How Vimal Bhai organised, educated displaced Khori settlers, termed 'encroachers' by SC

Counterview Desk
The Khorigaon Team Saathi, formed following the massive demolition drive in Haryana's Khori village in which a few thousand houses were razed last year after a Supreme Court order calling the 50-year-old settlement an encroachment on forest land, in a glowing tribute to activist Vimal Bhai, has said, "He was the force behind our determination to fight for justice against the demolition of our homes."
A senior social and environmental activist with the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), Vimal bhai, unwell with fever and fatigue after suffering from Covid-19 complications, was admitted first in Delhi's Safdarajang hospital on August 10, and the same evening was admitted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, owing to his deteriorating health situation. He passed away on August 16.
In a glowing tribute to Vimal Bhai, known to be a top associate of top social activist Medha Patkar, the Khorigaon Team Saathi said, "We will continue the journey started by Vimal Kaka."

Text:

Our Vimal kaka is no more with us. He was the force behind our determination to fight for justice against the demolition of our homes. His demise has left a big void in our hearts and homes. But his words, methods and vision will continue with us. We, Khori saathis, are gradually finding the strength to continue the movement.
Kaka had been unwell for a few months due to Covid-related complications. When his health condition further deteriorated, we took him to Safdarjung hospital and based on their doctor’s advice, we shifted him to AIIMS the same evening. Kaka’s situation was already very critical, but he fought till 15th of August. He passed away due to complications related to the kidney, lungs, liver and reduced immunity.
From 10th Aug to 15th August, many of Vimal Kaka’s friends and family came and stood with us. We are very grateful to them. Their support was crucial for Vimal Bhai’s medical care and our mental strength. Kaka was our family during the last 13 months, and we were his.
During these few days, we realised he had made families everywhere he went and worked. When we read the messages people have shared for him, we are overwhelmed with pride and gratitude. Vimal kaka was a towering personality, a social and environmental activist unparalleled.
Kaka came into our lives when all roads seemed to have ended after the 7th June 2021 court order. We were imprisoned within our settlement through the declaration of section 144 and threatened every day by the police for a month before the demolition started. Kaka came to meet us in the evenings after the police left to give us strength, educate us and organise.

He was aware we did not have property papers, and many even did not have the correct government documents for rehabilitation. He taught us how to create a record of the people and what type of documents we had in such difficult times. It is because of this list that he forced us to put together quickly we are able to continue the fight for rehabilitation.
The public hearing organised by Kaka while the demolition was underway was another such step that has had a lasting impact. In the hearing, we got a chance to speak to academics, lawyers, journalists and other activists.
We realised we were not alone. Some of the associations we made that day continues to date. He has been the link between the ground struggle and the legal and rehabilitation processes with the state. Even though he is not with us now, his writings and voice messages – Khori updates, will continue to give us strength.
Vimal Kaka was an institution in himself. However, during the last 13 months, there were many moments when he struggled to find solidarity for Khori Gaon’s movement. But during the time in the hospital, when others came to take care of us, we realised how his strategies and thinking had broken barriers and united us. We are confident these associations will continue.
Kaka has been celebrating all major events and festivals with us for the last 13 months, and we would have done something together this year too. But he had grander plans. He wanted all his many families to come together and celebrate his life.
We will continue the journey started by Vimal Kaka.

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

The Vande Mataram debate and the politics of manufactured controversy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

The cost of being Indian: How inequality and market logic redefine rights

By Vikas Gupta We, the people of India, are engaged in a daily tryst—read: struggle—for basic human rights. For the seemingly well-to-do, the wish list includes constant water supply, clean air, safe roads, punctual public transportation, and crime-free neighbourhoods. For those further down the ladder, the struggle is starker: food that fills the stomach, water that doesn’t sicken, medicines that don’t kill, houses that don’t flood, habitats at safe distances from polluted streams or garbage piles, and exploitation-free environments in the public institutions they are compelled to navigate.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

Proposals for Babri Masjid, Ram Temple spark fears of polarisation before West Bengal polls

By A Representative A political debate has emerged in West Bengal following recent announcements about plans for new religious structures in Murshidabad district, including a proposed mosque to be named Babri Masjid and a separate announcement by a BJP leader regarding the construction of a Ram temple in another location within Behrampur.

Search This Blog