Even a God-fearing man like Mahatma Gandhi was so much depressed to observe the poverty-stricken world that he said: God can never appear before the starving man except in shape of bread. The statement clarifies that for a hungry man no sermon, no ideology, no prophecy could work. Hunger and poverty are both sides of a coin. They are synonymous. It is difficult to enumerate who stands first between the two. Whether poverty first or hunger first. Eradication of hunger goes neck and neck with eradication of poverty. Author has pointed out in this book about the plight of some of hungry zones of the world with an objective to create ‘human consciousness’ against hunger and poverty. The poor cannot get access to food simply through stabilized economy or through market economy at the national level. It could be achieved through balanced increase of food production, equitable distribution of food and ownership rights of the poor over the instruments of production. These important aspects of economy should be inducted to the economic science which only can uphold the right for food for the hungry.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ratan Das
Dr. Ratan Das, eminent Sarvodaya leader, Gandhian scholar and social activist was born in Bangalore in Orissa on 25/05/1929. Completed L.L.B. in 1950 but did not join Bar. Moved away to Koraput in 1951. led the Bhoo-Satyagraha to liberate tribal lands in 1952. Joined Bhoodan Movement of Vinoba in 1953. Participated in Vinoba Padayatra in Orissa with Gopabandhu Chaudhuri. Worked as translator of Vinoba in his second Orissa Padayatra in 1963. Became Convenor of Utkal Shanti Sena Mandal and worked with Jayaprakash Narayan and Nabakrushna Chaudhiri in Shanti Sena Mission on Orissa. Worked as Secretary, Utkal Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in 1972 and compiled ten volumes of Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi in Oriya. Became President, Orissa Sarvodaya Parishad in 1976. He has following English Publications to his credit. (1) Cry Within (2) Thirsty Vision (3) Dusts in Heaven (4) Floating life of 21st Century. His biographical publications are: (5) Gandhi in 21st Century (6) Vinoba – The Revolutionary Saint. Awards: (1) International Award for Peace and Temperance for Asia by IOGT, LONDON, 1997. (2) Obtained Ph.D. from International University of Contemporary Studies, Washington. (3) Dadabhai Naroji New Millennium International Award in 2000. (4) Lifetime Achievement Award by United Writers Association in 2000.
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