Medha Patkar

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Medha Patkar
Medha Patkar
Movement:	Narmada Bachao Andolan
Major organizations:	National Alliance of People's Movements(NAPM)

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

1 Early life
2 Hunger strike
3 Arrested by Police in West Bengal
4 Criticism of Being Anti-Gujarati
5 Attack on Medha Patkar
6 Awards and Honours
7 External links
8 References

[edit] 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 leading 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.^[1]

She did her M. A. in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). After her Masters degree, she worked with voluntary organizations in erstwhile Bombay and East Gujarat for seven years. Thereafter, she secured a faculty position in her TISS and continued on towards achieving her Ph. D. degree.^[1] She was married once but later got divorced amicably.^[2]

[edit] Hunger strike

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

[edit] Arrested by Police in West Bengal

Social activist Medha Patkar was held by the police at Singur on December 2, 2006 before as she reached to protest 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.^[3]

[edit] 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.

[edit] Attack on Medha Patkar

On November 8, 2007, the convoy of Medha Patkar was allegedly attacked by activists of the Communist Party of India-Marxist at Kapaseberia in East Midnapore district while she was on her way to Nandigram to attend anti-land acquisition protests.

[edit] Awards and Honours

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.