G. D. Agrawal
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Guru das Agrawal, also known as Sant Swami Sanand and Sant Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand (20 July, 1932 – 11 October, 2018), was an Indian environmentalist, engineer, religious leader, monk, and professor. He was the Patron of Ganga Mahasabha, founded by
Madan Mohan Malviya Madan Mohan Malaviya (25 December 1861 — 12 November 1946; ) was an Indian scholar, educational reformer and activist notable for his role in the Indian independence movement. He was president of the Indian National Congress three times and ...
in 1905. He is notable for several fasts undertaken to stop many projects on the
River Ganga The Ganges ( ; in India: Ganga, ; in Bangladesh: Padma, ). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international which goes through India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China." is a trans-boundary rive ...
. His
fast Fast or FAST may refer to: Arts and entertainment * "Fast" (Juice Wrld song), 2019 * "Fast" (Luke Bryan song), 2016 * "Fast" (Sueco song), 2019 * "Fast" (GloToven song), 2019 * ''Fast'', an album by Custom, 2002 * ''Fast'', a 2010 short fil ...
in 2009 led to the damming of the
Bhagirathi River The Bhāgīrathī (Pron: /ˌbʌgɪˈɹɑːθɪ/) is a turbulent Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges, the major river of Northern India and the holy river of Hinduism. In the Hindu f ...
being stopped. Agrawal died on 11 October 2018, after fasting since 22 June 2018, demanding the government act on its promises to clean and save the Ganga.


Early life

Born to a farming family in
Kandhla Kandhla is a town, near Shamli, Shamli City and municipal board in Shamli district, Shamli District in the States and territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Geography Kandhla is located at . It has an average elevation of 241&nb ...
,
Muzaffarnagar district Muzaffarnagar district (, ) is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. It is part of Saharanpur division. The city of Muzaffarnagar is the district headquarters. This district is the part of National Capital Region. History M ...
, Uttar Pradesh, in 1932, he studied in local primary and secondary schools. He graduated in civil engineering from the
University of Roorkee The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT- Roorkee or IIT-R) is a technical university located in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India. It is the oldest engineering institution in India. It was founded as the College of Civil Engineering in 1847 d ...
(now IIT Roorkee). While he was the member secretary of the
Central Pollution Control Board The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Mo.E.F.C.C.). It was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1 ...
during 1979 – 1980, he was also a visiting professor for environmental engineering at the University of
Roorkee Roorkee (Rūṛkī; ) is a city and Municipal Corporations in India, municipal corporation in the Haridwar district of the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is from Haridwar, the district headquarters. It is spread over a flat terrain under the ...
. In July 2011, he became a Hindu
sannyasi ''Sannyasa'' (), sometimes spelled ''sanyasa'', is the fourth stage within the Hindu system of four life stages known as '' ashramas'', the first three being ''brahmacharya'' (celibate student), '' grihastha'' (householder) and '' vanaprastha ...
and Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand.


Environmental activism


Background

Despite numerous protests and representations by local citizens, 6 hydroelectric power-plant dams were planned, seeking clearance or already under construction, on a stretch of the
Bhagirathi River The Bhāgīrathī (Pron: /ˌbʌgɪˈɹɑːθɪ/) is a turbulent Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges, the major river of Northern India and the holy river of Hinduism. In the Hindu f ...
's length. This run is from the river's source at the
Gangotri Glacier Gangotri glacier (Sanskrit and ) is located in Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand, India in a region bordering Tibet. This glacier, one of the primary sources of the Ganges, has a volume of over 27 cubic kilometers. The glacier is about long and ...
to the remote town of Uttarkashi in the Himalayan foothills. In pursuit of its energy intensive plan for economic growth, the Indian government had hastily pushed hydroelectric generating projects on the river, destroying what many describe as the traditional Indian ethos of worshipping and living in harmony with nature.


