In his essay ‘Tapovan’, Tagore asserts that India’s best ideas have come from where the man was in communion with trees and rivers and lakes, away from the crowds. He adds that the peace of the forest has helped the intellectual evolution of man. Furthermore, he says that the culture that has arisen from the forest has been influenced by the diverse processes of renewal of life and these processes of renewal of life are always at play in the forest, varying from season to season, in sight, sound and smell. This culture of the forest has fueled the culture of Indian society. He concludes saying that the unifying principle of life in diversity, of democratic pluralism, thus became the principle of Indian civilization.
Vandana Shiva says that this unity in diversity is the basis of both ecological sustainability and democracy. She asserts that “Diversity without unity becomes the source of conflict and contest, and unity without diversity becomes the ground for external control.” She adds that this is true of both nature and culture. She concludes saying that the forest is unity in its diversity, and through our relationship with the forest, we are united with nature.
Vandana Shiva says that the forest teaches us union and compassion. It also teaches us ‘enoughness’. It means it teaches us the principle of equity. It shows us how to enjoy the gifts of nature without exploitation. Furthermore, she says that no species in a forest takes away the share of another species and every species sustains itself in co-operation with others.
