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dam-l LS: Candles lit on Eve of Indian Independence Day to Save NarmadaValley
NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda.
CANDLES LIT ON 14TH MIDNIGHT AT GATEWAY OF INDIA TO SAVE NARMADA VALLEY
Mumbai Organisations Pledge To Strive For Sustainable Development
As the political elite of Maharashtra were busy in the Independence Day
eve banquet in the high rise Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, at the stroke of
midnight hundreds of candles were lit in the semi darkness at the nearby
Gateway of India. Students, representatives of number of social
organisations, cultural troupes, number of social-political activists in
Mumbai took a pledge to strive for a sustainable and equitable
development in India, to save the people and natural resources in the
Narmada valley. They resolved to strive to bring in he true Independence
for the oppressed and victimised people in India. The struggle in the
Narmada valley against the submergence, displacement and destruction
preoccupied their minds. As a mark of the solidarity with the ongoing
valiant struggle in the valley, hundreds of participants lit the candles
at the end of the three hour candle light vigil on the eve of the 15th
August, the Independence Day of India. This was followed by the songs of
people's struggles and the determination to usher in the new era of
freedom, equality and creativity.
At around 9.30 in the night, several organisations and other activists,
sympathisers of Narmada struggle gathered at the Gateway of India.
Students of various colleges in Mumbai like Ruia, Nirmala Nikean and
Tata Institute (TISS) of Social work, the organisations including Manav
Mukti Morcha, YUVA, Muslim Intellectual Forum, Rashtriya Yuva Sangathan,
Girni Kamgar Sangharsha Samiti, Samajwadi Jan Parishad, National
Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), Narmada Bachao Andolan,
Anti-Airport struggle of Alibaug and other concerned citizens were
present. Noted documentary film-maker Anand Patwadhan, renowned
journalist Nikhil Waglay, national coordinator of NAPM, Prof. Sanjay
M.G. and others were participated in the gathering that lasted for over
three hours. It was a eye opened for many a revelers who came to
Gateway. Lata P.M. conducted the proceedings. The street theater troupe
' Clean Air Island', Pavement Dwellers Association, Avhan Natya Manch
and students sang the revolutionary songs and presented the entertaining
skits on the present development model.
At the end, the participants lit the candles and took a pledge to
strengthen the struggle in the Narmada valley for the life, rights and
resources in the hands of people and to usher in the era of sustainable
development based on equality and freedom.
Sanjay Sangvai
Mahendra Singh