Staging Divine Comedy on Waters: Swadhyaya Experiment in Indian Fisheries

Abstract

"Privatisation and government and institutional intervention, more of the 'external' nature, have not only aggravated but often caused tragedies in the use of common property resources. This has necessitated the emergence of alternative forms of institutional intervention. 'Swadhyaya' (enlightened self-knowledge) movement, currently sweeping the upper western coastal belt of India, is an institution more of the 'internal' nature. This movement is based on relationships and altruism to which judgements of individuals are inwardly subscribed without constraints imposed from outside. This paper discusses the 'Matsyagandha' (floating temples) experiment initiated under Swadhyaya movement on the west coast. Analysis of the working of 32 fishing boats, covered under this experiment, demonstrates how they produce 'impersonal wealth' - as described by Rev. Pandurang Shastri who has launched the Swadhyaya movement. This wealth is distributed among the needy fishermen and/or reinvested for producing more impersonal wealth."