A short biography of Medha Patkar

Medha Patkar, a popular socialist of todays times in India, caught the eyes of
global leaders. As a social activist, she is behind many good causes. She is known
for her active role in Narmada Bachao Andolan. Violence was never in her
agitation, those were a complete reconstruction of Gandhijis Non-Violence
Movement.
Childhood & Education: Born on 01 December
1954 in Mumbai, to Indu and Vasant Khanolkar, a trade union leader and freedom
fighter, Medha Patkar was keen on public service from a very young age. She
developed interest in social service. Her father being a trade union leader, she was
brought up politically and socially, letting her understand the problems of people.
Her father took active part in the Indian Independence Movement, while her mother
was member of Swadar, an organization formed to assist and support women who
are financially weak, and helped them in getting educated. It was an inherent
property for Medha Patker from her parents, to serve the needy.She completed her
M.A in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Science. She got married to Mr.
Patkar but divorced later.
Recognition: The two main events which brought Medha Patkar into limelight were:
Narmada Bachao Andolan
Lavasa project (Maharashtra)
And she was an active member to fight against corruption along with Anna
hazare.
Narmada Bachao Andolan:
It was after a tribunals judgment, granting permission to construct 30 major, 135
medium & 3000 small dams and increasing the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam. In
1985, Medha Patkar along with her colleagues visited the project site. They found it
was being shelved by Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. Of India. The
primary concern of Medha Patkar was about the people living in that area. She
noticed that the people living there had no information about the project. The
second factor was regarding Rehabilitation. Later she took up task of fasting, for
22 days, in which she almost dead. In 1993 she repeated the same. Later Narmada
Bachao Andolan office was attacked by some politically motivated people in 1994,
where they were physically assaulted and verbally abused. They resisted all these
attacks on them. Medha Patkar was adamant. Later she filed a petition in The Apex
Court (The Supreme Court of India), requesting stoppage of construction works.
Court decision was finally in favour of her petition.
Lavasa Project: Lavasa is a lavish project by Hindustan Construction Corporation, in
Maharashtra. It is a yet-to be completed city. This was in news because of Political
corruption, environment damage, land acquisition, usage of water resources, etc.
Medha Patkar could not resist environmental damage. She filed a PIL-Public
Interest Litigation in Supreme Court against the Lavasa project.
Criticism: She was criticized for not taking part in the konkan area, Jaitapur
Nuclear Power Plant. She was severely criticized for not volunteering in an agitation
against this Nuclear plant. Konkan was her home town. Reportedly, Medha patkat
has declined a request from group of medical representatives to be a part of this
agitation. The main reason behind her refusal as reported was She told us that she
was busy with her agitation against Sharad Pawars Lavasa project and with the
Narmada Bachao Andolan, as told by one of her associates.
Meanwhile many political party leaders approached her seeking her support to fight
against the project, but she clearly declined. She quoted the same reason, I
didnt think at that point that it was a desperate situation. One cannot go for
everything. There are other organisations working on this and besides I am busy,
not only because of Lavasa but Narmada Bachao Andolan too is taking lot of my
time. We are in 20 states now and I have to rush to all places. I hardly sleep for 25
days a month. There is also the Ghar Bachao Andolan where I am fighting for the
land rights of Mumbais slum dwellers.
As a result, a news magazine Sunday guardian quoted Medha fan base shrinks
in Konkan.

Awards and Recognition:
Service rendered by her for the sake of environment and her agitations against the
illegal on behalf of the people, gained her many laurels. A few are mentioned
below:
Right Livelihood Award-1991
M.A.Thomas Vigil national Human Right Award from Vigil Movement-1999
Human Rights Defender award- Amnesty international.
Deen Nath mangeshkar Award.
Mahatma Phule Award.
Green Ribbon Award by BBC for Best International Political campaigner