Submergence Village Chikhalda, Madhya Pradesh (M.P.)
Rehmat, a resident of the submergence village Chikhalda in M.P., and an oustee himself has been one of the key activists of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA). Rehmat’s contribution to the NBA knows no parallel; right from managing one of the main offices of the NBA in Badwani to exposing the widespread corruption in rehabilitation of oustees in M.P. that once again stalled the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) in the decade of 2000, to managing “Nijbal”, Baba Amte and Sadhana Tai’s residence on the banks of the Narmada after their return to Anandvan, to research and analysis of key issues related to the project and extensive writing on these issues. Rehmat’s involvement in the struggle has been multifaceted and extraordinary. Rehmat continues to play a critical role in the NBA and is also a senior member of Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, an organisation that critically examines water and energy issues.
Rehmat being one of the key activists of the NBA, his interview is important to understand the many strategies of the movement. As an activist of long standing, Rehmat explains the many processes that go into the making of a movement. The interview also covers the coming of Baba Amte and Sadhana Tai to the Narmada Valley and their departure and its implications. Rehmat’s interview here covers the strengths and challenges the movement faces, along with reflection on the many strategies of the NBA.
Although it is important to listen to the entire interview presented here as the issues Rehmat speaks of are interlinked, those interested in any specific strategy or issue could go directly to the section as marked below.
About Rehmat and his village Chikhalda: 0:00:00 to 0:12:00
Cadre building in a people’s movement: 0:12:00 to 0:18:40
National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM) and expansion of NBA to areas affected by other dams in M.P.: 0:18:40 to 0:26:00
Decision making process in the movement: 0:26:00 to 0:53:00
‘Our Rule in Our Village’ as a strategy: 0:53:00 to 1:03:00
‘We Shall Drown But Not Move’ as a strategy: 1:03:00 to 1:15:00
Public Interest Litigation and the Supreme Court: 1:15:00 to 1:28:00
Satyagraha, jalsamarpan and non-violence as strategies: 1:28:00 to 1:43:00
Personification of a people’s movement: 1:43:00 to 1:50:00
Coming of Baba Amte to the NBA: 1:50:00 to 2:06:00
Return of Baba Amte to Anandvan: 2:06:00 to 2:22:00
Functioning of Baba Amte’s Ashram after his return to Anandvan: 2:22:00 to 2:43:00
Interview Duration: 2:43:00
Language: Hindi and Nimadi, Subtitles in English
Subtitles can be switched on and off by clicking ‘CC’ button at the bottom right of the video