Way to Transform Shridhar University Rajasthan Honours Innovative Farmer Sunda Ram on World Earth Day

Online, May 2, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The first Earth Day event took place in the United States on April 22, 1970 and forty years later, the annual observance has become a global event, with an estimated one billion people in 191 countries taking part in a multitude of activities which included a renewed call to combat global warming and protect the environment as well as focus on a billion ways to remain green. Year 2010 also happens to the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) as declared by the United Nations.

Way to Transform Shridhar University established under Section 2(f) of UGC Act. 1956 by the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly vide The Shridhar University Act No. 4 of 2010 is located on the Pilani - Chirawa State Highway No. 13 towards Jaipur in the famed Shekhawati region widely known as the world's largest open art gallery. This region of Rajasthan is well known for its water conservation efforts and rain water harvesting techniques apart from being the the cradle of many of the greatest industrial houses of India which include Birla, Modi, Mittal, Bajaj, Dalmia, Piramal, Jhunjhunwala, Sanghi, Somani, Goenka, Poddar, Murarka, Aggarwal and Singhania.

Spread over 60 acres area, the Shridhar University master plan envisages a School of Engineering and Technology; School of Business Studies and International Trade; School of Basic and Applied Sciences; School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences; School of Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts and Fine Arts; School of Legal Studies and Governance; School of Education Technology; School of Medicine; School of Library Science and Information; School of Mass Communication and Media and a School of Oriental Sciences. The widely circulated English Newspaper THE HINDU dated 08 April 2010 had reported that Successful Transplantation and Dryland farming Technique by a farmer named Sunda Ram Verma from Danta village near Sikar in Rajasthan had been unrecognized due to the mindset, tunnel vision and bureaucracy in government and scientific communities.

Shridhar University decided to invite Shri Sunda Ram to present his techniques to the faculty and students to mark the celebrations of World Earth Day. The audience in the Lecture Theatre included agricultural experts as well as farmers from villages adjacent to the university campus. It was an eye opener when Sunda Ram explained how with just one litre of water one will be able to grow a plant to its full size. His technique focuses on conserving the groundwater and minimizing the loss by evaporation. It is indeed a matter of prestige that the renowned agricultural scientist and father of Green Revolution in India Dr MS Swaminathan himself had appreciated the pioneering efforts of Sunda Ram who is credited with growing over 50,000 trees to provide green cover in the semi arid regions of the desert state of Rajasthan.

After the welcome address by Dr Bir Singh Public Relations Officer of the University, Ms Chetna presented a colourful bouquet to Shri sunda Ram. Prof BR Natarajan Pro Vice Chancellor and Director of School of Engineering & Technology explained to the audience the importance behind the celebrations of World Earth Day and urged the faculty and students of Shridhar University to take inspiration from the pioneering work of one among the top ranking in the world Ben Gurion University Israel which had transformed the Negev desert area to a green oasis.

The dreamer behind Shridhar University Mr Vijay Pal Yadav appreciated the untiring efforts of Shri Sunda Ram the Karma Yogi and presented him a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. Mr R L Bishnoi who has been closely associated with Shridhar University from the conception stage presented a special memento on behalf of the university. The certificate course in Innovative Farming offered by Shridhar University would include such of the techniques perfected by farmers through years of practice and dedication.