MARCH

March 2, 1987
THE MOVEMENT FOR AN INDEPENDENT BODOLAND BEGINS
The agitation for a separate state of Bodoland was initiated by the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) along with Bodo Peoples' Action Committee (BPAC). Bodos are non-Assamese tribals residing largely in the Brahmaputra valley. Their demand - 'Divide Assam Fifty-Fifty' - was widely opposed by the State and other powerful groups, leading finally to the formation of the Bodo Territorial Autonomous Council within the state of Assam.
Articles:
Darnell, Alfred T. and Sunita Parikh (1988). 'Religion, Ethnicity, and the Role of the State: Explaining Conflict in Assam', Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 11, No. 3.
Dasgupta, J (1997). 'Community, Authenticity and Autonomy: Insurgence and Institutional Development in India's Northeast', The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp. 345-370.
Prabhakara, M.S. (2003). 'Territories of Fear', Frontline, Vol. 20, No. 24. (www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2024/stories/20031205003103900.htm)
Books:
Baruah, Sanjib (1999). India against Itself: Assam and Politics of Nationality, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Websites:
www.asylumlaw.org/docs/india/mar99_india_assameseandbodos.pdf
[For more on the Bodoland Movement, see February 15]

March 2, 1876
MURIA REVOLT IN BASTAR
The Diwan of Bastar State in 1876, Gopinath Kapardas, was responsible for large-scale exploitation of the Adivasi population. The Muria Revolt was sparked off by the King's refusal to accept the Adivasi demand to remove the Diwan. The Diwan's residence was surrounded compelling the Resident of Orissa to send in the British army. The revolt was brutally crushed.
Books:
Shukla, Hira Lal (1992). History of the People of Bastar: A Study in Tribal Insurgency, New Delhi: Sharada Publications.
Websites:
http://chhattisgarh.nic.in/profile/corigin.htm
www.jansamachar.net/display.php3?id=&num=348&lang=English

March 3, 1977
CHHATTISGARH MINES SHRAMIK SANGH FORMED
The CMSS was formed to organise manual mine workers of the Dalli-Rajahara iron ore mines against differential working conditions and wages/benefits compared to mechanised mine workers. As the struggle, led by Shankar Guha Niyogi progressed, it broadened its scope beyond labour issues giving birth to the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha in June 1982.
Articles:
'Shankar Guha Niyogi: His Work and Thinking', Jan Vikas Andolan.
(www.doccentre.net/JVA/His_Work.pdf)
Lin, Sharat G. (1992). 'Shankar Guha Niyogi: Beyond Conventional Trade Unionism in India', Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars, Vol. 24.
Venkatesan, V (2005). 'A Verdict and Some Questions', Frontline, Vol. 22, No. 5.
(www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2205/stories/20050311001004400.htm)
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.
Film:
Niyogi Zinda Hai! (1992, 60 min, Hindi), Directed by: Gargi Sen, Sujit Ghosh, Ranjan De
Websites:
http://chhattisgarh.nic.in/profile/cchhattisgarh.htm
www.indialabourarchives.org/col/cmm.htm
www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=1570&C=1482
www.hinduonnet.com/mag/2004/01/18/stories/2004011800090400.htm

March 4-7, 2006
FOUNDING CONFERENCE OF NEW TRADE UNION INITIATIVE
Several independent trade unions in the organised and unorganised sector came together in 2001 under the banner of the New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI) to build a more effective trade union federation where multiple progressive political tendencies could co-exist to address the challenges of the offensive against the working class under capitalist globalisation.
Websites:
www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv12n2/ntui.htm
www.indiatogether.org/2006/apr/eco-ntui.htm

March 6, 1975
JAYAPRAKASH NARAYAN LEADS 'PEOPLE'S MARCH' TO PARLIAMENT
Jayaprakash Narayan, a Socialist-Gandhian leader popularly known as JP, led the opposition to the Indira Gandhi government in the 1970s. By the mid-1970s, JP became an icon for various political groups and parties angered by three decades of corruption and misrule. The 'People's March' to Parliament attracted 3-5,00,000 people. The March was one of the compelling factors which led Indira Gandhi to impose a state of internal Emergency on June 26.
Articles:
Palmer, Norman D. (1976). 'India in 1975: Democracy in Eclipse, Asian Survey, Vol. 16, No. 2, A Survey of Asia in 1975: Part II, pp. 95-110.
Vaidya, Prem. 'Jayprakash Narayan Keeper of India's Conscience: The Architect of India's Second Liberation' (www.liberalsindia.com/freedomfirst/ff452-03.html)
Books:
Narayan, Jayprakash (1978). Towards Total Revolution, 4 Volumes Edited with Introduction by Brahmanand, Bombay: Popular Prakashan.
Das, Sandip (2005). Jayaprakash Narayan: A Centenary Volume, New Delhi: Mittal.
Websites:
www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/06/23/stories/05232523.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayaprakash_Narayan#Bihar_Movement_and_Total_Revolution

