The flower in a forest is just there, sitting, unassuming, non-judgemental, not trying to impress anyone … just being.

The name came from a poem in Kannada, and the meaning is simple. This is what we are striving to be. Like a flower in a forest that buds, blossoms and falls, does its duty, serves the bees, takes in the sunlight where it can, but doesn’t do it for anyone or to impress anyone.

Why Vanasuma

A flower is both useful and has a purpose of feeding the bees, some small birds, and sometimes becoming fruit and feeding other beings. If a flower is in a garden in the city, it’s purpose is to be beautiful for the people who see it. Access to it may be restricted. It is pruned. It’s entire life is about simply impressing and people are unaware of it’s other utilities.

In contrast a flower in the forest does not care. Whether it’s a deer looking at it or a human, whether it’s a bee or a bird, whether it’s useful or not. It just is and serves its purpose.

The name just appealed to us.

The Models

The mainstream models for education, agriculture and living have not worked well for India and the direction is not sustainable. It attempts at homogenizing everything and doesn’t take into account the incredible diversity of this country.

To attempt something at a local and hyperlocal level and come up with a sustainable model requires thinking with a completely different lens.

It has to start with a small community of 10-12 families, integrating life, education, food security, energy and other aspects into a model which can be used as a guideline. The references to do things can vary from ancient to modern, but they must make sense and be sustainable.