X-Sender: patrick at pop.lmi.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 20:06:01 -0800 To: patrick at irn.org From: patrick at irn.org (Patrick McCully) Subject: FYI: Excellent Arundhati Roy article on Narmada Struggle
PRESS ADVISORY 1 JUNE, 1999
Arundhati Roy, author of the Booker Prize-winning 'God of Small Things', has written a superb essay on the Narmada struggle. It has been published in the national Indian magazines Outlook and Frontline. Find it at www.the-hindu.com/fline/fl1611/16110040.htm (home page: www.frontlineonline.com).
The article is extremely timely. The monsoon arrives in the Narmada Valley in mid-June. Up to 2500 families could face submergence of their lands and homes in June or July due to the extra construction sanctioned by the Supreme Court in February. The people of the Valley have vowed to drown rather than leave their homes.
The 'Save or Drown Squad' (Samarpit Dal) of activists and villagers have also vowed that they are ready to sacrifice themselves in solidarity with the families living beside the river if the waters rise.
Numerous marches, rallies and other protest actions are planned for the monsoon months. A team of international activists involved in the struggle over the past decade are also planning to visit the valley.
For more information Shripad Dharmadhikary - nba at lwbdq.lwbbs.net Patrick McCully - patrick at irn.org