Byse is a tiny village in the Malnad area of Karnataka, Amma has adopted this as one of Her 101 villages for development.

I went there and participated in the yoga and meditation camp between the 27th and 29th of June.

They were all earnest and open to learn anything new. Most of them were totally new to yoga and meditation. Some chanted Aum for the first time in their life. They showed much interest in prayer, manasa puja, yogasanas, japa and bhajans.

All of them, including older generation women have flexible bodies as they work out in the fields. They can easily bend and twist without much ado and do exactly as required without confusion, which shows the alertness of mind. They are quick to learn unlike many others in cities. They are friendly, never hesitant and always ready to put effort. Simple people, but have the ability to become knowledgeable. Not that the remote village knows nothing about the modern world. On the other hand, they are aware of the evils of modernisation without values.

The villagers are mostly farmers. Their land is clean, rivers are clean, and air is clean. Their speech is soft and clean. One cannot think of implementing the projects like Amala Bharatam there, for example, since there is no hard plastic waste to recycle. The wet waste –bio waste- is being naturally recycled without any technical names or systems.

In fact many virtues Amma speaks of from her childhood days that villagers practiced are still alive here. People are generous and sharing in attitude. Nature is nurtured by humans. Those with cattle at home attend to the needs of cattle first thing in the morning. Cows –malnad gidda- are never tied up; not even a string around their necks! They walk around freely in the wild and return home at dusk. No fear of cow thieves either. The ripe jack fruits fallen from trees offer them sumptuous meals!

Everybody, even those who earn Rs. 200 per day, spend according to their ability and remains peaceful. All of them being basically children of farming, nobody is deprived of food. No such crimes as murders. They don’t speak about love of nature but live in accordance.

They are proud of their heritage which is really something: We found women and children were good singers. They have the glorious Yakshagana in their blood. The region has no cinema theater; to that extent their minds are spacious.

Women work hard on fields and if I saw anybody carrying hay and such weights it has been women only. They have received training in juice and papad making through Amrita and are waiting for our follow up support. A jackfruit cutting machine is being developed by Amrita engineering students of Bangalore.

-Sandhya