Restoring the Rivers of Rajasthan

Indra is an independent writer and agricultural policy analyst with extensive experience in agroecology, seed sovereignty, water conservation, and agrarian politics. He previously served as Director of Policy and Outreach at the National Seed Association of India and currently hosts India’s only bilingual agri-talk show, Krishi Ki Baat / Farm Talks, on The Wire.

Over the years, Indra has travelled through hundreds of villages across India, working closely with farmers on regenerative agriculture, indigenous seed conservation, sustainable farming practices, and community-led ecological restoration. He has delivered more than 200 lectures worldwide on agroecology, environmental issues, water conservation, and agrarian politics, including invited talks at the International Labour Organization (ILO), leading Indian and American universities, and international farmers’ and seed forums such as the Rocky Mountain Seed Festival.

For the past five years, Indra has also been working closely with Rajendra Singh, widely known as the “Waterman of India,” to study and promote traditional water rejuvenation systems across India. Through this work, he has trained hundreds of people from around the world in indigenous water conservation techniques and has participated in the revival and construction of ponds and decentralized water systems in different regions globally. He is also the international coordinator and outreach director for Jal Biradari, India.

Recently, he was invited by the President of Colombia as an international expert to advise on water policy and peace reconciliation efforts in the country. He has also worked with various state governments and central government institutions in India on drafting and advising policies related to water conservation, agriculture, and ecological restoration. At present, he is actively involved in efforts to revive three rivers in Rajasthan and two rivers in Chhattisgarh, India.

In 2022, Indra was invited to deliver a lecture series across several universities in the United States, including American University, Washington DC, and George Mason University. He is currently associated with American University, DC, as a guest research mentor, guiding undergraduate and graduate students on issues related to agriculture, sustainability, ecology, and public policy.

Indra has authored over 500 articles on agriculture, environment, water, and politics for prominent national and international media platforms. He is also frequently invited to participate in television and digital news debates on agrarian, environmental, and policy issues.

In his early twenties, Indra was mentored by Dr. Vandana Shiva and worked with Navdanya as Campaign Manager and Media Spokesperson. He continues to actively engage in seed conservation and is an avid urban food gardener.