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Rajagopal P. V. | |
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Born | Rajagopalan Puthan Veetil 1948 |
Nationality | Indian |
Education | Diploma in Engineering |
Occupation(s) | Activist, president of Ekta Parishad |
Partner | Jill Carr-Harris |
Rajagopal P. V. is an Indian Gandhian activist, a former Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Gandhi Peace Foundation, [1] aswell as the president and founding member of Ekta Parishad. [2] [3] In 1972, Rajagopal started working alongside Gandhian activists J.P. Narayan and Subba Rao to disarm 578 bandits in the Chambal region of India. [4] Thereafter, he stayed away from dealing with direct violence and focused on the people of Adivasis, bonded labourers, and other landless communities affected by poverty and exploitation.[ citation needed ]
From 1989 to 2018, Rajagopal trained thousands of rural young people to serve in villages as trainer-leaders to build up community leadership and popular action.[ citation needed ] This culminated in many efforts of state and national activism.[ citation needed ] An example of the latter occurred in 2007 when 25,000 landless poor, mainly Adivasis, took part in a 350 kilometer pilgrimage from Gwalior to Delhi to demand the land reforms that they were promised upon independence.[ citation needed ] The Union government agreed to the demands made, leading to the implementation of the Forest Rights Act.[ citation needed ]
A second effort of national activism occurred in 2012 when Rajagopal led a march together with 100,000 supporters toward the capital to demand popular control over land and resources to secure the livelihood of laborers lacking control over the means of production. The effort resulted in the signing of a ten point agreement with the Union government. [4]
In 2018, Rajagopal, once again, led a protest to nonviolently address working-class issues. This Protest was notably of a larger scale, with Rajagopal managing to mobilize one million people for his cause. [4] For Mohandas Gandhi's 150th birthday in 2019, Rajagopal planned to take his message worldwide as a way to spread peace and nonviolence.[ citation needed ]
Rajagopal is notable for his nonviolent approach to protesting systemic inequality and grievances shared by millions of Indians. His actions contributed to the partial emergence of open dialogue with the government.[ citation needed ]
Rajagopal was born in 1948, the fourth of five children, in Thillenkery, a village in the modern-day state of Kerala in southern India. His full name is Rajagopal Puthan Veetil, but he now chooses to use only his first name in public in order to avoid any caste-related stereotyping that might be associated with his full name.[ citation needed ] Rajagopal's father was an activist fighting for India's independence and therefore was frequently separated from his family.[ citation needed ] Rajagopal attended the grade school at Seva Mandir, being taught in Malayalam language.[ citation needed ] The school followed Gandhi's philosophical principles with regard to life and work in a community.[ citation needed ] He later studied classical Indian dance and music, prior to completing his education at Sevagram, Gandhi's Ashram in Maharashtra, with a degree in agricultural engineering. This is also where Rajagopal learned to speak English.
In the early 1970s, he worked in the violence-ridden area of Chambal in Madhya Pradesh to help rehabilitate dacoits. [5]
Since 2001, Rajagopal is married to Jill Carr-Harris, a Canadian fellow social activist. [6]
After consolidating a membership of 200,000 people (the majority are women) across six states, Rajagopal began using the Gandhian technique of foot-march or padayatra to galvanize greater support among the poor. With a track record of ten state level foot-marches, he led a national march to Delhi in October 2007. In the march, Janadesh 2007 25,000 people marched 340 kilometers from Gwalior to Delhi and compelled the Government to take action in land reforms and forest rights. [7]
This article needs to be updated.(November 2012) |
The Jan Satyagraha 2012 Yatra, which started from Gwalior Oct 2, had intended to reach Delhi on Oct 28 if no agreement was reached with the government. Nearly 35,000 people were part of the protest march. [8]
Though the Land Reform Commission has issued its report, the government has not yet accepted it.
