JUNE

June 1, 2006
3,000 VILLAGERS PROTEST IN SINGUR TO PREVENT LAND ACQUISITION
About 3,000 villagers under the banner of Krishijami Bachao Committee (Save Farmland Committee).staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Singur block development officer against the government's decision to acquire fertile farmland for the Tata Motors project.
Articles:
Fernandes, Walter (2007). 'Singur and the Displacement Scenario', Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 42, No. 3.
Sarkar, Abirup (2007). 'Development and Displacement', Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 42, No. 16.
Bose, Deb Kumar (2007). 'Land Acquisition in West Bengal', Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 42, No. 17.
Websites:
www.calcuttaweb.com/singur.shtml
www.scribd.com/doc/3604717/Singur-Timeline-18-May-2006-15-June-2008
http://wordpress.com/tag/singur/
www.indiamike.com/india/india-travel-news-and-commentary-f80/our-land-their-development-a-photo-essay-on-singur-t27438/

June 2, 2008
FIRST GHAR BACHAO GHAR BANAO ANDOLAN CONVENTION HELD IN MUMBAI
Thousands of representative members of GBGBA gathered in Mumbai to discuss the right to housing, the rights of hawkers, provision of basic services like water and sanitation, and larger questions of models of urban development.
Articles:
Swaminathan, Madhura (1995). 'Aspects of Urban Poverty in Bombay', Environment and Urbanization, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 133-144.
Appadurai, Arjun (2000). 'Spectral Housing and Urban Cleansing: Notes on Millennial Mumbai', Public Culture, Vol. 12, No.3, pp. 627-651.
_________ (2001). 'Deep Democracy: Urban Governmentality and the Horizon of Politics', Environment and Urbanization, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 23-43.
Books:
Mukhija, Vinit (2003). Squatters As Developers?: Slum Demolition and Redevelopment in Mumbai, India (SOAS Studies in Development Geography), Ashgate Publishing.
Baken, Robert Jan (2003). Plotting, Squatting, Public Purpose and Politics: Land Market Development, Low Income Housing, and Public Intervention in India (SOAS Studies in Development Geography), Ashgate Publishing.
Neuwerth, Robert (2005). Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, A New Urban World, New York: Routledge.
Websites:
http://groups.google.com/group/initiative-india/browse_thread/thread/49e6fc11713b447e
http://natant.blogspot.com/2008/06/life-in-general-who-are-real.html
[For more on Right to Housing, see July 10]

June 4, 2007
NARMADA DAM OUSTEES PROTEST IN KHANDWA, BEGIN HUNGER STRIKE ON JUNE 6
Over 5,000 oustees of the Indirasagar and Omkareshwar dams on the Narmada river staged a dharna in Khandwa, protesting the complete failure of the Relief and Rehabilitation process in the two dams.
Articles:
(2003). 'The Omkareshwar Dam in India: Closing Doors on Peoples' Futures', Japan Center for Sustainable Environment and Societies, Urgewald (www.jacses.org/sdap/omkare/Omkareshwar-Briefing.pdf).
Websites:
www.icrindia.org/?p=154
www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2007/hunger_strike_for_narmada_reha_1.html
www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2007/fast_for_rehab_in_khandwa_ends.html
www.countercurrents.org/en-chatterji210905.htm
http://sanhati.com/news/270/
http://infochangeindia.org/200606295043/Environment/News/Displaced-MP-villagers-demand-audit-of-dams-on-Narmada.html
www.waterpowermagazine.com/story.asp?storyCode=2047044
www.jacses.org/sdap/omkare/Omkareshwar-Briefing.pdf
www.nerve.in/news:25350074699
www.aol.in/news/story/2007062201339012000001/India/index.html
http://pv.cgpi.org/2007_July1/Pv070701-15_link13.htm
[For more on Narmada valley struggles, see September 28, March 30, August 1]

