‘LaDha Narmadecha’, my book based on the Oral History of two senior Adivasi leaders of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), Keshavbhau
Vasave and Kevalsingh Vasave has just been published in Marathi by
Rajhans Prakashan, Pune. This oral history consists of long interviews with the senior activists. The book also consists of extensive footnotes by me.
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| The Adivasi area located in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam. Photo: Rohit Jain. |
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.
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| Keshavbhau Vasave at the Right Livlihood Award function in Sweden in the year
1991. Keshavbhau and Medha Patkar received the award on behalf of the
Narmada Bachao Andolan. Source:http://www.rightlivelihoodaward.org/…/medha-patkar-and-bab…/ |
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.
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| River Narmada - the life line, the big giver and worshiped as a mother by the Adivasis, Farmers, Fishing and other communities living on its banks. Photo: Nandini Oza |
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.
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| The Sardar Sarovar Dam has turned the magnificent river Narmada flowing between the Satpuda and Vindiya mountain ranges into a reservoir submerging fertile lands, rich forests and even hills. Photo: Rohit Jain. |
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 remind 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.
This is particularly necessary when we as a nation march ahead ruthlessly with the slogan of “Development”. The oral history of Keshavbhau and Kevalsingh remind 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.
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| Living in harmony with nature, Adivasi communities make roof tiles themselves from natural resources. Photo: Rohit Jain. |
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| Basket weaving. Photo Source: Not known. |
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| Grain Storage Muhati. Most of the essential things used/made by the Adivasi communities are/were from natural resources. Photo : Khedut Mazdoor Chetna Sangathan, Madhya Pradesh. |
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.
Introduction to the Book in Marathi:
पुस्तक: लढा नर्मदेचा...
प्रकाशक: राजहंस, पुणे
नर्मदा बचाव आंदोलन!
विस्थापित होणाऱ्या आदिवासींना लढण्याचं बळ मिळालं, ते या सशक्त जनआंदोलनानं. त्या बळावर त्यांनी आपलं घर-दार, जंगल,जमीन वाचवण्यासाठी दीर्घकाळ लढा दिला. त्या तीन दशकांच्या झुंजीची ही संघर्षमय सत्यकथा... आंदोलनाचा इतिहास, विस्थापनापूर्वीचं अन् नंतरचं आदिवासींचं जीवन, त्यांची संस्कृती, आदिवासी कार्यकर्त्यांची भूमिका अन् योगदान हे सारं या कथेतून उलगडत जातं.या लढ्याचा कणा असलेले दोन प्रमुख आदिवासी नेते केशावभाऊ आणि केवलसिंग वसावे ही कथा सांगताहेत. नंदिनी ओझानी घेतलेल्या त्यांच्या मुलाखतींमधून मांडलेला मौखिक इतिहास –
लढा नर्मदेचा...
Excerpts from the book ‘Ladha Narmadecha’ in Marathi/पुस्तकातील
संपादित अंश :
LaDha Narmadecha is available offline, and online among other links at:
and
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