A very important component of the progress of a country consists of democratic and peaceful social movements which seek to correct various distortions and flawed decisions, as seen from a perspective which is different from that of decision-making powerful authorities. This perspective is often based on considerations of justice and environment protection, reflected in trying to prevent avoidable displacement of a large number of people including farmers, and preventing many kinds of avoidable ecological disruptions.
Technological and development changes have taken place at a very hurried pace during the last century or so, resulting at times in highly distorted and flawed projects which may appear to be very attractive when seen from a relatively narrow vision, but when a longer-term and holistic view is taken, several serious problems appear. Hence a democracy must have the strength and space to ask for reconsideration so that the possibility of serious and possibly, at a practical level, irreversible disruptions can be avoided.
It is a strength of India’s democracy that several such important initiatives have been seen in India. One of the more important of such initiatives was the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA or Save the Narmada Movement) which questioned the construction of a chain of large dam projects on the Narmada river and its tributaries, and the various disruptions resulting from this. While this was seen as an obstruction of development by some powerful authorities, for those who have the sensitivity to understand the importance of the issues it raised, NBA was a very important part of worldwide efforts to understand development in different ways. Apart from leading the struggles for better rehabilitation and for reconsidering the development path based on damming the river system in a huge way, the NBA was involved in several constructive activities relating to water harvesting, water conservation, alternative energy and educational work in the communities threatened by displacement.
While several deeply committed social activists were highly involved in these struggles and efforts, Medha Patkar in particular attracted widespread acclaim and appreciation because of her tireless efforts and exceptionally deep, lifelong commitment to the causes she took up and never gave up. Even her critics—and there have been quite a few—will be hard put to deny the great and tireless efforts she put into her campaigns and work, often for long periods having no time for anything other than her work and her cause. She went on long fasts to seek support for her causes, embarked on difficult foot-marches and kept up relentless work schedules even in the middle of falling health.
Medha Patkar was born in a family known for its commitment to justice and related work. She did her masters in social work at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. It was around this time that she came in contact with problems of the large number of people likely to be displaced by Narmada projects, particularly in the context of the Sardar Sarovar Project. This commitment soon beyond academic concerns as Medha Patkar became more and more deeply involved in these issues. Subsequently she was one of the founders of the NBA.
However there were several other similar issues and struggles emerging in India which were involved with re-defining and understanding development in new ways and at the same time trying to replace what appeared to be destructive and disruptive projects and policies with other ways of using better defined development objectives. As several such struggles and movements came closer to each other, it was time to launch the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) in India, a network of people, organizations and movements from all over India devoted to improving understanding of development and carrying out efforts and campaigns for this in non-violent, peaceful and democratic ways. Medha Patkar played an important role in forming this alliance and was one of the founder members.
Whether it was a struggle for protecting the housing rights of the poorest slum-dwellers or protecting the rights of hawkers facing eviction at another place, Madha Patkar could be often seen moving fast from one struggle to another, while at the same time remaining associated with many constructive work initiatives as well and retaining her biggest commitment to NBA related issues .
Of course Medha Patkar has achieved worldwide fame and received national and international awards as well, but what is most important is that countless people know and admire her for the deep sincerity and tireless efforts she has put into many struggles all her life for helping them in various social movements and struggles.
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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, Man over Machine, and A Day in 2071
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