In October 2018, Rajagopal led a march from Gwalior to Morena with around 25,000 people asking for land rights and tribal rights. Initially the march was planned from Haryana to New Delhi. [9] The march took place in the context of the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Legislative election and some months ahead of 2019 national elections. Political leaders such as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the marchers in Gwalior before their departure, promising to create a committee to address land rights issues. [10] According to Ekta Parishad, the marchers were not satisfied with the proposals and decided to go ahead with the march. [11] In Morena, leaders from Indian National Congress, the main opposition party addressed the marchers and promised if elected to satisfy their demands. [12] [13] Ekta Parishad indicated that they were satisfied with these commitments and decided to stop marching and not to continue to New Delhi, as initially planned. [11]
In 2015, Rajagopal launched, with Ekta Parishad, the extraordinary challenge of Jai Jagat, building upon existing groups, mainly in India and Europe. The core vision of Jai Jagat is to create a space where groups and movements can come together to make change nonviolently and address issues related to justice and peace. The urgency of having such convergence is to change global public opinion to enhance the emergence of an alternative development process that is pro-people, pro-poor and pro-nature. The 2019-2020 Global Peace March (Delhi-Geneva) reached individuals, groups and organizations outside those historical Ekta circles and created a dynamic in many countries. The March had to overcome many hurdles and was suspended halfway in Armenia in March 2020, because of COVID-19. A few marches to Geneva at the end of September 2020 marked the last significant mobilization, at least outside India, under the umbrella of Jai Jagat. Since then, initiatives have been taken, such as the organization of marches or a cartoon exhibition, by local and regional groups.
In the context of the continuing growth of Naxalism in central rural India, Rajagopal's organization of Ekta Parishad with its mobilization of tribal peoples, women and youth as well as its advocacy of land reform, is one of the most successful nonviolent alternatives.
The Modi government has proposed two major changes in the land acquisition act:
Rajagopal accuses Modi of being pro-corporate and claims that it will further aggravate the difference between the rich and poor in the country. [14]
Articles:
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In 2014, he received the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration, an award granted annually by the Indian National Congress party. [15] [16] [17]
Year | Award | Presenter |
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2008 | Friend of the Poor award | Orissa Culture & Youth organization |
K. Janardhanan Pillai Endowment award | Gandhi Bhawan, Trivadrum, Kerala | |
2010 | Swaraj Millenium Award | Swadeshi, Kerala |
2011 | Shri. Kumarapilla Velayudhan Master Award for achievements in the social field | Purnodaya Trust in Trissur, Kerala |
2012 | Krishi Gaurav Award | Patanjali Pratishthan, Uttarakhand |
Gareeb Bandhu Award | Orissa Culture & Youth organization | |
Human Rights Award | Human Rights Chapter of Geneva, Switzerland | |
2013 | Professor N.A. Karim Award for outstanding Public Service – 2012 | Vakkom Moulavi Foundation Trust, Trivandrum, Kerala |
2014 | Anuvrat Ahimsa Award for International Peace for the year 2013 | Anuvrat Global (ANUVIBHA), New Delhi |
2015 | Spirit of Assisi National Award | Assisi Shanti Kendra, Angamally, Kerala |
Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration | Indian National Congress | |
2016 | Honored Jeewan Rakshak Award for his life in service of humanity | Jeewan Rakshak Trust, Rajasthan |
2017 | Krishi Yoddha Award | Indian Students Parliament |
2023 | Niwano Peace Prize | Niwano Peace Foundation |
Madhya Pradesh is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Dewas, Sagar, Chhindwara and Rewa being the other major cities. Madhya Pradesh is the second largest Indian state by area and the fifth largest state by population with over 72 million residents. It borders the states of Uttar Pradesh to the northeast, Chhattisgarh to the east, Maharashtra to the south, Gujarat to the west, and Rajasthan to the northwest.
Morena is the headquarter of Morena district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It shares borders with Bhind, Gwalior, Sheopur and Dholpur It is governed by a municipality corporation. It is also the administrative headquarters of the Chambal division. It is 39 kilometres (24 mi) from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
The Chambal River is a tributary of the Yamuna River in Central and Northern India, and thus forms part of the drainage system of the Ganges. The river flows north-northeast through Madhya Pradesh, running for a time through Rajasthan, then forming the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh before turning southeast to join the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh state.
Sheopur is a city in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. It is the administrative headquarters of Sheopur District. Sheopur is linked by narrow gauge rail to Gwalior(No longer in operation). The town is traditionally famous for its wood carving. Chambal River is just 25 km, which forms the boundary between Rajasthan and MP states.
Rajakhera is a city and a municipality situated near the banks of the Chambal River in Dholpur district in the Eastern part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Its part of Braj region and the local language has Braj Bhasha dialect. The culture is fused with Rajasthan and its border states.
A padayatra is a journey undertaken by politicians or prominent citizens to interact more closely with different parts of society, educate about issues concerning them, and galvanize his or her supporters. Padayatras or foot pilgrimages are also Hindu religious pilgrimages undertaken towards sacred shrines or pilgrimage sites.
