Aamir & NBA

Hi,

Well, About a week ago, there was news that Bollywood actor Amir Khan has come out in support of Narmada Bachao Andolan. As someone who has always admired Amir's movies ( except some classics like "Mela"), I was most curious as to what made him take this stance.

Reading his interview, however, left me in a state of dismay.

Amir Khan said that his support was purely on basis of ''emotional bonding with those displaced by the project'', and he candidly admitted that he was ''not aware of technicalites involved in the issue''.

This wont do !

When celebreties like Amir Khan or for that matter Amitabh Bacchan, come out in support ( or in protest) of an issue, they have the power to influence the public opinion on that particular topic. As such they are expected to make their decisions based on logic & reasoning, rather than get swayed away by emotion.

In this regard, I would strongly recommend the following book, which provides a solid factual support as to why projects like Sardar Sarovar are highly essential.

Samagra Maate Narmade

-- Dr Dattaprasad Dabholkar

This book gives an exhaustive account of the 'struggle' for Narmada Bachao Andolan... the socio-political as well as historical and geological background, the cause and effect and how it was lead by Medha Patkar, Sundarlal Bahuguna and other social activists, including Arundhati Roy.

As mentioned in the book, Supreme Court of India, while rejecting the appeal of Narmada Bachao Samiti, remarked, "It was not a public interest litigation, but a publicity interest litigation."

One can't help but be dismayed by how a well-meant campaign has been lead astray by few people who are not ready to push up their ideological 'burkhaas' and look at the practical aspects without getting emotionally charged.

As a person I have much respect for the social activists mentioned here.. Medha-ji, Sundarlal-ji, also our own Anna Hazaare-ji. These people are gold in themselves... but when they allow willy politicians to make use of them... well, that's when things begin to go wrong.

This is NOT to say that I am insensitive to the plight of displaced people. I am also not saying that projects should be set up at the cost of lives and property of innocent people. Indeed they ought to get more than sufficient re-imbursement for their troubles... but when the activists say that NO TO BIG DAMS, NO TO ATOMIC POWER STATIONS,.... well, someone like me begins to have serious doubts.

A couple of decades ago, a huge hue n cry arose over Salaawli dam in my home-state, Goa. Activists were crying hoarse in the name of some ancient temples. But Govt of Goa remained firm, and the dam was built. Today it serves as the chief source of water to almost half the state... and am damn sure that people who protested against it then are enjoying the benefits now.

Rather than make an issue out of short-term problems, we need to look at long-term benefits.

Yours,

-G.