June 5, 1975
STUDENTS' RALLY IN PATNA WHERE JAYAPRAKASH NARAYAN CALLED FOR TOTAL REVOLUTION
Jayaprakash Narayan led the students movement in Bihar in the 1970s, which gradually developed into a popular people's movement against the corruption and failures of the Indira Gandhi-led central government. He gave the call for Sampoorna Kranti, or Total Revolution at this massive rally.
[For more on JP Movement, see March 6]

June 5, 2000
UMBERGAON DAY
Commemorating the struggle of local residents of Umbergaon, where the proposed port project was to be set up, Kinara Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, National Fishworkers Forum of India and National Alliance of People's Movements gave a call to observe this day as Umbergaon Day.
Websites:
https://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/dams/narmada/umbergaon.htm
[For more on opposition to Umbergaon port project, see April 7]

June 5, 2003
PROTESTS IN BANGALORE TO SAVE THE KALI RIVER
With six dams already built on the Kali River (and a proposed seventh), along with pollution from adjoining industries and illegal sand mining on the banks of the river, a group of concerned activists came together on World Environment Day to form the Kali Bachao Andolan.
Websites:
www.narmada.org/related.issues/kali/
www.indiatogether.org/2003/jun/env-kaliriver.htm
http://144.16.65.194/hpg/envis/doc99html/endan231001.html
http://ciedsindia.org/save%20western%20ghats.htm
www.indiatogether.net/2003/oct/env-wcpmmeet.htm
www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2004/2004-06-28-04.asp
www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20071130&filename=news&sec_id=4&sid=34

June 11, 2007
NATIONAL CONSULATION ON IMPENDING THREAT TO THE COASTAL ZONE HELD AT CHENNAI
As a response of the Ministry of Environment and Forests' initiative to introduce a new Coastal Zone Management Notification to replace the earlier Coastal Regulation Zone Notification of 1991, a national consultation was held to assess the impact of this on coastal communities and ecosystems. The meeting launched the National Campaign against CZM Notification.
Articles:
Venkatasubramanian, S. Ganapathy and T.V. Lakshmanan. 'Coastal Zone Management in India Critical Appraisal of Legal Control', Anna University, Chennai.
Websites:
www.trinet.in/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?cid=63&lid=345 - Minutes of the meeting held at Indian Social Institute (ISI) on 26th June 2007.
www.icsf.net
[For more on the Campaign against CZM Notification , see August 9]

June 11, 2007
36-HR STRIKE AGAINST A PUBLIC HEARING ON URANIUM MINING IN MEGHALAYA
A 36-hour bandh was called by the Khasi Students' Union in Meghalaya to protest against the undemocratic public hearing on uranium mining being convened by the State Pollution Control Board.
Websites:
www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1102660
www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070611/nation.htm#6
[For more on anti-uranium struggles in Meghalaya, see January 7, April 6, October 5]

June 14, 1991
MANIBELI SATYAGRAHA LAUNCHED AGAINST FORCIBLE SUBMERGENCE
One of the first villages to be submerged in Maharashtra as a result of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, Manibeli was the site of the monsoon satyagraha from 1991 to 1994, a practice within the Narmada Bachao Andolan to give support to project affected people during the monsoon when water levels rise and large parts of the area are submerged.
Websites:
http://aidindia.org/sahyog/manibeli.html
[For more on Narmada valley struggles, see September 28, March 30, August 1]

June 15, 2005
RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005 PASSED IN PARLIAMENT
The RTI Act that was enacted in October 2005 as a result of sustained campaigns for the right to information initiated by MKSS (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan) in Rajasthan. In an attempt to fight corruption, the MKSS popularised the Jan Sunwai (public hearing) and introduced the idea of social auditing, seeking access to government records and information as a rightful demand to increase transparency and accountability of the administration.
Articles:
Mander, Harsh and Abha Singhal Joshi (1998). 'The Movement for Right to Information in India: People's Power for the Control of Corruption,' paper presented to the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Conference on 'Pan-Commonwealth Advocacy for Human Rights, Peace and Good Governance in Africa', Harare, 21-24, January. (www.humanrightsinitiative.org).
Jenkins, Rob and Anne Marie Goetz (1999). 'Accounts and Accountability: Theoretical Implications of the Right-to-Information Movement in India', Third World Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 603-622.
Websites:
http://righttoinformation.gov.in/
http://cic.gov.in/
www.parivartan.com/rti.asp
www.rtiindia.org/
http://right2information.wordpress.com/category/about-rti/
www.mkssindia.org/node/3
www.humanrightsinitiative.org/
www.rti4success.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
www.indiatogether.org/2005/aug/rti-rticonf05.htm

