JOIN USShe sacrificed her hearth for Mother Earth
Meet Ana Johval from Toulouse, South France, a 37-year-old social worker who has chosen to live a nomadic life, shunning a life of luxury, in support of her convictions and beliefs. She propagates the need to respect nature and save ecology.
Ana is in India interacting with the farmers in Karkala and some interior areas of Dakshina Kannada district after which she will head to Madikeri, Mysore, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and fly back to France.
Back home in Toulouse, she lives in her truck and travels far and wide in her country meeting farmers convincing them to use conventional and organic method of farming. With a neatly made up kitchen, one bedroom and a dry toilet, Ana in her truck has covered the four sides of France conveying the message that nature is precious for present and future generation.
After touring Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and several other countries convincing the farmers not to purchase seeds from Monsanto, Ana is on a five-month tour to India because she was moved by farmer suicides in India.
“I could not believe that some problem could compel the bread-winners of the nation to take such a drastic step. I thought it was appropriate for me to meet the farmers here, know their problems and understand the situation. I can at least make representations on the problems in various countries where I go to propagate my ideas,” said Ana.
A nomad’s life
Opting to lead a nomad’s life had not been an overnight decision for Ana. Seeing blatant exploitation of nature, Ana wanted to change herself for the last 10 years, but impediments prevented her from doing so. But three years ago Ana took to her dream and since then there has been no looking back.
She gives Tibetan healing and massage to people who come to her and this, according to Ana, serves as a window to start conversation and inject the idea of simple-living among people. In return, Ana expects them to give her rice or pulses but not money.
Taking note of the enormous amount of vegetables and fruits thrown by vendors in South France just because the vegetables are cut or have been damaged, Ana approached the vendors and urged them not to dispose it in bins. Instead she asked them to keep such vegetables and fruits aside in separate bags, which could be picked by people like her and the poor.
Living a life of a targeted victim in her own land, she is mesmerised by Indian spiritualism and Mahatma Gandhi. Ana says that she has sown a seed and hence she will always have the satisfaction of having done her bit for Mother Earth.