Tourism in Madhya Pradesh has been an attraction of India because of its location in the centre of the country. Madhya Pradesh has won Best Tourism State National award for 3 consecutive years i.e. 2017, 2016 and 2015.
Janadesh is the name of a national campaign on land rights in India launched by the movement Ekta Parishad. The word "Janadesh" means "The Decree of the People" in Hindi. The campaign was launched in 2005 and culminated in 2007, in the form of a 350 km foot march involving 25,000 people. According to the organizers, the majority of the marchers were landless Adivasi and Dalit.
Prakash Chandra Sethi was an Indian National Congress politician who served as Minister of Home Affairs (1982–84) and as the 8th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh (1972–75).
Ramjee Singh is a former Member of Parliament and vice-chancellor of Jain Vishva Bharati University. He is an eminent Gandhian and is the author of a number of books on him. He was also the director of Gandhian Institute of Studies, Varanasi, India. In January 2020 he was awarded the fourth highest civilian award in the country: The Padma Shri for Social Work. His life has been a blend of being a Gandhian academician as well as an activist. Singh has declared Mahatma Gandhi as the Bodhisattva of the 20th century.
Ekta Yatra is the name of two political yatras or rallies led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India. The first began in 1991, following the 1990 Ram Rath Yatra. The second began in 2011. Each rally travelled through various Indian states and ended with the unfurling of the flag of India in what was then the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Anupam Mishra was an Indian Gandhian, author, journalist, environmentalist, TED speaker, and water conservationist who worked on promoting water conservation, water management and traditional rainwater harvesting techniques. He had been awarded the 1996 Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar (IGPP) award instituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. He travelled to villages across several Indian states, especially Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, describing the value of time-tested systems of water harvesting. He advocated conservation of traditional water structures in India as well as abroad. He wrote books like Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talaab and Rajasthan Ki Rajat Boondein, landmark works in the field of water conservation. An extensive interview with Mishra about the history and future of the Yamuna River occupies the last chapter of Rana Dasgupta's book Capital: The Eruption of Delhi.
Jan Satyagraha 2012 is a non-violent foot march organized by Ekta Parishad, on a 350 km stretch between Gwalior and Delhi. The march started at Gwalior on 2 October 2012, and arrived in Delhi on 29 October 2012. Jan Satyagraha means "Keenness to Truth" and is based on Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent resistance.
S. N. Subba Rao was a fellow of the Gandhi Peace Foundation and founder of National Youth Project.
Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium is an international cricket stadium at Shankargarh village in Gwalior constructed by the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association. The stadium is built on a land of 30 acres, which has been taken over by Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association under the supervision of cricketer and fast bowler Raja Naney from Malviya Nagar. The project will be completed in two stages, total seating capacity after final stage will be 50,000. It will also be equipped with flood lights for night matches, a swimming pool, sauna bath, modern gym, dressing room, and 30 corporate boxes.
E. Kumaril Swamy
Shashi Bhushan (1924–2011) was an Indian independence activist, social worker, politician, writer and an institution builder. He was the founder of several organisations such as Rashtriya Ekta Samiti, All India Freedom Fighters' Organisation, Punjab Ekta Samiti and the Institute for Socialist Education, and represented Khargone and South Delhi constituency in the 5th Lok Sabha (1971–1977).
Jai Jagat 2020 is an international campaign for justice and peace initiated by Rajagopal P. V. and Jill Carr-Harris. The main action is a march from Rajghat, New Delhi, to the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It started on October 2, 2019, on the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Around 50 people from at least 10 countries are walking 10,000 km during one year. It will arrive in Geneva on October 2, 2020. The march will cross 10 countries: India, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, and Switzerland. In addition, a small delegation is going to Pakistan.
Atal Progress-Way, also known as Chambal Expressway, is an approved 404 km (251 mi) long, six-lane access-controlled greenfield expressway, which will connect the city of Kota in Rajasthan with the city of Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, through the famous city of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. It will pass through three states–Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The expressway is a part of Bharatmala Pariyojana. The government's aim is to develop the economically backward regions of Chambal division and Gwalior division of Madhya Pradesh through the expressway. The expressway will reduce both travel time and distance, from 10-11 hours at present, to only 6-7 hours, and from 490 km (300 mi) to 404 km (251 mi). It will be built at a cost of approximately ₹ 23,700 crore, which was earlier slated at ₹ 20,000 crore. The expressway has been named as Atal Progress-Way after the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and also because he was born in Gwalior, nearby which the expressway will pass.