Kashinath Trivedi: A Pioneer in Questioning Large Dams on the Narmada
The translation of a letter by Kashinath ji Trivedi
Kashinathji Trivedi, a Gandhian freedom fighter and pioneer in questioning large dams on the Narmada, was known as the “Gandhi of Nimad.” The fertile plains of Nimad in Madhya Pradesh lie within the submergence zones of several large dams on the Narmada, particularly the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat and the Indira Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh—two of the largest projects in the Narmada Valley Development Plan.
Prahari Ankhein (Watchful Eyes), a Hindi Weekly published out of Indore, Madhya Pradesh under the editorship of Jawarchand Dassani.
A powerful movement in the years 1978-79 called the Nimad Bachao Andolan took place in Madhya Pradesh demanding the height reduction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam soon after the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal was declared. Very little is known of this movement today. However, there was a newspaper in Hindi called, Prahari Aankhein that extensively covered the movement.
