By Sudarshan Iyengar
Sam-Poshit Living: Rethinking Sustainability Through the Lens of Tribal Wisdom
In the dense forests of Dharampur in southern Gujarat, tribal communities have long nurtured a way of life deeply rooted in harmony with nature. For generations, their practices of sharing, conserving, and sustaining the commons have reflected an intrinsic understanding that human well-being is inseparable from ecological balance. Yet, these traditions — and the very resources they depend on — face increasing threats from market forces, state interventions, and the erosion of faith in their own systems.
At the heart of this challenge lies a clash between two worldviews: a modern, extraction-driven approach to development and an older, more holistic ethos — what I call sam-poshit.
From Sustainability to Sam-Poshit
In mainstream discourse, sustainability often focuses on sustaining development — an attempt to prolong material progress and consumption. But traditional societies, whether tribal or pastoral, approach the relationship with nature very differently. For them, nature is not a resource; it is sacred. As we say, prakriti hi dev hai — nature itself is divine.
Sam-poshit, a term drawn from this cultural worldview, goes beyond sustainability. It means “nurtured and nourished together” — a system where humans and nature thrive side by side. It is based on reciprocity: taking only what is needed, leaving enough for others, and ensuring that the cycle of life continues.
Historically, this ethos guided commons management. Resources were used with restraint, and the principle of dohan — akin to milking a cow without depriving the calf — shaped everyday decisions. Today, these values offer powerful lessons as we confront climate change, biodiversity loss, and deepening social inequities.
Reclaiming Local Self-Governance
Traditional India’s strength lay in its village republics, or gram swaraj. Even under monarchies, kings rarely interfered with local systems of management. Villages functioned as self-regulating ecosystems, where land, forests, and water were seen as collective wealth, not individual property.
Gandhi described this model as “oceanic circles” — starting from the individual, expanding outward to the family, neighbourhood, village, clusters of villages, and eventually connecting to the region and the nation. Governance flowed from the bottom up, ensuring inclusion and accountability.
Yet today, many of these traditions have eroded. Migration, market dependencies, and extractive state policies have disrupted this delicate balance, leaving communities unsure about their rights and disconnected from their commons.
Recognising Rights, Restoring Balance
Strengthening commons begins with recognising the traditional rights of communities. Laws like the Forest Rights Act, 2006 were steps in this direction but often carry a problematic framing, as though the state is granting rights, rather than acknowledging historical ownership and stewardship.
For real transformation, we need a shift in perspective:
- ● The state must respect and restore rights rather than dictate them.
- ● Science and technology should support, not override, local knowledge systems — reducing drudgery, enhancing productivity, and enabling dignity.
- ● Markets must ensure fair exchange rather than exploit vulnerabilities. This is not about rejecting modernity but integrating it thoughtfully, ensuring that material development does not come at the cost of ecological and cultural integrity. Changemakers and the Power of Live Examples During the Commons Convening, we brought together grassroots changemakers who are reviving traditional practices in ways that blend local wisdom with contemporary needs. These stories reveal how communities are relearning forgotten values and rediscovering contentment over unchecked consumption. Their message is clear: “Hum bhi jeeyenge, prakriti bhi jeeyegi.” We live when nature lives; we thrive when ecosystems thrive. This is the essence of sam-poshit — coexistence, reciprocity, and respect. Platforms like the Commons Convening amplify these live examples, enabling communities, policymakers, and markets to reimagine development agendas where commons are central, not peripheral. By documenting, sharing, and learning from diverse local experiences, we create pathways for a more just, resilient, and ecologically balanced future.
The path forward is not about returning to the past, but drawing from its wisdom to design systems where communities and ecosystems flourish together. In a rapidly changing world, sam-poshit living offers a profound alternative — a reminder that our survival depends on nurturing, not exhausting, the commons we share.
