18th century Quote by Vandana Shiva
“In England, the population explosion can be linked very clearly with the enclosure of the commons that uprooted the peasants from their land. In India, it was the same thing: the population increased at the end of the 18th century when the British took over and Indian lands were colonized. Instead of the land feeding Indian people it started to feed the British empire. So we had destitution. Destitute people who don't have their own land to feed themselves can only feed themselves by having larger numbers, therefore they multiply. It's the rational response of a dispossessed people.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Violence of the Green Revolution, Vandana Shiva, 1991
Loss of communal land leads to dispossession, causing people to increase family size as a survival strategy.
In simple terms: Land loss forces people to have more children to survive.
Key Takeaway
Address land rights to curb forced population growth.
Themes
land rights
population dynamics
colonialism
poverty
survival
Mood
concerned
analytical
Type
sociopolitical
critical
When to use this quote
- rural development
- family planning
- land reform
- social safety nets
Key Concepts
commons enclosure
colonial exploitation
demographic response
Questions to Reflect On
- How does land ownership affect family size?
- What policies can protect communal lands?
A Different Perspective
Counterpoint: Cultural factors also influence fertility beyond economic necessity.
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