June 22, 1982
CHHATTISGARH MUKTI MORCHA FORMED
The Chhattisgarh Mines Shramik Sangh, a trade union of mine workers led by Shankar Guha Niyogi evolved into the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha to address a wider array of linked issues: alcoholism, health and education. It also spearheaded the movement for a separate state of Chhattisgarh, and a just pattern of development.
Articles:
Chandoke, Neera (2003). 'When the Voiceless Speak: A Case Study of the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha'. In Rajesh Tandon and Ranjitha Mohanty (Eds.), Does Civil Society Matter?: Governance in Contemporary India, California: Sage.
Priyadarshi, Praveen K. (2009). 'Towards a Holistic Workers' Struggle: The Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha. In Voices of Struggle. Social Movements in Asia, edited by Smitu Kothari, George Aditjandro and PM Laksano, New Delhi: Orient Blackswan.
Books:
Guhoniogi, Sonkor (1991). Chhattisgarh and the National Question, Durg: Lok Sahitya Parishad Centre for Education and Communication (Ed.) (1998). On a Rainbow in the Sky…The Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha, New Delhi: Centre for Education and Communication.
[For more on the precursor of Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha, Chhattisgarh Mines Shramik Sangh, see March 3]

June 22, 2002
1,000 ASSEMBLE IN KALAHANDI TO OPPOSE STERLITE-VEDANTA
Nearly 1,000 people assembled at the Revenue Office in Orissa's Kalahandi district and submitted a memorandum opposing the Sterlite-Vedanta bauxite mining project in the Niyamgiri hills. The UK-based company's proposal which included a refinery in nearby Lanjigarh. would displace 10-12 Adivasi villages. The movement also highlighted the extensive ecological damage and degradation that would come in the wake of these developments.
Articles:
Environment Protection Group, A Brief Report on Ecological and Biodiversity Importance of Niyamgiri Hill and Implications of Bauxite Mining, Orissa: Environment Protection Group (www.freewebs.com/epgorissa/niyamgiri.pdf).
Sahoo, Sarbeswar. 'Tribal Displacement and Human Rights Violation in Orissa'.
(http://sahoo.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/displacement-human-right.pdf).
Raj, Ranjit Dev (1999). 'Environment India: Bauxite TNCs grab Tribal Land with Impunity', World News, Inter Press Service.
Das, Vidhya (2001). 'Mining Bauxite, Maiming People', Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 36, No.28.
William, Stanley (2002). 'Land Does Not Belong To Us We Belong To the Land: Mining in Orissa, India', Echoes, Issue 21.
Devarajan, P. (2004). 'A Struggle to Save Niyamgiri Forests', Business Line, Sunday, August 8 (www.blonnet.com/2004/08/08/stories/2004080801141600.htm).
Padel, Felix and Samarendra Das (2006). 'Anthropology of a Genocide: Tribal Movements in Central India against Over-Industrialization', SAAG (www.freewebs.com/epgorissa/FelixPadel-SamarendraDas.pdf).
Sahu, Geentanjoy (2008). 'Mining in the Niyamgiri Hills and Tribal Rights', Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 43, No. 15.
Websites:
www.minesandcommunities.org//search.php?words=niyamgiri
http://sanhati.com/front-page/403/
www.acpp.org/uappeals/uaupdate/2004/up04031605.html
www.freewebs.com/epgorissa/niyamgiriandvedanta.htm
www.petitiononline.com/niyam/
www.indiatogether.org/2007/nov/soc-niyamgiri.htm
http://forestrightsact.awardspace.com/updates/update_13.08.08.htm
http://in.youtube.com/user/niyamgiri