March 6 June 23, 1988
110-DAY RAJABPUR SATYAGRAHA BY BHARATIYA KISAN UNION
Websites:
http://muzaffarnagar.nic.in/mstikait.htm
[For more on BKU, see October 17]

March 8
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

March 8, 1996
THOUSANDS OF GARHWALI WOMEN ANNOUNCE 'SAVE THE FOREST DAY'
Following the legacy of the Chipko movement of the seventies, women continued to lead the struggle against unsustainable and illegal exploitation of forest resources by the government as well as private interests. In 1996, amidst large-scale mobilisation of women against indiscriminate felling of trees, the women of Garhwal observed International Women's Day by announcing 'Save the Forest Day'.
Articles:
Bhai, Suresh (1999). 'Rakshasutra Movement: A Women's Campaign to Save Uttarakhand Forests', Manushi, Issue 110.
Movement Features (2000-2007), Kriti: New Delhi, Vol. I, No. i-viii, pp. 16.

March 12, 1918
FIRST MILL WORKERS' STRIKE IN BOMBAY CARRIED OUT BY 125,000 MEN
Almost the entire workforce of 125,000 participated in the first strike by the mill workers of Bombay Textile Mills. The next two years saw the strikes spreading throughout the country.
Articles:
Mukherji, Abani. (1922). 'Indian Labour Movement: A Review of the Situation', The Communist Review, Vol. 3, No. 5.
Chandavarkar, Rajnarayan (1998). 'Workers' Politics and the Mill Districts in Bombay between the Wars'. In Imperial Power and Popular Politics: Class Resistance and the State in India, c. 1850-1950, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
_________ (2008). 'The Decline and Fall of the Jobber System in the Bombay Cotton Textile Industry 1870-1955', Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 117-210.
Books:
Sharma, G.K. (1971). Labour Movement in India: Its Past and Present, New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Desai, A.R. (Ed.) (1988). Labour Movement in India: Documents, 1918-20, New Delhi: Indian Council for Historical Research.

March 12, 1930
GANDHI'S DANDI MARCH BEGINS
The Dandi March undertaken by Gandhi and followed by hundreds of others was a symbolic gesture of defying British authority. It was illegal for anyone to make salt besides the British themselves. This non-violent protest in defiance of the law inspired the civil disobedience movement against British occupation.
Articles:
Habib, Irfan (1997). 'Civil Disobedience 1930-31', Social Scientist, Vol. 25, No. 9-10, pp. 43-66
Bunsha, Dionne (2005). 'Dandi in the Time of Globalisation', Frontline, Vol. 22, No. 9 (www.hinduonnet.com)
Suhrud, Tridip (2005). 'Dandi March and Gandhi's Politics', Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 40, No. 15.
Books:
Bakshi, S.R. (1988). Gandhi and Dandi March, New Delhi: Criterion Publications.
Tewari, Jyotsna (1995). Sabarmati to Dandi: Gandhi's Non-Violent March and the Raj, Delhi: Raj Publications.
Weber, Thomas (1997). On the Salt March: The Historiography of Gandhi's March to Dandi, New Delhi: Harper Collins.
Films:
Mahatma: Life of Gandhi, 1868-1948  (1968, 330 min), Directed by: Vithalbhai Jhaveri.
Websites:
www.saltmarch.org.in/home.html
http://gandhismriti.nic.in/index1.asp?linkid=77&langid=2
www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Dandi.html

March 14, 2007
NANDIGRAM POLICE FIRING
Heavily armed police opened fired on unarmed villagers in Nandigram in East Midnapur district of West Bengal. This attack was in response to local resistance to land acquisition for the purpose of establishing a Special Economic Zone.
Articles:
Pandey, Sandeep (2007). 'Fascism of the Left?', Siliconeer, Vol. 8, No. 4 (www.siliconeer.com/past_issues/2007/siliconeer_april_2007.html#Anchor--COV-59625)
Patnaik, Prabhat (2007). 'In the Aftermath of Nandigram', Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 42, No. 1, 1893-1894.
Sarkar, Aditya (2007).' Nandigram and the Deformations of the Indian Left', International Socialism, Issue No. 115. (www.isj.org.uk/index.php4?id=333&issue=115)
Books:
All India Citizens Initiative (2007). Nandigram: What Really Happened? Based on the Report of the People's Tribunal on Nandigram, 26-28 May, 2007, Delhi: Daanish books
Jai, J.R. and R. Jai (2007). SEZs, Massacre of Human Rights with Special Reference to Singur & Nandigram, New Delhi: Regency Publications
Films:
www.counterviews.org/archive.html (a list of documentaries, videos and films)
Websites:
www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/india/2007/0408nandigram_massacre.html Preliminary Report of the All India Fact Finding Team on the Nandigram Massacre
www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2007/nandigram_report_by_citizens_t.html
www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGASA200012008

