.: Autonomous Institute for Self

The Autonomous Institute for Self- Reliance was established as a registered society on the 7th March, 2005 for imparting education, for survival and development of mankind, Flora and Fauna in the barren and dry areas of Purulia, Birbhum, Bankura and Medinipur, Janghalmahal, Ranchi, where man, Flora and Fauna have been facing difficulty for the lack of adequate rainfall and lack of harmony between different human groups, who are often not in peace with one another.

In the district of Purulia (West Bengal), we come across extensive waste-land comprised of laterite soil, which does not produce any cash crop. Hence, the people remain poor and ill-nourished. There being less arable land compared to the men dependent on agriculture the bulk of agricultural labourers, people do not get work and have to starve sometimes. There are 33,000 Hectares of cultural wasteland and uncultured wasteland of 66,000 Hectares in Purulia District.

Since 2005 Dr.B.Chakravarti the founder secretary of the Autonomous Institute for Self Reliance, started setting up a Jatropha Plantation in the District of Purulia (West Bengal), 41.08 acres of vested land earmarked by the Govt. of West Bengal and shown to him was accepted by him on behalf of the Autonomous Institute for Self-Reliance as intimated by him under Letter No. AISR/BST/11/2005 dt. 24.05.2005 along with the outlines of how he proposed to use the land in order to develop the ecology, economy and education of the area.

About Dr. Balaram Chakraborty :

Dr. Balaram Chakravarti is one of the few pioneers orientalists who carries cross-cultural studies of world civilizations, human values, education, philosophy and survival of humanity. He was born on 26th January, 1935 at Bishnupur in W.B. Dr. Balaram Chakravorti is an M.A., Ph. D. Professionally an orientalist; he had to stay in different places of India and Asia. He has written a huge numbers of books on cross cultural subjects of different places and people of India. He was honoured and awarded by lots of organizations nationally and internationally.

Maharshi Kapila Vidya Mahapith

A proposal for an innovative University for Survival Education imparting Axiology, Ecology & Economy of the Flora, Funa and maintaining balance in the external & internal enviotnmentalalong with other general subjects like History, Geography, Sanskrit, Bengali, Alchiki and other languages.

A plot of 41.08 acres ( JL. No. 131, Dag No. 1002) of vested land was earmarked by the Govt. of West Bengal since 2005, below Kapila Pahar at Jhalda Block - I in Purulia but has not yet been transferred to this NGO, Autonomous Institute for Self Reliance / Maharshi Kapila Vidya Mahapith due to reasons best known to the authorities concern in spite of respected request & prayers during the last 7 years.

The Kapila Pahar is named after a great culture-hero of India, sage Kapilanarhji, the author of the 'Sankhya Philosopy' which has an atheistic version of Cosmology proclaiming that a God is not required to understand & explain the creation of the world. Creation can be explained through Purusa & Prakiti or positive and and negetive forces of Physics. He however propounded theistic version of 'Sankhya' incourse of conversation with his mother Debahuti in the Bhagabata. He was also founder of the Kaplani Sect of the Nath Yogis which maintained a temple of Shiva & Kalika in the foot hills of Kapila Pahar.

Kapila initiated his mother and left for the confluence of Ganges of Bay of Bengal where he established the ashrama and lived for the rest of his life. Kapila's mother Debahuti and her dispels maintained the Nathsa. Temples & Shrines below kapila Pahar and preached and paracticed non-violence berween flora, fauna and fellow men.

Kapila's disciple : SADHUMA let down her life to protect the trees around the Natha. Shrines below Kapila Pahar.

The green and lush forest and the temple were protected by the SADHUMA but the timber merchants and the Zaminders of the local village, Pat - jaldah wanted to extract timber by felling the trees of Shal, Mohul, Kusum etc. for their furniture and personal gains. SADHUMA resisted and persuaded them not to cut down the trees which she told were the shelter of hundred of birds and provide food for the animals living there, Apart from bringing rain and breeze. She told them that the deities will be unhappy and there be drought if trees are removed. When the hired labour still insisted to cut down SADHUMA first and cut down the trees there after. The labourers took the orders literally without thinking without any consideration and returned with their axes. They found the SADHUMA was carrying a large jar of water from the lake of the foot hills to the temple and they struck her with the axe from behind SADHUMA's head being chopped off fell on the groud along with jar she was carrying. The water of the jar could not wash of the blood spilled there. These happened during the British age. A criminal case was registered but because of the influence of the Zaminders and timber merchants, the murderer of SADHUMA remain unpunished.

We are atoning the sin committed by the slaughter of Sadhuma in the British age, The Maharshi Kapila Mahapith today has started planting the tress specially Jatropha again the soil in a scientific manner. The soil testing is enclosed herewith which reports the acidity of soil. According to the advice of following the report of soil test we have applying lime to counter acidity before planting new trees. We shall continue planting Jatropha and train up our students in Jatropha plantation. Thus our country well produce ample bio-diesel for our communication system to carry men and materials with greater speed and without pollution of the atmosphere as is done by mineral petrol.
The country will smile with prosperity and the Kapila Hill will have more tress, fruits and flowers which will please the soul of Sadhuma who laid down her own life as like to protect the groves tress and on the Kapila Hill.

Crops other than Jatropha:
The govt. of West Bengal has earmarked 41.8 acres of land Jhalda Purulia for cultivation of various crops like: Haldi and other medicinal plants and grapes etc. by our Institution which is a registered NGO, needs the seeds, sampling and know-how of the crops which may be grown on laterite soil to promote self employment and to develop the economy to the low income group people. We propose to plan 500 grape sampling with self help group this year.