|
19th Anniversary
Protest and Disaster Re-Creation
Mumbai, December 3rd, 2003: The Bhopal gas tragedy may be a distant
memory for most Mumbaiites, but a few students here are keeping
up the fight on behalf of the victims.
Students from various Mumbai colleges got together on the 19th
anniversary of the tragedy on Wednesday under the banner of the
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) for a peaceful
vigil at Marine Drive.
These students created a tableau where they recreated the Bhopal
disaster.
“Students from various colleges like Sophia, St Xavier’s
and Wilson signed up for the campaign,” said Shonali Sarda
from Sophia College. “Yesterday we signed a petition against
Dow (formed after the merger of Union Carbide with Dow Chemicals)
which will be presented before court.”
But Mumbai’s response has been tepid. Sarda added, “We
are standing here at a prime location. But people are just passing
by in their cars. How much can the government do?”
Dipti Rao, also from Sophia College, added, “Nineteen years
have passed and the situation in Bhopal has not changed.”
“With the merger of Dow and Union Carbide, Dow has taken
up the responsibilities of Union Carbide. It also has to shoulder
its liabilities,” said Vinod Shetty, lawyer and ICJB activist.
“Bhopal has become an icon for corporate negligence resulting
in death and destruction,” he added.
A few farmers from Sangamner in Nashik district who were hit by
a recent leak from a local factory (Indian Express, November 26)
were also present. Sitaram Raut, a local activist and one of the
villagers said, “The leak was just one of the very many tragic
events which have been plaguing our villagers for more than a decade.”
- top -
20th Anniversary
Candlelight Vigil
On December 3rd, 2004, the International Campaign for Justice in
Bhopal and Greenpeace India organized
a candlelight vigil, demanding justice for the victims, against
the picturesque backdrop of the Gateway of India in Mumbai.
A 20-foot statuette of a weeping woman towered over the gathering
at the Gateway of India.
The kind of impact the disaster has had on the minds of India's
youth can be gauged from the fact that many of those who turned
up for the vigil had not even been born when Union Carbide's death
smog choked thousands, maimed even more and seeped into a generation's
genes.
Eighteen-year-old Shaily, a microbiology student of Wilson College,
Mumbai, rattled off facts about how unjustly Union Carbide and Dow
Chemical had treated the victims.
Nineteen-year-old mass communication student Krupa Vohra said she
'freaked out' at any attack on the environment. "We are passionate
about the environment," said 21-year-old foreign trade student
Satyajit Sahay.
 They
were joined by tourists drawn by the lights and the posters, and
curious onlookers. The flame grew larger with every candle.
"Like Chernobyl," asked an Israeli tourist to a volunteer
who was explaining to him the tragedy that struck Bhopal.
"Tonight we take a pledge of solidarity with the people of
Bhopal," said ICJB Mumbai coordinator Vinod Shetty. The gathering
echoed him as he launched into a diatribe against a 'classic case
of corporate crime gone unpunished'.
Hum honge kaamyab (We shall overcome) sang the crowd, as the glow
from the candles spread, and as nine Indian Navy ships stood anchored
in the distance, silhouetted by lights on board, in preparation
for Navy Day.
May the survivors overcome. May justice be done.
- top -
Graduating TISS Students
Confront PM
MUMBAI, 6th May, 2006 -- Students and faculty members
of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences today expressed their solidarity
with the continuing struggles of people affected by the Sardar Sarovar
Dam and the Bhopal gas survivors, when the Prime Minister Mr Manmohan
Singh inaugurated the "Jamsetji Tata Centre for Disaster Management"
at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. During the convocation
ceremony for TISS graduates held today, students handed over two
separate memorandums to the Prime Minister highlighting the concerns
and demands of the survivors of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy and
of families affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The students wore
badges in support of the movements and black bands to protest the
indifference shown by the Prime Minister and his Government, especially
in taking decisions that affected the interests of private corporations
or the elite.
On April 17, the Prime Minister met Bhopal activists in New Delhi
and conceded to four out of six demands. However, he said he was
powerless to pressure Union Carbide or its new owner Dow Chemical
to make them address their pending liabilities in Bhopal. He told
the Bhopal delegation that "We have to do business. India has
to survive despite these tragedies." While the Bhopalis ended
their hunger strike based on the Prime Minister's assurances of
clean water, clean up of contamination and the setting up of a national
commission to coordinate medical and economic rehabilitation, they
also launched an international campaign to hold Dow and Carbide
accountable. The memorandum to the Prime Minister demanded that
the Government should show more courage and commitment in bringing
Union Carbide to justice. "We are ashamed to learn that the
Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy is powerless to
bring a multinational corporation to justice. This bodes ill for
the country as it launches into a feverish pace of industrialisation,"
said Charu Jain, a TISS graduate.
