Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently revealed his post-retirement plans. The sixty-year-old task-master said he would immerse himself in Vedas, Upanishads, and natural farming. Citing health risks linked to the use of chemical fertilisers, Shah batted for the promotion of organic farming.
It’s often said that politicians never retire. But after a lifetime of steering political tides, even stalwarts seemingly ponder the prospect of a slower life. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, one of India’s busiest and most-active politicians, on Wednesday shared an unusually personal glimpse into his post-retirement plans.
Shah, also the Minister for Cooperation, is a central figure in Indian politics and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Seen as a tireless worker, much like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 60-year-old Shah surprised many with his reflections on what life beyond politics might look like.
While interacting with women and activists from Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, Shah said, “I have decided that after retirement, I will dedicate the rest of my life to the Vedas, Upanishads, and natural farming.”
Though he didn’t elaborate on how he plans to immerse himself in the Hindu scriptures, Shah offered passionate insights into farming, which he would take up too.
He asserted that chemically-grown wheat contributes to serious health issues such as cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, and thyroid disorders.
“Wheat grown with chemical fertilisers often leads to cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and thyroid issues. We didn’t know much about this earlier. Eating food free from chemical fertilisers means you may not need any medicines,” Shah said during the Sahkar Samvaad, in Ahmedabad.
Natural farming, he said, not only reduces disease but also improves crop productivity.
“I have been practising natural farming on my own farm, and the yields are nearly 1.5 times higher,” said the Home Minister.
Shah emphasised natural farming’s ecological benefits too, saying, “When it rains heavily, water usually flows out of the farm. But with organic farming, not a single drop goes out – it seeps into the soil. That’s because natural farming allows catchways to form. Excessive use of fertilisers has destroyed those catchways”.
Shah rued over the impact of synthetic fertiliser on farming.
“Earthworms produce natural fertilisers. But synthetic fertilisers have killed them off. These creatures are nature’s own factories of urea, DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), and MPK (Monopotassium Phosphate),” Shah said.
During the event, he also spoke about his journey as a minister, emphasising how the Cooperation Ministry holds a special place for him.
