Kabaad Se Jugaad

the evolution of a group photograph!

2007-05-08T00:08:00.000+05:30

some more faces (repetitions maybe) (and guess who clicked these too!)

2007-05-07T23:48:00.000+05:30

meeting sheeting... (pics: rahul again!!)

2007-05-07T23:17:00.000+05:30

and mr. deol was there too!

2007-05-07T23:09:00.000+05:30

is kabaad ka kya karen....( what do we do with this junk!?)

the learning exchanges (pics: rahul)

2007-05-06T14:01:00.000+05:30

learning exchanges at the kitchen!
some more kids from choti si asha and kanwal making peacocks from newspaper strips
vinod ji and chandrakanta ji making jewellery

the jugaadis with kids from 'choti si asha'

last night (pics: rahul)

2007-04-29T15:46:00.000+05:30

we asked motaz to sing us a song, he told us a story...
the anthemm... dama dam mast qalandar
urbi sang some rabindra sangeet for us
don't think this was during urbi's song... but maybe thr were some dull moments

julian's guitar jived up our lunch once too... i think we we were singing the redemption song!

The Outcomes

2007-03-06T09:46:00.000+05:30

A shaker made from discarded thread holders

The ultimate Jugaadiwala - Mukesh holds his costume for the public meet

An earing made from flattened wires

Nima holds his 'car' made form wires

Goggle-eye: Sunny with the left-overs of an insulation tape holder

Ruchir Josh and gyandev engrosed in a discussion

Motaz made a very nice camera case from tyre tubes, which he promptly lost. So we saw his camera instead [the camera was not made from junk]

New spaces and new friends

Two girls visiting the Rock Garden try their hand at some jugaad.

Chain massage - we could try a full circle next time!

Rachna examines a new contraption

Your's truly with Mukesh and Sunny

The Jugaadiman cometh

The Kitchen

2007-03-06T09:20:00.000+05:30

Waiting for breakfast...

No one would believe that from these chullahs we made some fancy gourmet stuff like steamed vegetables, salads in cashew sauce, makki di roti, sarson ka saag, avial, etc.

pic: julian caspari

The make shift kitchen was also a place for intense and involved discussion about food habits, waste habits, health and well-being.

pic: julian caspari

Salads being covered and getting ready for lunch. Most of the food served was either raw (like salads with dressings) or steamed (like vegetables). All food was cooked without any oil (zero-oil) and without milk or milk products (vegan).

Breakfast consisted of only fruits like dates, bananas, chikkoo, papaya... along with ginger-lemon tea. Yum!

A poster put up near the kitchen.

The kitchen experts...

Anti-clockwise from top: Manoj, Shammi and Sunny

Motaz holding forth during breakfast...

The Processes

2007-03-05T14:42:00.000+05:30

Participants spread themselves in Nek Chand’s small open air theatre

A music session with Ruchir, Urbi and Josh

Nima is engrossed with some wires (not in the picture) he found in the junk

The solitary reaper, Sunny’s innovative ideas are full of spunk and humour

Dylanesque profile of Vishal

Arial view of the meet - This picture was taken by a passing eagle!

Bhakti up to her ‘designs’ while [right] Motaz, Anand and Shammi participate in one of the many discussions held during the meet

Working with coconut shells; the Gujarat gang in action

Group picture with Kush, Harleen, Sabera and Aarti

Discussions and activities went together. Here participants plan their day soon after breakfast.

Sabera works with cardboard

Children from Chandigarh join in...

People concentrate on their handwork in the beautiful environs of the Rock Garden

Another view of the Rock Garden

The People

2007-03-03T10:02:00.000+05:30

Friends from across the country, and a few around the world brought their experience, knowledge, points of view, songs, handcrafting and even cuisine to the meet. In short we had a cross cultural cauldron of sorts. Here are some of the pictures, more are being uploaded.

pics: motaz attalla

pics: motaz attalla

The Materials

2007-03-03T09:44:00.000+05:30

We worked with almost everything that is thrown away in garbage. Paper, plastics, glass, coconut shells, discarded cardboard, wires, wool. Here are some of the materials.

Kabaad Se Jugaad - Zero Waste Meet

2007-03-02T09:00:00.000+05:30

KABAAD SE JUGAAD AND ZERO WASTE MEET
THE SWAPATHGAMI NETWORK
February 20-25, 2007
Chandigarh, UT

Every day, people in the cities of India are churning out mountains of plastic and non-biodegradable waste, which are threatening to eclipse our living spaces. Even biodegradable waste (food scraps, peels, garden clippings, etc.) are not finding their way to composting or animals' bellies. Many of us feel overwhelmed by the scale and endlessness of this problem. We are seeking ways to transform some of this kabaad (garbage) into jugaad (useful, durable, beautiful things). We are also trying to change our own lives, to make them eco-friendly and zero waste. In this regard, we are trying to not purchase packaged foods and drinks, compost and garden at home, walk and cycle more, conserve electricity and water, support local producers, and reduce our reliance on technologies (which creates a lot of Electronic e-waste).

Many of us find inspiration in the zero waste living of most of the traditional cultures around India. They receive from Nature and return to Nature. Each and every thing is to be used and re-used, until its own unique place and purpose has been found ? sometimes as a building material; other times for creative art; still other times for new useful functions. Thankfully, in small towns and villages around India, as well as with experimenters around the country, this tradition of ?upcycling? and zero waste living continues. But how can we expand such thinking and actions, especially in the face of globalization, development and big-city lifestyles?

From February 20-25, 2007, the Swapathgami Network would like to invite jugaadi-walas (those who make useful things from waste) and those interested in zero waste for a gathering to share and explore:

What kinds of creative and useful things are we making already out of waste? What kinds of new things can we make? How are we connecting ?upcycling? with art, architecture, music, performance, farming, festivals, and many other aspects of daily life? How can we expand our understandings around Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Regenerate, Upcycle, Unlearn, etc.? How can we earn a healthy livelihood from our waste creations? What kinds of things can we do in our daily lives (especially as related to our consumption) to become more zero waste? What can we do to nurture zero waste in our families and communities, in our organizations and workplaces, in our neighborhoods and cities?

And many other questions related to creativity, waste, nature, and our selves. A large part of the time will likely be spent creating things with our own hands. On the last day, February 25, we will have an open sharing with the citizens of Chandigarh on what they might do to create a zero waste city.

The gathering will be hosted at Nek Chand's rock garden in Chandigarh, UT. Nek Chand created a beautiful space, entirely out of natural and man-made waste. We feel honored to have the gathering in this place and to have his wise presence and leadership among us. Sukhmani Kohli (CEVA Chandigarh), Vishal Singh (Shikshantar, Udaipur) and Shibu Nair (Thanal, Kovalam) will help to facilitate the learning exchange.

We are asking that people cover their own travel to-from Chandigarh, and also contribute Rs.300 to the cost of food, lodging, bedding, supplies, etc. The actual cost will be higher, so additional donations are welcome. The Swapathgami Network runs through the efforts and contributions of all those who wish to take their learning and living into their own hands.

Please share this invitation with friends and neighbors who are doing wonderful things with waste. They may be working with industrial waste, household waste, or the waste of nature (i.e., coconut shells, wood shavings, corn cobs, etc.). We hope to have about 35-40 people come and share their creations, experiences, and fresh ideas. Youth, adults and children are all welcome.