Life of a Slave – Living in the Dark
Samakalin Prakashan, Pune

‘Life of a Slave – Living in the Dark’ is a profound and research-based book by Mr. Deepak Nagargoje based on social reality.

This book is a comprehensive and sensitive study of the lives of sugarcane harvesters in Beed district. The plight of sugarcane harvesters, their daily struggle, and the reality of exploitation behind their livelihood are presented clearly and fearlessly in this book.

This book not only describes the problems, but also goes to the root of those problems and finds both their causes and solutions. How the education of the children of sugarcane harvesters is disrupted, the resulting malnutrition, teenage motherhood, child marriage, infant mortality, sexual exploitation, economic injustice, and social stigma are explored and analyzed in this book.

Although this book is prepared from a scientific point of view, it has a deep tone of human pain and social responsibility. The author has recorded his experiences by going directly to the lives of hundreds of families who harvest sugarcane, villages and sugarcane. Therefore, although this book is written from the perspective of a researcher, it has the heart of an activist and the sensitivity of a social worker.

The specialty of this book is that it does not only present problems, but also suggests solutions to those problems. The work done by the Shantivan project for the children of sugarcane harvesters and the changes in their lives have been mentioned authentically in this book. Therefore, the book ‘Gulamachan Jinam – Andharatal Jaganam’ is not just an observation, but a guide and a record of change.

Hiravam Sapana
Utkarsh Prakashan, Pune

‘Hiravam Sapana’ is a book written with intimacy and connected to reality by Mr. Deepak Nagargoje.This book provides information about the agricultural experiment carried out in Arvi through Shantivan.Inspired by the horrific reality of farmer suicides in Marathwada, the author studied these issues from the root and found solutions.

The experiment that emerged from this study is the sustainable agriculture and water conservation project implemented through Shantivan.Hundreds of acres of land came under irrigation through this experiment, many water sources were created and agriculture came back to life.

This experiment was not just about agriculture, but was an attempt to rebuild the mental, social and economic well-being of the farmers.The book ‘Hirvam Sapana’ is the story of a dream that came true.

This is the experiment of Shantivan that shapes the dream in which farmers should find a ray of hope without committing suicide, in which the soil should turn green again and the mind should live again.

In this book, the author has shown a real example of how the despair created in the wake of farmer suicides can be transformed into a movement of hope.

‘Hirvam Sapana’ is not just a book, but a document of hope, determination and new hope.

This reveals the history of the Green Revolution created by Shantivan’s agricultural experiment and the new reality that emerged from it.

Both books are mirrors of social and human reality.

‘Gulamachan Jinam’ depicts the pain created by the void of social slavery,while ‘Hirvam Sapana’ shows the green form of hope lost in that darkness again.

Shri. Deepak Nagargoje’s thinking power, sensitivity and determination for social development are clearly visible in both these books.He is not just a writer, but an activist who breathes words on the wounds of society. Published books by Deepak Nagargoje: A social and transformational perspective

Shri. Deepak Nagargoje’s two important books show the social reality and the effort of hope. Both his books are symbols of his sensitive thinking power and determination for social development.

1. The Life of a Slave – Living in the Dark
(Samakaleen Prakashan, Pune)

This book is an in-depth and research-based study of the horrific social reality of sugarcane harvesters in Beed district, which has been going on for generations. It clearly presents the daily plight, struggle and cycle of exploitation of the workers.

Important topics in the book:

Exploring the root causes and solutions to the problems in the lives of sugarcane harvesters (e.g. malnutrition, teenage motherhood, child marriage, infant mortality, sexual exploitation, economic injustice).

The author’s direct human experiences recorded in the lives of the sugarcane harvesters, settlements and hundreds of families, which has given this book the eye of a researcher and the heart of an activist.

Not only describing the problems, but also the honest mention of the work done by the Shantivan project for the children of these workers and the change in their lives, which makes this book a ‘guide and a record of transformation’.

2. Hirvam Sapan
(Utkarsh Prakashan, Pune)

This book is a heartfelt account of the successful experiment conducted at Arvi through Shantivan to overcome the serious problem of farmer suicides in Marathwada.

The main content of the book:

The author has studied the horrific reality of farmer suicides and found solutions through sustainable agriculture and water conservation.

The Shantivan project aims to bring hundreds of acres of land under irrigation, create water resources and revive agriculture.

This experiment is not only about agriculture, but is an effective effort to rebuild the mental, social and economic lives of farmers.

‘Hiravam Sapana’ is a story of a dream come true, where a real example of how despair can be transformed into a movement of hope is shown.

Summary:

Of both these books, ‘Gulamachan Jinam – Andhaatal Jaganam’ depicts the pain of social slavery, while ‘Hiravam Sapana’ shows the green form of hope lost in that darkness. Deepak Nagargoje is not just a writer, but a sensitive activist who breathes words on the wounds of society.