The Indian scholar, environmental activist, food sovereignty advocate, and author, Dr. Vandana Shiva is a renowned name. She has written more than 20 books and is often referred to as “Gandhi of Grain” for her activism associated with the anti-GMO movement. She has vividly written and spoken about advances in the fields of agriculture and food.
She is an excellent leader and an active member of the International Forum on
Globalization, the Anti-globalization movement, the Committee of the Fundacion
IDEAS, Spain’s Socialist Party’s Think Tank, the International Organization for a Participatory Society and many others to name.

CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION

Born and brought up in the beautiful hills of Dehradun, Vandana Shiva’s personality can be matched with her childhood and upbringing as her Father was a Forest Conservationist in the Indian Government and her Mother was a farmer.
Young Vandana’s schooling was done in St. Mary’s Convent High School, Nainital
and later back in Convent of Jesus and Mary, Dehradun.
For her Under graduation, she studied Bachelor of Science (Physics) at Punjab
University in Chandigarh, in 1972.
To pursue her Master’s Program, Vandana moved to Canada, to the University of
Guelph for a Master’s of Philosophy of Science, in 1977.
In 1978, she received her Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. After returning to India, she later went on to pursue Interdisciplinary research in science, technology, and environmental policy at the Indian Institute of Science and the IIM in Bangalore.

She is currently residing in Delhi.

After the completion of her studies, Dr. Vandana Shiva founded the Research Foundation for Science, Technology, and Ecology (RFSTE) in 1982.

In the 1970s, she bravely volunteered in the nonviolent Chipko movement with many other women. Her contribution towards women’s welfare suggested a strong case for adopting women-friendly alternatives to farming rather than the ones advised by government bodies, as women can eradicate hunger.

Later in 1988, she founded the gender unit at the International Center for Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, and became the founding board member of the Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO).A few years later, in 2011, Navdanya, a national movement to protect the diversity and integrity of living resources, especially native seeds, the promotion of organic farming and fair trade was launched. This movement promoted new agricultural and economic development, a better understanding of food and health, ecological responsibilities, economic justice, replacing the present greed. This was also to educate farmers on the benefits of maintaining diverse and individualized crops rather than accepting offers from monoculture food producers. Over 40 seed banks across India, provided a regional opportunity for diverse agriculture.

In 2004, Dr. Shiva started Bija Vidyapeeth (in collaboration with Schumacher College, UK), an international college for sustainable living in Uttarakhand. Staying Alive: Women, Ecology and Development, Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply, Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace, and Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution, and Profit are Vandana Shiva’s best books which give us a deep insight of sustainability, conservation and development.

By 2007, Dr. Vandana Shiva has served as an advisor for the Government of India, Abroad as well as NGOs, including the International Forum on Globalization, the Women’s Environment and Development Organization and the Third World Network.

QUOTE BY DR. VANDANA SHIVA

“The fight for truth is not just our right as free citizens of free societies. It is our duty as citizens of the earth.”

FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES

Dr. Vandana Shiva has been interviewed and appeared in many documentaries and films based on different genres. Freedom Ahead, Roshni, Deconstructing Supper: Is
Your Food Safe?, The Corporation, Thrive, Dirt! The Movie, Normal is Over, This isWhat Democracy Looks Like, and many more!

Her campaign on water has given her presence. These films include Ganga From the Ground Up, Gold: World Water Wars, and Flow: For Love of Water.

She has given a special appearance in a documentary film about the Dalai Lama,entitled Dalai Lama Renaissance.

The Seeds of Vandana Shiva (2021) is a documentary telling her life story.

Right Livelihood Award (1993)

Dr. Shiva was felicitated with the international award for offering practical and
exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today.

Sydney Peace Prize (2010)

Dr. Vandana Shiva was honored with this prize for peace with justice and the
practice of nonviolence. It aims to encourage public interest and discussion about issues of peace, social justice, human rights, and non-violent conflict resolution.

Midori Prize (2016)

Vandana Shiva received this international prize in honor of outstanding contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at global, regional or local levels.

Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize (2012)

This Prize honored the outstanding work of Dr. Shiva in preserving Asian culture.