How are we going to feed a growing population and keep our planet healthy? That was the topic of discussion at Ravenshaw University's Department of Geography as part of their ongoing lecture series; a lecture by Professor Dipendra Nath Das, a leading expert in Population Geography from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. The event took place on February 10th, 2025, and it was captivating for the audience. Professor Das, lecture was on "Population Growth, Food Security, and Issues of Environment." It's related and connected: More people need more food, but growing that food can have a big impact on the environment. He didn't just stick to dry theories; he explored both the academic ideas and the real-world examples of how these three things are interrelated.
On the Indian context, he discussed how India’s population has grown and the steps the government has taken to manage that growth without shying away from the challenges either. Professor Das talked about the times when India struggled with low food production and how the Green Revolution, with better crop yields taking care of the growing population, and this had negative environmental consequences. He gave a balanced and honest look at a complex situation. Professor Das ended on a hopeful note. He suggested that future technological advancements – a new kind of "tech revolution" – might hold the key to solving many of the problems that arise from the interplay between population growths, feeding everyone, and protecting our environment.
The event was kicked off by Professor Sibabrata Das, the Head of the Geography Department at Ravenshaw. He set the stage perfectly, highlighting some of the key questions and challenges related to the topic. And at the end, Dr. Rabiul Ansari gave a warm thank-you to Professor Dipendra Nath Das for sharing his insights. The Lecture had full audience of students and faculty members from all other departments not just from Geography, who took part in the lively discussion.
