JHARKHAND MIRROR

By Gladson Dungdung

Jharkhandmirror.org

15 January, 2010

L.N. Mittal

On 8 January, 2010, the media (forth realm of the democracy) reported us that the global steel giant Arcelor Mittal Company is all set to desert the state of Jharkhand and Orissa, where the company is not yet able to acquire land for its proposed mega steel plants because of the Adivasis’ protest against the land acquisition. On the next day, a leading daily of Jharkhand came up with a ‘special page’ on Mittal company apart from the auspicious front page story, which concludes with the final verdict “the God is ready to desert Jharkhand”. Of course, the story is not new as the Jharkhandi media carry out this kind of biased reports for the corporate houses regularly.  Read more…

By Gladson Dungdung

6 January, 2010

Jawaharlal Nehru the Architect ...!

The India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nerhu, who is also known as the architect of modern India, once said, “Dams are the temples of modern India.” According to him, the big dams would address the issues of hunger and poverty of India. Unfortunately, the big dams only created pains, sufferings and sorrows to the owners (mostly the Adivasis; the indigenous people of India) of the lands, which submerged into the temples of modern India. Similarly, the big industries like Heavy Engineering Corporation, Bokaro Steel Limited, steel companies, coal mining and other mining industries created only misery for the Adivasis. Consequently, the Adivasis became landless, daily wage labourers and servants of the bigwigs after losing their land, forest, water and other livelihood resources.  Read more…

By Gladson Dungdung

3 August, 2009

The Adivasis have lost their faith in the state machinery, constitutional authorities and judiciary therefore they have firmly decided not to allow laying down the foundation of corporate development model over their graves.

Adivasis protesting in front of the governor's house against displacement in Jharkhand

Jharkhand is known as the abode of Adivasis (the indigenous people, constitutionally they are called as scheduled tribe), the land of struggle and mineral rich state in India. “Jharkhand” literally means ‘the land of forests’ came into existence as 28^th state of the Indian union on 15^th of November, 2000 after a long mass struggle, which took place in the 20th century for the realization of a beautiful dream of the Adivasi heroes – Tilka Manjhi, Sidhu-Kanhu and Birsa Munda. The dream was to form exploitation free, humane and just Jharkhand, where the Adivasis can practice their ownership rights over the natural resources, enjoy autonomy and rule themselves as earlier they used to. The outsiders perceive Jharkhand as the abode of uncivilized, uneducated and the most backward people i.e. Adivasis therefore the region was mostly neglected in terms of the development but its natural resources were highly exploited. The Adivasis were alienated from their resources, exploited and injustices were done to them in the name of development, civilization and nationalism. Read more…

Intercontinental Cry

31 July, 2009

Gladson Dungdung, a Human Rights Activist and writer from Jharkhand, poses a question as old as language itself… a question that presses on the very heart of indigenous struggle today: Can Lion and Lamb live in peace?

The tide has turned. The lamb is not ready to become the prey of the lion anymore. The lamb has challenged the very authority of the lion by saying “enough is enough.” The lamb tells to the lion, “You have eaten my ancestors, betrayed my community and captured our territory in the name of the law of the forest therefore I’ll fight against it till the last breath.” The lamb is determined to fight back against the lion’s unfair acts therefore he is not allowing the lion to enter into its territory even after many attempts made by the lion. Consequently, the lion is in anxiety, worried and uncertain about its future. He knows that he would not have a bright future without the cooperation of the lamb. Read more…

By Gladson Dungdung

The Verdict 30 June, 2009

The government of Jharkhand has signed 102 MoUs (Memorandum of understand) with the corporate houses for establishment of steel plants, mining industries and power plants without addressing the issues of more than 15 lack displaced masses. Are we still advocating for this kind of unjust development processes in India?

The ‘Kelaghgh dam’ is the most beautiful dam constructed on Chhinda river in Simdega district of Jharkhand situated at a distance of 4 km from the district headquarter. It is the best tourist place in the district with lovely water dam surrounded by multiple hills which attracts tourists very much. There is a plateau in the dam where a small and beautiful park exists. Besides, the district administration provides the facility of motor boating and a hotel is also constructed where the tourists can avail the lodging and food facility.  But how many of us really know that this beautiful place is made on the grave of Adivasis (indigenous people)? Their only livelihood resource that was land had been snatched away from them during the construction of the Dam. The promises made for providing jobs, adequate compensation and rehabilitation packages were not fulfilled. The owners of the lands were left to die in the name of ‘development’.   Read more…