Lesser known history of struggle against Sardar Sarovar dam, as told by two Adivasi leaders

By Nandini Oza*
‘LaDha Narmadecha’, my book in Marathi, is based on the oral history of two senior Adivasi leaders of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), Keshavbhau Vasave and Kevalsingh Vasave. It has just been published by Rajhans Prakashan, Pune. This oral history consists of long interviews with the senior activists.
The oral history of Keshavbhau and Kevalsingh deals with the lesser known history of the struggle against the Sardar Sarovar Dam Project (SSP) that is to displace/submerge 245 villages on the banks of the mighty river Narmada in the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Thousands of other people are being affected as a result of related works like the project colony, canals and the downstream of the dam in the State of Gujarat. Over five lakh people are to be displaced or severely affected by this project in the three States.

The narration by Kevalsingh and Keshavbhau gives insight into one of the most powerful movements of the country against one of the most controversial mega dam projects of independent India. It spans over several decades of this struggle to save a river and for life.

One importance of the oral history is that besides the struggle against the mega dam, Keshavbhau and Kevalsingh share their own lives as the senior activists of the Narmada Bachao Andolan. They talk about their community, culture, traditions, beliefs, sustainable livelihood they once practiced on the banks of the Narmada and challenges there in.

They talk about the impact the dam has had on their lives, the trauma of displacement and the life in the resettlement sites post submergence of their villages in the dam waters. They reflect on their struggle against destructive development that has gone on for many years now as well as the future challenges.

One reason for bringing out the oral history of Keshavbhau and Kevalsingh at this juncture is that their struggle against their personal as well as collective dispossession is still very much on. Attention needs to be drawn and support needs to be given to them in every possible way so that the serious pending issues of those already displaced by the SSP are taken up urgently and earnestly towards some resolution.
Furthermore while Dalit literature/ biographies/ autobiographies are available, there is not enough of such work as far as Adivasi leaders and their contemporary struggles are concerned as narrated by them. Hence it is important to bring to the fore the struggle of people in the Narmada valley from which lessons can be drawn by future struggles for equality, justice and sustainable development.

This is particularly necessary when we as a nation march ahead ruthlessly with the slogan of “development”. The oral history of Keshavbhau and Kevalsingh reminds us what “development” means to the Adivasi, indigenous, and farming communities of our country. And what is it that they believe constitutes development. It also reminds us that beautiful and flowing rivers across the country are being irreversibly destroyed by building dams and more dams.
“LaDha Narmadecha” gives insight into all of this and much more by sharing the enduring struggle of the people of the Narmada Valley against the destructive Sardar Sarovar Dam and to save from its shackles the revered river Narmada.
---
*Independent researcher and activist, formerly with the Narmada Bachao Andolan. Blog: http://nandinikoza.blogspot.in/

Comments

Manmade disaster? Infrastructure projects in, around Vadodara caused 'devastating' floods

Counterview Desk In a letter to local, Gujarat, and Indian authorities, several concerned citizens* have said that there has been devastating flood and waterlogging situation in Vadodara region since Monday 26th August 2024 which was "avoidable", stating, this has happened because of "multiple follies, flaws and fallacies across all levels of governance."

'300 Nazis fell by your gun': Most successful female sniper in history

By Harsh Thakor* "Miss Pavlichenko’s well known to fame, Russia’s your country, fighting is your game. The whole world will always love you for all time to come, Three hundred Nazis fell by your gun." — from Woody Guthrie's “Miss Pavlichenko"

Labeled as social lending, peer-to-peer system is fundamentally profit-driven

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak The Sumerian civilisation, one of the earliest known societies, had sophisticated systems of lending, borrowing, credit, and debt. These systems were based on mutual trust and social currency, allowing individuals to engage in economic transactions without the need for physical money or barter. Instead, social bonds and communal trust underpinned these interactions, facilitating trade and the distribution of resources.

Researchers note 'severe impact' of climate change on potability of groundwater

By Vikas Meshram* Climate change is having a profound impact on various natural resources, and groundwater is a significant one that is currently under threat. Rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and increasing pressure from human activities are deteriorating groundwater quality. This article delves into the effects of climate change on the potability of groundwater, the causes, and potential solutions.

TU activist Anirudh Rajan, lawyer Ajay Kumar in custody: Wounded reputation of world's largest democracy?

By Vedika S* Over the last few days, India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), known to be tasked with suppressing revolutionary, democratic, and progressive forces, conducted a series of raids across Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. Targets included human rights attorney Pankaj Tripathi, student leader Devendra Azad, and peasant union leader Sukhwinder Kaur. Lawyer and anti-displacement activist Ajay Kumar was arrested and taken to his home in Mohali, which was subsequently raided. He is now imprisoned in Lucknow as a suspect in the NIA's "Northern Regional Bureau (NRB) Revival case."

'No to risky 11,000 MW hydroelectric project': Call to protect Siang river

Beverly Longid, Jiten Yumnam* The civil rights network, International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), has voicesd its support for the residents of Siang District, Northeast India, as they resist the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation's (NHPC) efforts to monopolize the Siang River for its Upper Siang Hydroelectric Project, a massive undertaking proposed at 11,000 MW.

RG Kar saga: Towards liberation from the constraints of rigid political parties?

By Atanu Roy* There's a saying: "There is no such thing as a half-pregnancy." This adage seems particularly relevant when discussing the current regime of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The party appears to be entrenched in widespread corruption that affects nearly every aspect of our lives. One must wonder, why would they exclude the health sector—a lucrative area where illicit money can flow freely, thanks to a network of corrupt leaders colluding with ambitious bureaucrats?

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Search This Blog