Son Lal

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Tan Dan's chelana 1948-2014

Chelana is Tan Dan’s village in Rajasthan, northwestern India. Tan Dan took a keen interest in the traditional farm life of his neighbours, and this volume starts with his narrations about their work routines. His own experience was more versatile than that of most other Rajasthani villagers, as shown in the stories about his participitation in agricultural development. He learnt pig rearing, poultry work, establishing grape vineyards and pomegranate orchards. From scientists at agricultural universities he learnt hybrid pearl millet cultivation for seed farms, and he were among the first farmers in his part of Rajasthan who started dwarf wheat cultivation. It was a part of the Green Revolution, which made it possible for India to become self-sufficient in foodgrain production, and ended the era of famines and mass starvation. The agronomic events which helped to make that change possible in the Chelana area are told about in the latter parts of the book.