Condemning the anti-poor stance of the UPA Government in dealing
with oustees of the controversial Narmada dam project, Aruna Pandey,
a student said "Development that uproots people, impoverishes
them and destroys their culture is called colonization. The Government's
proposal to pay cash compensation to oustees does nothing to address
land and livelihood concerns." Signatories to the Memorandum
expressed outrage at the lack of efforts for adequate resettlement
and rehabilitation of project affected population by the Governments
in Narmada valley. The memorandum has called for the suspension
of construction of the dam until the Supreme Court hearing on May
8 th 2006 and the setting up of an independent mechanism for monitoring
the rehabilitation situation; it also highlights the demand for
the formulation of a comprehensive National Resettlement and Rehabilitation
Act. The memorandum also urges the Government to address the concerns
of other poor people being evicted to accommodate industry or in
the name of urban beautification.
TISS toppers confront PM on Narmada
Aditya Ghosh
Sunday, May 07, 2006 00:28 IST
DNA, Mumbai
During the convocation ceremony at the Tata Institute of Social
Science (TISS) presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
Saturday, many toppers marched to the podium in black badges and
black ribbons to accept their certificates and awards. They were
protesting against the government's role in the Narmada Bachao Andolan
and Bhopal gas tragedy.
Sampreet Singh, a former TISS topper, set the tone of the protest.
The PM had just dwelt on the creation of an equal social justice
system to ensure a meaningful democracy, when Sampreet stood up
with a black banner that said "Development or Destruction —The
question of Narmada, Mumbai Slums."
Special Branch police officers whisked him away for interrogation.
Police Commissioner AN Roy said, "The person detained was released
after five hours."
Later, Sampreet and other students spoke to DNA, confirming their
aim was to attract the attention of the PM and public to the issue.
"TISS authorities told us not to wear black badges and ribbons.
But this was our only chance to express our concerns directly to
the Prime Minister," claimed Aruna Pandey, a student.
Earlier, the PM in his speech conceded that the government lacked
professionally trained manpower in the social sector. "Institutions
like TISS can send forth to society motivated and hardworking personnel
who could improve the human resource element of government programmes,"
the Prime Minister said.
- top -
Protest at 'Gateway
to India'
On April 19, 2006, students from several Mumbai-area colleges participated
in a protest against the Government for several causes, including
Bhopal. Held at the high-traffic tourist attraction of the Gateway
to India, the protest was covered by several metropolitan newspapers.
“Free-dumb” — spelt out on the backs of students
and youth. “We live in a political world where peace is in
jail”— immortal words by Bob Dylan. “Youth unites”.
“Hum apni aawaz utha rahe hain, who naaraz kyon hain?”
These were some of the slogans on banners, posters and shirts worn
by a students from city colleges at a protest meet at the Gateway
of India on Tuesday afternoon. While most students were worrying
about their exams, a handful of enthusiastic youth decided to protest
about issues that they felt were affecting the nation. On their
agenda were Bhopal gas tragedy victims who have not received compensation,
farmers’ suicides, Kalinganagar killings and the Narmada dam
controversy.
Thinking out of the box, the group organised a street play,
graffiti, postcards (which will be sent to the Prime Minister),
and a midnight vigil — all of which received a warm response
from visitors. They also had a unique signature campaign with thumbprints.
Later on, they held a candlelight vigil at Marine Drive.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing. If they feel very
strongly about an issue such as the Narmada Bachao Andolan, they
should protest. I too fought during the freedom struggle against
British oppression, so I support them,” said PD Bhatkar, who
was buying a postcard and giving her thumbprint. Final-year BMM
student from SIES college Divya Rajagopal said that compatred to
other states, Maharashtra has hardly had any youth participation.
“Peaceful protests have been targeted, the government should
be less hostile. Are we heading towards a dictatorship where people
do not even have the right to protest peacefully?” she asked.
Puran Malveshan, from Rajasthan also supported their cause,
“The government should understand and listen to them. It is
nice that they are speaking on the behalf of those people who affected
by these situation,” he said.
“People need to realise that the system affects them
as well,” said 21-year-old Kinjal Sampat a journalism student
at KC College. Rachana Shah, a copywriter echoed her sentiments.
“People are indifferent, but sooner or later they need to
realise that they have to stand up for other people, for causes,”
she said.
- top -
|
IN
BHOPAL