Dear Arundhati Roy,
The day I met you was indeed a day
you might have pondered quite frequently for a long time… It was never because
a small creature like me, living in a nook of the world have travelled a bit
long, successfully got the privilege to meet you that day. Right.. But the day was
a day that the millions of green eyes dreamt of a nice era with great
expectations. I had once regarded it to be the day lying in between an era of Indian
struggle-for-sustaining-green-earth without Arundhati Roy and a struggle ahead
along with Arundhati Roy. The day you touched the very earth, transmitting
Himalayan hope among the downtrodden green soldiers was when you had led the
RALLY FOR THE VALLEY in 1999… yes for the Narmada with Medha Pathker. So, the day I met you were the day which
resulted in some engravings in your life and in history. Among hundreds of
followers, I too joined you and Medha throughout_the_Rally.
At that time, we were thinking that the Dam will not be constructed above 90
metres. But in this juncture, the reality is pathetically true that the DAM has
grown much more than it was supposed to be. It seems it resembles the unchallengeable growth of the Power of the establishment irrespective of any
colour of the Government. --Just bother only whether the project affected
people gets some rotty for their survival--. I think that justice has somewhere
shown its smiling face as a result of the continuous efforts of a lot of
volunteers with Medhaji. I personally was as always, in utter confusion to
dedicate all myself wholly to any of the sides. Whether to stay for the people,
who get the benefit of water in Gujarat, or to stay for the well being of those
who lost their living- just for the Dam, or to stay against those who damage
the earth for huge projects. Rally initially invited me to fight against huge
Dams which endangers the environment. On the way, I understood that such a vast
area of agricultural land would be drowned when the Dam is finally built. The
Rally was actually conducted in an enchanting season that had literally shaken
the participants from all parts of the world to stand for prevention of the
greenery around. At the end of the Rally, as a grooming environmental activist,
I had not grown up to become an environmental terrorist as I feared at the
beginning of my journey. My confusions returned back and I was forced to leave
the rest invigilation of nature in the hands of time.
I cannot forget the two hours we
spent in the green small hill waiting for the next boat to Dhomkedi. A solo
flute played by someone had filled the hearts, and the perfect blend of a cool
light breeze, clear sky, green grass carpet and indeed rhythm of giggles of the
river made the waiting unforgettable. We walked for half an hour through the
wild, and I had taken the freedom to express my concern/suspicion of your
participation. I was doubtful and took the chance to argue that you will not
render your heart into this movement till the end. But it was me who slipped out of
the duty and clung on to some twigs for my survival. In turn, you stayed for
the greater common good till the way you have travelled so far. I should have
died if I had forgotten those moments. I also remind the evening we all got
together in the crude dim light and was shocked to have melted in the soothing Malhari
from the wild flute of an unknown tribal
artist. And we all slept in the available space within the tents and huts. In
the late hours, we were attacked by some thousands of millipedes – don’t know where
they had marched from and where they were while you were addressing us. But the
Adivasis sent them all by applying just some hand full of ashes. In that night,
I was again defeated myself by understanding the fact that it was we who have
attacked the earth’s inhabitants in their own homeland and not vice versa.
Though it was one of the greatest feasts in my life I have so enjoyed…….
I post a photograph I had taken while
in the time of the Rally. Your face was so shiny within the thick of the curly
black hair while I called you from inside the Bus we travelled.. just for a
snap. I have written this post so much since I saw your recent photograph in
the nets today. Your hairs have become
silvery, short but still curly. Hope your comb now runs faster without hurdles
these days Arundhati. Ministry of utmost
Happiness is now headed by you.
I happened to vomit some unburnt
stuff from myself late this day on 27.10.17 to feel comfortable for the rest of
my naps this life.
Best Regards
sudhirkumarvb@gmail.com