March 14
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST DAMS: FOR RIVERS, WATER AND LIFE
The First International Meeting of People Affected by Dams held at Curitiba, Brazil in March 1997 declared March 14 to be the International Day of Action for Rivers, falling on the same day as Brazil's Day of Action against Large Dams. One of the goals is to build and strengthen regional and international networks within the international anti-dam movement.
Reports:
Dams and Development: The Report of the World Commission on Dams.
Dubash, Navroz, Mairi Dupar, Smitu Kothari & Tundu Lissu (2002). A Watershed in Global Governance? An (2002). Independent Assessment of the World Commission on Dams, Washington, DC: World Resources Institute, Dar-es-Salaam: Lawyers Environmental Action Team and Delhi: Lokayan.
Websites:
http://internationalrivers.org/en/day-of-action
www.rivernet.org/general/movement/14mars.htm
www.dams.org/
www.wcd.org
www.wcdindependentassessment.org

March 15, 2005
SARDAR SAROVAR OUSTEES WIN SUPREME COURT CASES
In a case filed against the Madhya Pradesh government's distinction between temporarily and permanently affected families and subsequent differential rehabilitation measures, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the oustees and deplored the MP Government for the lack of proper rehabilitation.
Websites:
www.indiatogether.org/2005/apr/hrt-dampafs.htm
Articles:
Movement Features (2000-2007), Kriti: New Delhi, Vol. I, No. i-viii, pp. 142.
[For more on Narmada struggles, see September 28, March 30, August 1]

March 15, 2007
1,500 ADIVASI FAMILIES OCCUPY VILLAGE LAND IN GHATEHA, MADHYA PRADESH
On this day, Adivasi families, stripped of their traditional rights to forest lands and resources that provided livelihood security, occupied about 1,000 acres of village land in Ghateha village of Rewa district illegally notified as Forest Land but Forest and Revenue Departments. The movement has been fighting for proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Articles:
(2007). Update Collective, Issue 1, September 1
(http://updatecollective.wordpress.com/category/ghateha/)
Websites:
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=D2fEe6Und3U&feature=related Video clipping from Action 2007 on Ghateha land rights struggle.
[For more on the land rights struggle in Madhya Pradesh, see April 19]

March 15, 2007
HUNDREDS PROTEST NANDIGRAM KILLINGS AND USE OF OFFICIAL TERROR TACTICS
In protest against the use of armed police against protestors defending their lands resulting in the death of many, hundreds came out on the streets at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
Websites:
www.icrindia.org/?p=137
www.all4all.org/2007/03/3041.shtml
www.hindu.com/2007/03/20/stories/2007032016700900.htm
[For more on the Nandigram situation, see March 14]

March 17, 1980
DHARNA AT SUPREME COURT DEMANDING RE-OPENING OF MATHURA RAPE CASE
Following the case where sixteen-year old Adivasi girl, Mathura, was raped by two policemen while in custody, the High Court decision that convicted the two policemen was reversed by the Supreme Court, acquitting the two policemen. The dharna by various women's organisations demanded that the case be re-opened, triggering the fight for more effective laws relating to the sexual oppression of women.
Articles:
Katzenstein, Mary Fainsod (1989). 'Organizing Against Violence: Strategies of the Indian Women's Movement', Pacific Affairs, Vol. 62, pp. 53-71.
Agnihotri, Indu and Vina Mazumdar (1995). 'Changing Terms of Political Discourse: Women's Movement in India, 1970s-1990s', Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 30, No. 29.
Goswami, Ruchira (2003). 'Freedom from Gendered Fear', Combat Law, Vol. 2, No. 3. (www.combatlaw.org/information.php?article_id=276&issue_id=11)
Books:
Kumar, Radha (1993). The History of Doing: An Illustrated Account of Movements for Women's Rights and Feminism in India, 1800-1990, Zubaan.
Websites:
www.icfmt.org/vol3no3/rape_laws.htm
www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990120/02050555.html
http://infochangeindia.org/20051207159/Women/Analysis/The-violence-against-women-campaign-Where-have-we-failed.html

