[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

DAM-L LS: Eminent People to Visit Valley - Saga of Narmada (fwd)



Press Note  19.8.2000

JUSTICE SACHAR, ARUNDHATI ROY, GIRISHBHAI, VIDYA BAL TO PARTICIPATE
IN 'SAGA OF NARMADA' ON AUG. 24 IN THE NARMADA VALLEY:
SATYAGRAHA CONTINUES

Noted human rights activist Justice (Retd.) Rajinder Sachar, Booker 
Prize winner, litterateur Ms. Arundhati Roy, veteran journalist Mrs. 
Vidya Bal and Darryl D'Monte are among the hundreds of prominent 
persons and activists that would gather on August 24th, in Satyagraha 
places of Domkhedi and Jalsindhi to express solidarity with the 
people in the Narmada valley. They are to take part in the "Appeal to 
the Nation From Valley"  Saga of Narmada, a major programme during 
the monsoon Satyagraha, for reassertion of people's resolve.

Among the participants, are veteran human rights activists Advocate 
Girish Patel and Haroobhai Mehta (Gujarat), Arjun Raina (Dancer), 
Colin Gonsalves, Dilip D'souza (Mumbai), artists Anita Dube, 
alternative filmmaker Jharna Zaveri (Delhi), senior Sarvodayi 
activist Jyotibhai Desai, noted author and publisher in Maharashtra 
Ramdas Bhatkal, noted mathematician Dr. Mrs. Mangala Narlikar, 
pioneer of innovative science teaching, Madhukar Deshpande.

Hundreds of supporters and activists from various parts of country 
are arriving at the Satyagraha place for this unique occasion of 
declaration of the resolve of the people in the valley. At the same 
time the people will be exposing the false claims and machinations of 
the government and its apologists. A few more of the eminent people 
will be confirming their participation in the coming days. Many 
supporters from different parts of the country is expected to come 
and participate in this program.

Noted Kathakali dancer, Arjun Raina will be performing, based on the 
issues and struggle of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) after the 
program. Films based on the struggle of various people's struggles, 
including that of NBA (Bargi, Maheshwar and Sardar Sarovar) will be 
screened on that day.

The people in the Narmada valley, during the past fifteen years, have 
shown that the people's power can challenge the established political 
powers and their developmental policies and paradigms. The people 
have been doing this facing tremendous pressures, repression and 
thereat to their life and resources. The governments have been trying 
to misuse every law, institution and machinery against the people. 
Despite these odds, the spark of struggle in the valley is alive and 
people are determined to face the submergence and the repression, 
staying put on their lands.

The Satyagraha which was launched on the July 15th against the 
illegal submergence brought in by the Sardar Sarovar Project, was 
with this resolve. At the same time the villagers have undertaken, 
with the help of their expert friends from other parts of India, the 
alternative, sustainable and decentralised ways of development. For 
the first time, the Jeevanshala (school of life) run by the Narmada 
Bachao Andolan, has published the story book in the tribal language- 
Pavri and the children are taught the Pavri alphabets. During the 
Satyagraha, the work on alternative and decentralised energy sources 
was undertaken. By now, village Domkhedi is running a pedal -powered 
electric supply and have launched the first even micro-hydel power 
project. The village is now illuminated. These innovations have been 
undertaken with the participation and initiative from the people in 
the valley and their supporters from Kerala and Mumbai, Baroda. The 
People's School of Energy from Kerala has been in touch with the 
people of the valley for last four years and has drawn inspiration 
from the tenacious struggle of the valley. They have designed the 
turbine and installed with the active participation of the people of 
the valley.

The Satyagraha period has also once again brought out the designs of 
the state powers, when the people are being pressurised to accept the 
displacement under the threat of the impending submergence. It has 
also highlighted the gravity of the issue of the tribals affected by 
the 'catchment area treatment; and compensatory afforestation. 
Hundreds of people from all over the valley, from resettlement sites 
and from other parts of India have till now visited the Satyagraha.

‘Saga of Narmada’ will give the people yet again an opportunity to 
appeal to the conscience of the civil society, to plead them to be 
with them in the struggle and join hands with the larger struggle of 
Equality, Simple Life and Self Reliance (Samata, Sadagi and 
Swavalamban).


Sanjay Sangvai		M.K.Sukumar



==========<medhapatkar@vsnl.com>==========