Medha makes a difference

reporter’s diary - Medha makes a difference
BY K. KARTIKEYAN
CHENNAI

Clad in a wrinkled cotton saree, Medha Patkar found a huge following in the north with her down-toearth demeanour when she founded the Narmada Bachao Andolan. She still managed to charm people in the Dravidian heartland of Chennai where she became the torchbearer for what her critics called as ''anti-development demonstration'' against the Chennai airport expansion project.


The residents, whose homes are threatened by the project, rejoiced over her participation and the visibility it has given to their agita tion against their land being acquired for the airport expansion. But Friday's events are also a stark reminder of the fact that the movements mushrooming here under various banners lack a leader of her stature.


Unmindful of the opponents she has been pitted against so far, the 54-yearold Medha Patkar gradually and successfully evolved into a staunch symbol and opponent of state-sponsored land acquisition by corporate giants who under the pretext of development were depriving people of their rights. Starting from the 20-day marathon hungerstrike that she observed in protest against the Sardar Sarovar Dam across the Narmada river in Gujarat and her later intervention in Nandigram and Singur in West Bengal, Ms Patkar has displayed consummate ease in opposing the forced resettlement of the marginalized section, particularly tribes, from their traditional habitats.


Though the stakeholders in Friday’s agitation in Chennai did not appear to be poor, the very idea of displacement or rather resettlement was convincing enough for Ms Patkar to travel down south and be a part of their agitation. It is this mantra - protection of the right to livelihood and proper resettlement - which has attracted people to her cause cutting across economic barriers. This is where other social and rights activists have failed.


There are several activists campaigning against resettlement and land acquisition. But they all lack her perseverance. They are mostly involved in snap hungerstrikes or demonstrations, which the official machinery often ignores. Also these other activists are either pro-rich or pro-poor.

Apparently, they have failed to grasp that resettlement rights are determined not on just economic grounds, a principle which Medha Patkar proved during Friday’s demonstrations.

http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCC/2009/01/03/ArticleHtmls/03_01_2009_004_006.shtml?Mode=0