Medha Patkar

Medha Patkar (Marathi:मेधा पाटकर, born December 1, 1954) is a social activist from India.

Early life

Born on December 1, 1954, Medha Patkar was raised by politically and socially active parents. Her father actively fought in the Indian Independence Movement that led to an independent India in 1947. Medha's mother was a member of Swadar, an organization setup to help and assist women suffering difficult circumstances arising out of financial, educational, and health related problems. Her parents' activism played a role in shaping her philosophical views.

She got her M.A. in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). After her Master's degree, she worked for seven years with voluntary organizations in erstwhile Bombay and East Gujarat, then she secured a faculty position at TISS and worked towards her Ph.D. degree. She was married once but later got divorced amicably.

Hunger strike

On 28 March 2006, Patkar started a hunger-strike to protest against the decision of the authorities to raise the height of the Narmada Dam, and garnered international attention. She ended her 20-day fast on 17 April 2006, after the Supreme Court of India refused the Narmada Bachao Andolan's appeal to stop the construction of the dam.

Arrested by Police in West Bengal

Social activist Medha Patkar was held by the police at Singur on 2 December 2006 after protesting against the acquisition of farmland. The police personnel present there told her that her presence might incite people and create a law and order problem. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya said that Naxalites and SUC(I) workers were also involved in the incidents and the police were forced to retaliate after they were attacked with bombs and stones.

Criticism of Being Anti-Gujarati

Medha Patkar has frequently stated that the Narmada dam would only help the wealthy land owners of Gujarat. Her remarks and actions were worthy of sparking a debate over who pays and who profits from the proposed Narmada dam projects.

Awards and Honors

Medha Patkar is one of the recipients of Right Livelihood Award for the year 1991. She received the 1999 M.A.Thomas National Human Rights Award from Vigil India Movement. She has also received numerous other awards, including the Deena Nath Mangeshkar Award, Mahatma Phule Award, Goldman Environment Prize, Green Ribbon Award for Best International Political Campaigner by BBC, and the Human Rights Defender's Award from Amnesty International. She was also a Commissioner to the World Commission on Dams.

External links

• Sardar Sarovar Dam website
• Friends of the river Narmada website
• (now defunct) World Commission on Dams (WCD)
• United Nations Development Programme Dams and Development Project, successor of WCD
• Right Livelihood Award website
• Read articles written by Medha Patkar

References