June 22-28, 2008
'BLACK WEEK' OBSERVED MARKING 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF MOU BETWEEN POSCO AND GOO
The struggle being spearheaded by POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) announced a week-long protest to mark the third anniversary of the signing of MoU between POSCO and the Government of Orissa. The protest also expressed concern that the Government's undemocratic arrest of PPSS leader, Abhay Sahu marked a new phase of state repression aimed at starting the stalled work.
Articles:
Das, Amrendra (2005). 'POSCO Deal', Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 40, No. 44-45.
Websites:
www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?tp=on&autono=40076
[For more on struggle against POSCO in Orissa, see April 18]

June 25, 1975
RALLY IN NEW DELHI LED BY THE LOK SANGHARSH SAMITI
Under the auspices of the Lok Sangharsh Samiti headed by Morarji Desai, a mammoth rally demanding the resignation of prime minister, Indira Gandhi, was taken out in New Delhi. Jayaprakash Narayan was one of the main speakers. This rally came days after the Allahabad High Court found Ms. Gandhi guilty of electoral corruption. Later that night, she declared a state of national Emergency that lasted 21 months.
[For more on JP Movement, see March 6]

June 29, 2008
GAY RIGHTS PARADE IN NEW DELHI, KOLKATA AND BANGALORE
In the first ever instance of an open assertion of rights of gays, lesbians and transexuals in India, Gay Rights Parades were taken out simultaneously in New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore. This was soon followed by the Queer Azadi Rally in Mumbai in August 2008. Given Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises homosexuality, this was a big step for the gay rights movement to publicly assert their rights.
Books:
Devi, Shakuntala (1977). The World of Homosexuals, Delhi: Vikas.
Vanita, Ruth (Ed.) (2002). Queering India: Same-Sex Love and Eroticism in Indian Culture and Society, New York: Routledge.
________ (2005). Love's Rite: Same-Sex Marriage in India and the West, New Delhi: Penguin India.
Sharma Narrain, Arvind and Gautam Bhan (Eds.) (2005). Because I Have a Voice: Queer Politics in India, New Delhi: Yoda Press.
Pandey, Bechan (2006). Chocolate and Other Stories of Male-Male Desire, Translated by Ruth Vanita, New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Websites:
www.feministing.com/archives/009594.html
http://qmediawatch.wordpress.com/
http://sangama.org/node/10
http://queeryouth.blog.co.in/
http://queerindia.blogspot.com/

June 30, 1855
SANTHAL REVOLUTION DAY
Santhal Revolution Day commemorates the Santhal Rebellion that began on this day in present day Jharkhand against zamindars as well as British colonial authority. The latter legalised major changes in land rights appropriating in the process vast Santhali lands.
Articles:
Hill, Christopher V. (1991). 'Philosophy and Reality in Riparian South Asia: British Famine Policy and Migration in Colonial North India', Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 263-279.
Sundar, Nandini (2005). 'Laws, Policies and Practices in Jharkhand', Economic and Political Weekly. Vol. 40, No. 41, pp. 4455-4456
(http://casi.ssc.upenn.edu/india/Nandini%20Sundarlaw-policies-practice.pdf).
Books:
(1997). Enslaved Peoples in the 1990s: Indigenous Peoples, Debt Bondage and Human Rights, Patel, Mahendar Lal (1998). Agrarian Transformation in Tribal India, New Delhi: M.D. Publications.
Kelkar, Govind, Dev Nathan and Pierre Gilbert Walter (2003). Gender Relations in Forest Societies in Asia: Patriarchy at Odds, New Delhi: Sage Publications.
Copenhagen: Anti-Slavery International, International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs.
Shah, Ghanshyam (2004). Social Movements in India: A Review of Literature, New Delhi: Sage Publications.
Websites:
http://wesanthals.tripod.com/id50.html
http://apnajharkhand.com/Ranchiinfo/History/IMPORTANTTRIBALREVOLTS.html
www.indianetzone.com/19/the_santhal_rebellion.htm
http://iref.homestead.com/Peasant.html
www.telegraphindia.com/1050630/asp/ranchi/story_4932426.asp