March 19, 2001
FARMERS' RALLY AGAINST WTO AND PARLIAMENT GHERAO
Following five years of liberalisation of agriculture and its adverse impacts on farmers, including the fluctuations in the international market, a massive rally of farmers was taken out in New Delhi to demand the removal of agriculture from WTO.
Articles:
Long, Jessica (2007). ''WTO Kills Farmers': India Free Market Reforms Trigger Farmers' Suicides', Global Research. (www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6522)
Books:
Shiva, Vandana (2000). WTO and Free Trade: A War against the Farmers of India, Shameem Faizi for the Communist Party of India.
Websites:
www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/imf/india/krrswto.htm
[For more on anti-WTO protests, see September 29]

March 19, 2007
ACTION 2007 LAUNCHED
In order to put forward a collective challenge to the State, bringing together people's movements fighting their battles in their own geo-political contexts, all those struggling for justice and equality and against human rights violations decided to come together and launch an indefinite struggle in Delhi called Action 2007, or Sangharsh 2007.
Websites:
www.action2007.net/twiki/tiki-index.php?page=Action2007

March 27, 1973
DASHOLI GRAM SWARAJ SANGH ACTIVISTS HUG ASH TREES
Dasholi Gram Swaraj Sangh was an organisation formed by local workers in present-day Uttarakhand with the aim to start small industries using resources of the forest. The Chipko Movement was inaugurated on this day when DGSS activists hugged ash trees to prevent commercial felling by the Simon Company. This practice of hugging trees soon spread throughout the region and beyond as a successful non-violent means of protecting the ecology.
Articles:
Joshi, Gopa (1982). 'The Chipko Movement and Women', PUCL Bulletin.
(www.pucl.org/from-archives/Gender/chipko.htm)
Shiva, Vandana and J Bandyopadhyay (1986). 'The Evolution, Structure, and Impact of the Chipko Movement', Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 133-142.
Sharma, Kumud, Nautiyal K. and Pandey (1987). `Women in Struggle : Role and
Participation of Women in the Chipko Movement in the Uttarakhand Region', Occasional Monograph, I, CWDS.
Haigh, Martin J (1988).'Understanding Chipko: The Himalayan People's Movement for Forest Conservation', International Journal for Environmental Studies, Vol. 31, No. 2-3, pp. 99-110.
Bhatt, C. P. (1990). 'The Chipko Andolan: Forest Conservation Based on People's Power', Environment and Urbanization, Vol. 2, No. 1
Shiva, Vandana (1991). 'The Chipko Movement'. In Ecology and the Politics of Survival: Conflicts Over Natural Resources in India, New Delhi/Newbury Park/London: Sage Publications
Jain, S (1991). 'Standing Up For Trees: Women's Role in the Chipko Movement', Women and the Environment. Sally Sontheimer, ed. London: Earthscan Publications, pp. 163-178
Hedge, Pandurang (1998). 'Chipko and Appiko: How the People Save the Trees', Quaker Peace and Service, pp. 13
Books:
Misra, A., & S Tripathi (1978). Chipko Movement: Uttarakhand Women's Bid to Save Forest Wealth. New Delhi: People's Action.
Bhatt, C. P. (1988). A Chipko Experience: Forest Conservation by People's Participation, Chamoli: Dasholi Gram Swaraj Mandal (DGSM).
Kunwar, S. S. (1988). Hugging the Himalayas: The Chipko Experience, DGSM.
Weber, T (1989). Hugging the Trees: The Story of the Chipko Movement, New Delhi: Penguin Books.
Guha, R. (1990). The Unquiet Woods: Ecological Change and Peasant Resistance in the Himalayas, Berkeley: University of California Press.
Films:
Sudesha (1983, English and Hindi, 30 min), Directed by: Deepa Dhanraj.
Websites:
http://uttarakhand.prayaga.org/chipko.html
www.markshep.com/nonviolence/GT_Chipko.html
www.hinduonnet.com/mag/2002/06/02/stories/2002060200010100.htm - Guha, Ramchandra (2002). 'A Gandhian in Garhwal', The Hindu, Sunday, June 2.
www.navdanya.org/

March 28-30, 2008
RIGHT TO WATER NATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD AT MEHDIGANJ
In opposition to the growing commercialisation of water and the entry of multinational companies in the water 'business' a Right to Water National Conference was held in Mehdiganj, Uttar Pradesh. Mehdiganj is the site of a strong local opposition to a Coca-Cola plant.
Articles:
Mehta, Lyla. 'Problems of Publicness and Access Rights: Perspectives from the Water Domain' (www.menschenrechtwasser.de/)
Books:
Shiva, Vandana (2002). Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution, and Profit, Cambridge: South End Press.
Websites:
www.mehdiganj.org/
www.ashanet.org/varanasi/news1.html
www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/national_water_conference_unde.html
www.navdanya.org/news/03sept3.htm
www.navdanya.org/news/03mar16.htm

