The 1950s /60s witnessed the mega crop increases by the rampant use of agro-chemicals, in Darjeeling tea. The euphoria swiftly descended to deep concern, as a steep decline manifested in all aspects of Darjeeling tea growing. The weedicide application, exacerbated erosion, to generate widespread landslides, that took down vast areas of teas, crop gains could not be maintained even with increased fertilizer applications, the immunity to chemicals of pests like helopeltis and red spider, created epidemics--bringing the magical area to the brink of chaos and collapse.

At this crucial juncture of Darjeeling teas crossroads, Makaibari ushered in holistic sustainable practices to the eco-sensitive Darjeeling Himalayas to spearhead and pioneer organics to global tea. The declining trends was not only reversed by biodynamic practices, it also served as an inspirational cornerstone. Makaibari's success has positioned the Kurseong sub-district of Darjeeling with the greatest number of organic tea estates, to seventy, the greatest number in any tea growing region of the world. There are over 65 countries in the world growing tea today.

The most frequently asked question by the 50,000 odd visitors that Makaibari receives annually is�why bio dynamics? The answer is simple, it awakens both the tea planter and the consumer, to the realization that agricultural practices are determined by the earth's evolution. There is great beauty to this vision and practice. The earth is a cosmic creation, hence our thinking is determined by the natural forces of the universe. We have the ability to create machines, but all flora, including tea, grow by the natural laws stemming from the cosmos, which means staying in accord with them.

The beauty and the challenge with machines is that they are independent of time and season, whereas all agriculture is dependent on the rhythms of nature. Understanding these forces and working in harmony with them evolves and fulfills all concerned with it. Natural forces are holistic in production and reproduction, whereas machines are not. For instance, a tea bush yields tea leaves and when its productive life is over, produces a tea seed for its replacement. Conversely, machines wear out and have to be replaced. This is the fundamental difference between a social order based on dead thoughts and one that stems from natural laws.

Today, society's stress on economics, especially the greed that often accompanies it, have shifted our focus from living in a social order guided by sustainable forces,� to a confusing, destructive social scenario dictated by machines. These are frenetic times, the pace of life dictated by the explosive development of technology. The growth of hi-tech over the past 50 years, has made technological advances of the past five thousand years, seem pedestrian. This enormous upsurge of technological marvels, which stem from our intellect and logic, has brought about tremendous advantages in many aspects of life, travel, communication, medical science et al., as well as a flipside- we have drifted further and further away from natural laws and practices.

The time for all to step aside to a neutral corner to assess the gains and losses dispassionately. These often awe-inspiring advances of technology have created a complexity of social issues that are extremely difficult to comprehend. To understand them, all one needs to do is wander out to nature, like the vast permacultural tea fields of Makaibari�Tea Estates. Immediately, a sense of peace prevails, an instant relief from the confusion of our daily grind. Tuning our antennae, we realize the wisdom of nature and her simplicity through observation and commitment to the natural rhythms of planting, manuring and harvesting. All joyful acts-resulting in a delightful cup that enervates and uplifts with a spectacular aroma in the palate.

This voyage at Makaibari has created awareness and its attendant capacity slowly and steadily over four decades .Using the tea plantation, which occupies half the forest area, the resident community of seven villages, living�in harmony with the rhythms of nature, have evolved to community forest management (CFM) status. It is the only tea estate community that knows that the mono-cultural tea only plays a small role, as an extension of the forests. Thus to have harmony, one needs to realize the core values that foster wisdom, irrespective of our location.

For instance, if one were to travel from Darjeeling to Tokyo, the social implications of travel and execution of the work at the Tokyo end, is indeed very complicated. Being focus on one's own agenda, primarily the job execution, enables one to prioritize and cope with only a handful of manageable issues, with nary a thought for the social implications.

However, the moment, we take a little time out to mull over the social ramifications, we are confounded by the enormity of the impulses that assail us. It's bewildering in its myriad permutations and combinations just to make the flight from the ancient land of India to the land of the rising sun. All issues of humanity is that of harmony. Makaibari's holistic agricultural practices in tea have become an inspirational window for the eight hundred million marginalized farmers of the subcontinent and abroad.