Of Global Warming and Indigo Economy

Abstract

The climate change issue is dividing the globe into two broad categories - namely ‘green’ and ‘indigo’ economies. The ‘indigo economy’ represents economic activities which primarily use dirty and polluting production process. This also represents an economic activity that is mostly meant for global markets and is detrimental, as was the case of indigo plantation of the 18th century, to the large section of the local population. In South Asia the ‘indigo economy’ has a colonial root when indigo plantation was started in undivided Bengal in 1777 by the British planters as demand for indigo, as a dye, was rising very fast in Europe. The paper concludes that the developed economies are becoming ‘green’ at the expense of the developing economies which are turning ‘indigo’ by absorbing increasing amount of ‘Franken foods’ and industrial pollutants, including nuclear radiation. Though industrial pollution could be checked in future through the induction of green technology, introduction of GM seeds will destroy the age old agricultural practices permanently. Once the indigenous seeds and biodiversity are lost, these are lost for ever.

Keywords: Indigo economy, climate change, global warming