaves a rich narrative around this heritage, emphasising on the need to blend old-age wisdom with new-age learnings and strategies to secure a sustainable future.

Core principles of Vedic culture, like karma (actions) and dharma (duty), and ahimsa (non-violence) associated with Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism are well known and documented but rarely, if ever, seen as the original foundations of sustainable life. And, therefore, the skewed belief that concepts like urban planning, resource efficiency, architectural innovations and environmental stewardship are modern-day derivatives occasioned by the threat of climate change.

By dwelling upon the practices of indigenous communities and cultures in ancient and medieval India, Tyagi dispels this myth. His scholastic excavation of India’s history, from the Indus Valley Civilisation (3300-1300 BCE) onwards, unearths compelling evidence of practices rooted in the principle of harmonious living, revolving around the concept of environment.

The Vedic principles of ethical and conscious living have acted as a guide for generations, shaping relationships among humans, and between humans and nature. The Upanishads emphasise on the ethics of moderation, that censure excessive consumption and wastefulness.

The contributions of dynasties to sustainable agriculture, efficient water management and conscious infrastructure development serve as startling eye-openers. The Chola dynasty, Tyagi points out, was acutely conscious about working with the elements, giving primacy to natural ventilation and lighting in temple designs. The author cites the Grand Anicut (Kallanai), one of the world’s oldest, built in the second century by the Cholas using locally available materials and construction techniques, as a definitive illustration of India’s historic commitment to sustainable living. He acknowledges the contributions of the Guptas, the Chalukyas, the Rajputs, the Guptas, and the Vijaynagara Empire too.

However, relying on the past alone may not be ideal given the complexities of modern life, shaped by a series of mega trends that are transforming economies, societies and the environment. The book, therefore, identifies climate change, circular economy, digitisation and generative artificial intelligence (AI) as mega trends driving transformation in the modern world. How India responds and adapts to these emerging challenges will determine its role as a leader in global sustainability efforts, he writes.

Given its demographic advantage, India has a unique opportunity to develop a workforce capable of meeting the demands of a green economy. This indeed is a key factor, according to Tyagi, along with leveraging available technology and climate finance to secure a sustainable future for all.

India’s past, as Tyagi notes, is a treasure trove of knowledge on sustainable living. It is incredibly fascinating to understand how indigenous cultures and traditions in ancient and medieval India, developed lifestyles around environmental stewardship, responsible consumption and efficient resource management— in times when there were no COPs, multilateral organisations, or transnational corporations.      

While the colonial idea of growth and progress led to large-scale ecological destruction, biodiversity loss and erosion of sustainable habits, culture and lifestyles, Tyagi insists that India can reclaim its erstwhile glory by integrating sustainability into its developmental journey. To become net-zero by 2070, India must focus on equitable and just transition, invest in the development of green skills and secure adequate climate finance. In doing so, India must take due care of regional discrepancies, adopting a different approach for coal-dependent states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh where the impact of transition is likely to be more pronounced. In these states, Tyagi suggests, the focus should be on developing alternative industries, reskilling and upskilling local workforces, and implementing CCS technologies to mitigate the impact from remaining coal operations.

Sustainable Promises: Harmonising Horizon highlights a historic opportunity before India to redefine the meaning of progress and development. The book serves as a timely reminder of how sustainable development need not be at odds with economic growth, especially for countries like India which struggle to strike a balance between the two. Unlike the trajectory followed by the imperial, developed nations, whose growth (industrialisation) coincided with human rights violations, inequality and large-scale ecological destruction, India can chart its own way, adopting a blend of ancient wisdom and modern strategies. A just transition is indeed possible and India can show the world how it’s done.