Vandana Shiva is a renowned Indian scholar, environmental activist, food sovereignty advocate, ecofeminist, and anti-globalization author, born on November 5, 1952. Based in Delhi, she has written over 20 books, earning her the nickname "Gandhi of grain" due to her activism in the anti-GMO movement.
As a prominent figure in the anti-globalization movement, Shiva is a leader and board member of the International Forum on Globalization, along with Jerry Mander, Ralph Nader, and Helena Norberg-Hodge. She has advocated for many traditional practices, as seen in her interview in the book Vedic Ecology by Ranchor Prime. Additionally, she is a member of the scientific committee of the Fundacion IDEAS, Spain's Socialist Party's think tank, and the International Organization for a Participatory Society.
Born in Dehradun, Shiva's upbringing was deeply rooted in nature, with her father being a conservator of forests and her mother being a farmer with a love for nature. She was educated at St. Mary's Convent High School in Nainital and the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Dehradun.
Shiva pursued her Bachelor of Science in physics at Punjab University in Chandigarh, graduating in 1972. After a brief stint at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, she moved to Canada to pursue her master's degree in the philosophy of science at the University of Guelph in 1977. Her thesis, "Changes in the concept of periodicity of light," explored the mathematical and philosophical implications of hidden variable theories.
Shiva went on to complete her PhD in philosophy at the University of Western Ontario in 1978, focusing on philosophy of physics. Her dissertation, "Hidden variables and locality in quantum theory," discussed the mathematical and philosophical implications of hidden variable theories.
Shiva's research interests shifted towards interdisciplinary research in science, technology, and environmental policy at the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore.
As a prominent voice in the fields of agriculture and food, Shiva has written and spoken extensively on intellectual property rights, biodiversity, biotechnology, bioethics, and genetic engineering. She has fought against the advancement of agricultural development via genetic engineering through activist campaigns, assisting grassroots organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Ireland, Switzerland, and Austria.
In 1982, Shiva founded the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, which led to the creation of Navdanya in 1991. Navdanya is a national movement to protect the diversity and integrity of living resources, especially native seed, and promotes organic farming and fair trade. The initiative established over 40 seed banks across India to provide regional opportunities for diverse agriculture.
Shiva also started Bija Vidyapeeth, an international college for sustainable living in Doon Valley, Uttarakhand, in collaboration with Schumacher College, UK, in 2004.
