Blog by Nikki McGee: Stories that sprout: Sita, Shiva, and the seeds of environmental activism

InspirED: our series of blogs, where people from the Inspiration Trust community share their views and insights into their areas of expertise.

As an avid reader with a background in biblical studies, I am drawn to a hermeneutical approach to religious education (RE). My role as an Inspiration Trust lead has given me valuable insight into primary RE classrooms, helping me see that at Key Stage 3 (the first three years of secondary) we can do so much more with stories than many of us currently do.

If all we do is teach children the narrative of a story, we have failed to challenge them. Inspired by the Religion and Worldviews approach, I am interested in how stories drive people. I also want to see theology as more than just reading stories and asking what they reveal. Theologians are often interested in how a story can inspire action, and I want to bring that action back into my classroom. I also want my students to see that the stories underpinning our curriculum are not dusty artefacts; stories change people, and in turn, people change the stories.

Recently, I was helping a student consider ideas for her NATRE Spirited Arts entry. She was inspired by the ending of the Ramayana epic in which Sita returns to the earth. I have used this with students when discussing feminist readings of the Ramayana. My student suggested that Sita would make a great role model for environmental activists, and immediately my curriculum brain went into overdrive. I went away to do some research.

I asked AI to give me examples of modern environmental activists who are inspired by Sita, and I am excited to share the results.

Vandana Shiva

Vandana Shiva is a renowned Indian ecofeminist who draws inspiration from the Ramayana, particularly the story of Sita. Below are some examples of Shiva’s ideas or activism that could be explored in the classroom:

• Earth as a living entity: Shiva often refers to the earth as a living, nurturing mother, much like how Sita is the daughter of Bhumi Devi (earth goddess). This perspective informs her advocacy for treating the planet with respect and care.
• Resistance to oppression: Shiva likens the struggles of rural women and farmers against corporate agriculture to Sita’s resilience in the face of adversity. She sees Sita’s strength and dignity as a model for standing up to powerful interests.
• Seed preservation: Shiva’s work in seed conservation and promotion of native varieties is sometimes framed in terms of preserving the earth’s gifts, much like Sita’s connection to fertility and abundance.
• Non-violence and passive resistance: Sita’s choice to return to the earth rather than prove her purity again is seen by Shiva as a form of non-violent protest. She applies this principle in her advocacy for peaceful resistance against environmental exploitation.
• Purity of nature: Just as Sita’s purity was unquestionable, Shiva argues for the sanctity of natural, non-GMO seeds and organic farming methods.
• Women’s connection to nature: Shiva’s ecofeminist philosophy often draws parallels between the treatment of women and the treatment of nature. She sees Sita as embodying this connection between women and the earth.
• Critique of patriarchal systems: Shiva sometimes references Sita’s trial by fire and subsequent exile as a critique of patriarchal systems that unfairly judge and control both women and nature.

During my research, I discovered that Vandana Shiva is sometimes called the 'Gandhi of Grain' because of her work to protect the diversity of native seeds and organic farming. She is also a vocal critic of multinational companies patenting seeds, a practice she calls biopiracy. She has also spoken out against genetically modified crops, which she describes as creating hunger rather than solving it. I can see the potential for a scheme of work unpacking the parallels between Shiva and Gandhi as outlined below:

1. Non-violent activism: Like Gandhi, Shiva advocates for non-violent resistance and peaceful protest in her environmental and agricultural activism.
2. Focus on rural India: Both Gandhi and Shiva have placed significant emphasis on the rights and well-being of rural Indian communities, particularly farmers.
3. Promotion of self-reliance: Just as Gandhi promoted swadeshi (self-sufficiency) and the spinning wheel, Shiva promotes seed sovereignty and local, sustainable farming practices.
4. Opposition to corporate and colonial control: Gandhi fought against British colonial rule, while Shiva fights against what she sees as corporate colonisation of agriculture.
5. Simple living: Both figures advocate for simple, sustainable lifestyles in harmony with nature.
6. Controversial figure: Like Gandhi in his time, Shiva is a polarising figure, revered by many but also criticised by some for her methods and claims.

By Nikki McGee - Curriculum lead at Hethersett Academy for religion and philosophy