March 29, 1985
THE BHOPAL GAS LEAK DISASTER (PROCESSING OF CLAIMS) ACT, 1985 ENACTED
The Act was enacted with the purpose of conferring powers on the Central Government to ensure that claims arising out of the Bhopal gas leak disaster are dealt with speedily, effectively, equitably and to the best advantage of the claimants.
Websites:
www.indianrailways.gov.in/RPF/Files/law/BareActs/bhopal_leak1985act.htm
http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/lsdeb/ls10/ses4/1120079201.htm
[For more on Bhopal Gas Tragedy, see December 3]

March 30, 1924
VAIKOM SATYAGRAHA AGAINST UNTOUCHABILITY BEGINS IN TRAVANCORE
The Satyagraha was started to establish the right for all people to walk on roads adjacent to the Vaikom Temple, which was prohibited for low caste Hindus. It was only five years later that the protestors won their battle against the priests.
Articles:
Jeffrey, Robin (1976). 'Temple Entry Movement in Travancore: 1860-1940', Social Scientist, Vol. 4 No. 44, pp. 3-27.
Report of the Temple Entry Enquiry Committee (1933), Trivandrum: Government Press.
Books:
Menon, P. K. K. (1970). The History of Freedom Movement in Kerala, Trivandrum: Govt. of Kerala.
Ramacami, I. V. (1983). Untouchability: History of Vaikom Agitation, Madras: Periyar Self-respect Propaganda Institution.
Raimon, S (2006). Selected Documents on Vaikom Satyagraha, Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Archives Dept., Government. of Kerala.
Websites:
http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe0798/PIBF0707981.html
www.geocities.com/guruforum/vaikom3.htm
www.geocities.com/guruforum/vaikom2.htm

March 30, 1993
WORLD BANK WITHDRAWS FROM THE SARDAR SAROVAR PROJECT
After a massive campaign against the Bank's role in the project, in the form of a $450 million loan, and sustained violation of its own guidelines, in an unprecedented step, the Bank appointed an Independent Commission to review the project. Instead of suggesting minor changes and adjustments, the Commission recommended that the Bank withdraw from the project. The Bank stayed on but had to finally bow to national and international pressure. To save face, it had the governments announce that it was leaving the project.
Articles:
Colchester, M. (1987). 'The Tribal People of the Narmada Valley, Damned by the World Bank', Proceedings of the Conference on "Forest Resources Crisis in the Third World," 6-8 September 1986.
Wood, John R (1993). 'India's Narmada River Dams: Sardar Sarovar under Siege', Asian Survey, Vol. 33, No. 10, pp. 968-984.
Caufield, Catherine (1997). 'The Holiest River'. In Masters of Illusion: The World Bank and the Poverty of Nations, New York: Henry Holt and Co.
Nelson, Paul J (1997). 'Deliberation, Leverage or Coercion? The World Bank, NGOs, and Global Environmental Politics', Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 467-70.
Books:
Environmental Planning and Coordination Organisation (Madhya Pradesh, India) & Narmada Valley Development Department (1984). Environmental Impact Study of Narmada Sagar Project, Bhopal: Environmental Planning and Coordination Organisation.
Survival International (1985). India the Narmada Dam Project, London: Survival International. Narmada Planning Group (1985). Narmada Basin Water Development Plan, Environmental Aspects Follow-Up Action on the World Bank Aide-Memoire of 5th October 1984, Bhopal: Narmada Planning Agency, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Atkinson, J (1992). Narmada Dam: Environmental and Social Impact of a World Bank Project, Fitzroy, Vic: Community Aid Abroad.
Websites:
www.narmada.org/
www.foil.org/economy/ecology/overv.html
www.whirledbank.org/environment/dams.html
http://newint.org/features/2001/07/01/facts/

March 30, 2004
PROTEST AGAINST DISPLACEMENT OF ADIVASIS IN KASHIPUR FOR PROPOSED UAIL PROJECT
Held under the banner of Prakrutik Sampad Suraksha Parishad, the rally was primarily organised to condemn the recent intervention by the government of Orissa and against the Supreme Court order relating to evacuation of Adivasis residing in the reserved forest areas of Kashipur block.
Websites:
www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=48
[For more on Kashipur struggle, see December 16]