2009

Agrawal started a fast on 13 June 2009 at Uttarkashi. His demand was minimal and specific, i.e. to allow the flow of the Ganges in its original channel in this stretch from its origin. This is the only stretch left where the Ganges can still be seen undisturbed by man. The free-running of the river is a crucial element of its sacred status. Before his fast began in January, Agrawal said, "The water ...(of the Ganges) is not ordinary water to a Hindu. It is a matter of life and death of Hindu faith". An allegation by Uttarakhand Minister Diwakar Bhatt, in a press conference, alleged that "It may be that the
Central Intelligence Agency The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA; ) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States tasked with advancing national security through collecting and analyzing intelligence from around the world and ...
(CIA) of the US or Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) are behind these so-called anti-hydro projects in Uttarakhand, as by doing so they are hampering the development of the state and ultimately of India. So, they are traitors and should be opposed by people too."


2013

In mid-June 2013, Agrawal began his fast in the wake of the inactivity of
National Ganga River Basin Authority National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), was a financing, planning, implementing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganges River, functioning under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, of India. The mission of the organisation is to safeg ...
. He stopped taking water on 21 September as his fast entered its 101st day. Due to government's apathy towards Agrawal's fast, three members of the national Ganga River Basin Authority, Rajendra Singh, Ravi Chopra and Rashid Siddiqui resigned.


2018

In February 2018, Agrawal sent an open letter to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi Narendra Damodardas Modi (born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician who has served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India since 2014. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Par ...
urging him to stop environmentally unfriendly projects and ensure what he calls the 'aviral' flow of the river in the upper stretches of the river Ganga. He reminded the prime minister that "It will be four years in May when the Central government will complete four years in office, but nothing has been done so far for the cause of Ganga". Agrawal had mentioned in the letter that if no action is taken by
Ganga Dussehra Ganga Dussehra, also known as Gangavataran, is a Hindu festival celebrating the ''avatarana'' (descent) of the Ganges. It is believed by Hindus that the holy river Ganges descended from heaven to earth on this day. Ganga Dussehra takes place o ...
(22 June 2018), he will go on fast-unto-death. He wrote another letter to PM on 13 June. After receiving no response from the government, he began his fast on 22 June at Haridwar. On the 19th day of his fast, police evicted him from his fast venue to
AIIMS Rishikesh All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh (AIIMS Rishikesh) is a medical college and hospital based in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. The institute operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India), Ministr ...
. Based on a petition filed by Agrawal against forced eviction, Uttarakhand high-court stepped in and said he needs to be taken to hospital only if his health is in danger. The government responded to Agrawal's fast via
Nitin Gadkari Nitin Jairam Gadkari (; born 27 May 1957) is an Indian politician who serves as the 40th Minister of Road Transport & Highways in the Government of India since 2014. He is also the longest serving Minister for Road Transport & Highways, current ...
(Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation), but it failed to resolve the impasse. Agrawal alleged that government is focusing on the cleaning river Ganga whereas his holistic vision ensures 'aviral-nirmal' Ganga. On 13 August (53rd day of the fast), Agrawal was admitted to AIIMS again. On 9 October (the 109th day of the fast), he stopped drinking water and refused to take medicine, water or any fluid/juice orally. However, he gave written consent to doctors for administering potassium orally and drip to provide 500ML saline fluid per day to maintain the minimum fluid and electrolyte needs of the body. On 11 October (the 111th day of the fast), he died from starvation, aged 86.


Dam stopped

Work on the
Loharinag Pala Hydro Power Project Loharinag Pala Hydropower Project is a run-of-the-river hydroelectricity generating project planned by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd to have an output capacity of 600 MW (150 MW x 4 Units). The project is located on the rive ...
was stopped when Agrawal came close to dying on the 38th day of his
fast Fast or FAST may refer to: Arts and entertainment * "Fast" (Juice Wrld song), 2019 * "Fast" (Luke Bryan song), 2016 * "Fast" (Sueco song), 2019 * "Fast" (GloToven song), 2019 * ''Fast'', an album by Custom, 2002 * ''Fast'', a 2010 short fil ...
in protest of the harnessing of the river Bhagirathi. In a letter dated 19 February 2009 to Agrawal, the Ministry of Power stated that it had ordered the immediate suspension of work on the Loharinag-Pala Hydropower Project on the Bhagirathi River. In response, Agrawal ended his fast the following day at 11:00 am. The Indian government agreed to speed up its inquiry into how electricity could be generated without the flow of the Ganges being impeded. Agrawal's devotion to the River Ganges comes from his strong Hindu faith and conviction that India is staring at an unprecedented ecological and cultural catastrophe. As a citizen and a patriot, he has made it his life's mission to recall India to its traditional reverence for nature and to share that wisdom with the "developed" world. His sense of duty allows him to do no less.


