This morning, the Times of India published an interview with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on his recently-concluded World Culture Festival.
The festival, which drew 3 to 5 lakh people – though Art of Living had initially claimed an attendance of 35 lakh – has been at the centre of an environmental controversy for over a month. Activists say the event has destroyed a large portion of the Yamuna floodplain, which plays an important ecological role and absorbs flood waters. They also say the event is in direct contradiction of a National Green Tribunal order that no construction should take place on the Yamuna Floodplain.
In the interview, Sri Sri told Shalini Umachandran it would have been less costly if he had held the event in a different venue.
Here are 6 inaccurate and unverifiable things he said:
1. The Yamuna Got More Attention Thanks to the World Culture Festival
The intention of having it there is to see that the Yamuna gets more attention, and it is easy for all people to come there.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Pollution in the Yamuna is nothing new. The water’s black colour and heavy stench are hard to miss for anyone whose commute takes them past the river. Many organisations have initiatives to clean the river and the government has repeatedly pledged money for clean-up efforts. Though the Yamuna continues to be heavily polluted, it is hardly a problem that is far from peoples’ minds.
2. An Enzyme Dumped into the Yamuna by Art of Living Is “Proven in the World”
Ahead of the World Culture Festival, the Art of Living Foundation announced it would be using enzymes to break down pollution in the Yamuna. A blog post on the foundation’s website claims that more than 10,000 litres of the enzyme were dumped into the river.
The substance is made from kitchen waste, like vegetable and fruit peels, fermented in water for three months.
After learning about the enzyme, the National Green Tribunal ruled that Art of Living could no longer put this enzyme in the river. There are no peer-reviewed studies that prove that fermented kitchen waste can clean pollutants. But Sri Sri maintains that there is a scientific basis for using it.
Some of these experts do not have any expertise. They don’t know what technology is being used around the world. Enzyme use is proven in the world.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
3. 100,000 Homes Were Shown How to Make the Enzyme
Sri Sri claims that scientists taught 100,000 households how to prepare the enzyme that was dumped in the river. The Quint was unable to verify this number.
Representatives from Art of Living said they did not seek government permission to put the enzyme in the river.
Usage of enzyme was at domestic level, so the question of permission does not arise. We do not have any written permission. This enzyme is extensively used in agriculture by the farmers in Maharashtra and Punjab for increasing production and better crops. Our Prime Minister has initiated Start Up and in his inaugural speech, he said that the Government has done enough for 70 years, now it is for people to do.Atika Dhandia, core organiser for the World Culture Festival and Director of Training for Art of Living
4. The Floodplain Is in Better Shape Than Before
More than 1000 acres were cleared to make way for the festival. Several lakh people walked across the plain, compacting and flattening the soil, destroying its ability to absorb flood waters. Vegetation that used to cover the plain is now gone.
Sri Sri says the flood plain looks better now than it did before the festival, but where is the evidence?
5. Farmers Living on the Land Were Given Adequate Compensation
We’ve taken good care of farmers. They’re happy. The so-called farmers’ agitation had farmers from outside […] Whatever they requested, we paid.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Farmers near the Yamuna were pushed off their land to make space for the World Culture Festival. Though Art of Living said they had compensated these farmers, many have told the media they are not satisfied with the compensation.
They came with road rollers, yellow soil, debris and police, and started paving the roads. We had no information. First, they threw debris and soil over our plantation and then ran the road roller. Our labour of months was wiped out. They gave me Rs 4,000 as compensation. That is nothing. The seeds I sowed for bitter gourd were worth Rs 25,000 a kilo. The labour for ploughing cost Rs 400 a day. Manure and irrigation cost more.Manoj, Farmer, told IANS
6. The Stage Is the Largest the World Has Ever Seen
Sri Sri and representatives from the Art of Living foundation repeatedly said the stage would break the world record for the largest stage, but that really depends on how this record is measured.
This is the most magnificent stage, the largest stage the world has ever seen – in itself a wonder.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
The Guinness World Record for the largest stage is currently held by a stage built for Brazil’s largest music festival in 2015. The stage measures 171 feet, 8 inches in height compared to the World Culture Festival’s 40-foot stage.
In terms of width, the World Culture Festival may have broken the record with a 7-acre base, but if the record has been broken, it has yet to be announced by Guinness World Records. The Brazilian stage measured less than an acre.
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