Niraj Kumar (2025)
Publisher: Mind Spirit Works Publishing
Pages: 160
ISBN– 9798895413548
Price: INR: 299/-
In a world increasingly driven by metrics and models, Changemakers of Bharat, edited by Niraj Kumar, reminds us of something often forgotten in development discourse—the irreplaceable value of lived experience, local leadership, and grounded innovation. This collection of twelve field-based stories brings to life the journeys of ordinary individuals and communities from rural India who have achieved extraordinary outcomes through perseverance, collective action, and context-specific strategies.
Spanning six states and diverse agro-ecological and socio-political contexts, Changemakers of Bharat is more than a book. It is a curated anthology of community-led development, where each chapter exemplifies how sustainable transformation is possible when people become protagonists of their own change.
Agricultural extension systems across South Asia are increasingly grappling with the need to be more inclusive, responsive, and participatory. This book provides precisely the kind of grounded case material that can inform such a reorientation. It brings visibility to the processes through which marginalised communities, particularly women and tribal groups, have overcome structural barriers to secure land rights, enhance farm productivity, improve access to public schemes, and build dignified livelihoods.
One standout narrative, “From Vines to Victory”, traces the journey of Raju, a young farmer from Bihar who transitioned from subsistence agriculture to a thriving creeper-based vegetable farming model. Raju’s success is not just technical – it lies in his decision to share knowledge, mentor fellow farmers, form producer groups, and link them with government horticulture schemes. The shift from individual success to collective prosperity mirrors the very essence of extension work: scaling impact through capacity building and local leadership.
Similarly, “The Phoenix of Pindarkone” tells the story of tribal women in Jharkhand who leveraged the Forest Rights Act (2006) to claim legal ownership over forest land, turning unproductive commons into flourishing farms. Their approach was methodical. However, their approach was transformative, as it led to the emergence of historically excluded women as landowners and leaders. The chapter challenges extension systems to rethink land access as not just a policy issue but a foundation for equitable agricultural transformation.
Particularly resonant for extension professionals is the story “From Darkness to Light”, set in Odisha’s tribal hinterlands. Here, rural women, left behind by the formal energy grid, formed solar collectives, received training on solar panel installation and maintenance, and brought lighting to homes that had never known electricity. This decentralised, gender-led energy initiative enabled children to study at night, enhanced women’s mobility, and revived village life after sunset. It is a story that underlines the role of off-farm interventions in improving quality of life and productivity, which is core to the work of rural development practitioners.
Unlike many academic works that stop at analysis, Changemakers of Bharat offers narrative-driven insights that are accessible, compelling, and rooted in field realities. Each chapter is co-authored by a development practitioner and an academic, resulting in a seamless blend of storytelling and reflection. The consistency in structure across stories makes the book readable and can easily serve as resource material for classroom discussions, capacity-building workshops, or policy dialogues.
Having previously reviewed the first edition titled Incredible Stories: Changemakers of Bharat, for AESA, I find this second edition a significant step forward, richer in narrative depth and more compelling in its storytelling. Notably, the prelude has been remarkably sharpened to frame the changemaker narrative with greater emotional and intellectual resonance, while the concluding chapter has been thoughtfully expanded to leave readers with a stronger call to action and lasting inspiration.
Yet, there’s room to enhance its impact. Adding visuals or summary tables could make key data more accessible, and tighter editing would help sustain narrative flow. Brief first-person reflections from changemakers would add authenticity, and a ‘Call to Action’ section could guide inspired readers toward meaningful engagement.
Editor Prof. Niraj Kumar, known for his pioneering work in rural management and extension education, ensures that each story speaks to larger systemic issues without losing its human touch. There is no imposition of theory; instead, readers are invited to derive their own interpretations, making the book valuable for both practitioners and scholars.
Changemakers of Bharat is a timely, relevant, and inspiring contribution to the field of rural development and extension. It is a gentle yet powerful reminder that rural India is not waiting to be saved – it is already shaping its own future. All it needs is recognition, partnership, and amplification.
For anyone invested in transforming South Asia’s agrarian and rural landscape, this book is not just worth reading—it is worth sharing, teaching, and reflecting upon.
Dr. Ram Datt
Dr. Ram Datt is Professor of Extension Education at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University, Pusa, Bihar. He can be contacted at ramdatt@rpcau.ac.in
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