National Ganges River Basin Authority

His campaign was taken up by leaders of the opposition party, who called for stopping all dam constructions upstream of the river. The Government of India was quick to commit itself to ensure perennial environmentally acceptable flows throughout the river and informing Agrawal of the same. The Government then went a step ahead and declared the Ganges a National River and set up the
National Ganga River Basin Authority National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), was a financing, planning, implementing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganges River, functioning under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, of India. The mission of the organisation is to safeg ...
(NGRBA) as an empowered planning, implementing, and monitoring authority for the Ganges. On 4 November 2009, in New Delhi, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh Manmohan Singh (26 September 1932 – 26 December 2024) was an Indian economist, bureaucrat, academician, and statesman, who served as the prime minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He was the fourth longest-serving prime minister after Jaw ...
, also the chairman of NGRBA, directed the concerned officials to expedite of the National Ganges River Basin Research Institute (NGRBRI). The Centre for Environmental Studies and Technology (CEST),
Banaras Hindu University Banaras Hindu University (BHU), formerly Benares Hindu University, is a collegiate, central, and research university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, and founded in 1916. The university incorporated the Central Hindu College, ...
was named the research institute that would act as knowledge centre for collecting and analysing all relevant data concerning the Ganges basin. The objectives of NGRBRI are to: * generate primary ecological data required by NGBRA for short and long-term planning of
sustainable development Sustainable development is an approach to growth and Human development (economics), human development that aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.United Nations General ...
of the Ganges River basin * investigate the hydrology and pollution problems along the river basin * study social, cultural and religious dimensions and develop eco-friendly technologies for sustainable development * act as the knowledge centre for the collection and analysis of all relevant data concerning the Ganges basin * create long-term models for future planning for maintaining water quality and its varied sustainable uses On 10 February 2010, Union
Minister of State (Independent Charge) Minister of state is a designation for a government minister, with varying meanings in different jurisdictions. In a number of European countries, the title is given as an honorific conferring a higher rank, often bestowed upon senior ministers ...
for Environment and Forests
Jairam Ramesh Jairam Ramesh (born 9 April 1954) is an Indian politician belonging to the Indian National Congress. He is a Member of Parliament representing Karnataka state in the Rajya Sabha. In July 2011, Jairam was elevated to the Union Council of Minis ...
, addressing the GangesYamuna summit organised by the Nehru Memorial Library and Museum said: "I have said in the
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
that India is a civilisation of rivers, and it should not become a land of tunnels." He said some new projects on Bhagirathi River would not be allowed. "There are no two opinions. There is just one mass opinion that the projects proposed on the river Bhagirathi, named Pala Maneri and Bhaironghati projects, will not be entertained further by the government."


References


External links


Prof. Agrawal's Letter regarding 'Fasting Unto Death'
Pramod-Van, Chitrakoot, M.P. Date: 14 April 2008, Re: My Intention of "Fasting Unto Death" for Conservation of Bhagirathi

* , Video – 8:41; , Video 9:39; , Video 8:25
G.D. Agrawal's Third and Final Letter to PM Modi on Saving the Ganga

‘Ganges Crusader GD Agrawal Murdered,’ Aide Attacks Modi, Gadkari
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agrawal, G. D. 1932 births 2018 deaths Indian environmentalists UC Berkeley College of Engineering alumni IIT Roorkee alumni Hindu activists 20th-century Indian engineers IIT Kanpur people Environmental engineers People who died on hunger strike People from Muzaffarnagar district