Lingaraj Azad, popularly known as Azad Bhai, is a dalit activist from the Indian state of Orissa. He became notable for his activism in opposing Vedanta Resources's bauxite refinery in Lanjigarh and mining of Niyamgiri Hills that tribals say would displace thirty villages of Dongria Kondhs (the "Mountain Tribals") on top of the mountains.
Lingaraj Azad was born into a Dalit family in Orissa, a state in eastern India. Dalits are a diverse group of Scheduled Caste community in Orissa. Among dalits, his family more specifically belongs to the Ganda caste.
ActivismEdit
Western Orissa is rich in natural resources and many government and private companies have appropriated land to build number of natural resources extracting factories. Due to lack of official documentation of the Tribals and repressed class people's community rights over the forests, mountains, rivers and land they have been unable to claim their rights on community properties.[1]
Anil Agarwal set up one of the world's largest aluminum smelting plants in the area, with a bauxite refinery at Lanjigarh at the foothills of the Niyamgiri Mountains. Azad and his organization Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti (Association for the Safeguard of Niyamgiri Hills) - says apart from causing massive displacement, the project will destroy the forests in the area. It will also affect the water sources and ecosystems, thereby threatening the environment and the very source of sustenance for indigenous peoples, it says
We will not give an inch of our mountain.
. Anil Aggarwal's Vedanta on its part says that it does not want to grab local peoples land and is willing to negotiate with all stake holders.[1] Azad counters that the subsistence tribal communities would receive will not survive the alienation from their native land and they cannot be compensated for such a loss.
He has been jailed multiple times for his active involvement in the environmental movement.[1]
He participated in the yatra (Sanskrit for journey, used in the context of Indian politics to mean an "awareness campaign") conducted by the NAPM from Mumbai to Delhi against proposed mega-industrial corridor in 2013.[2]
lingaraj, azad, confused, with, lingaraj, social, activist, popularly, known, azad, bhai, dalit, activist, from, indian, state, orissa, became, notable, activism, opposing, vedanta, resources, bauxite, refinery, lanjigarh, mining, niyamgiri, hills, that, triba. Not to be confused with Lingaraj social activist Lingaraj Azad popularly known as Azad Bhai is a dalit activist from the Indian state of Orissa He became notable for his activism in opposing Vedanta Resources s bauxite refinery in Lanjigarh and mining of Niyamgiri Hills that tribals say would displace thirty villages of Dongria Kondhs the Mountain Tribals on top of the mountains Lingaraj AzadLingaraj Azad speaking in a meetingBorn22 June 1962 1962 06 22 age 61 Bhawanipatna Kalahandi Orissa IndiaEducationMatriculation 11th class Occupation s Social Service Tribal and Environmental ActivistOrganization s Adivasi Kondha Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti Samajwadi Jan ParishadKnown forFight for the environment and tribals of Niyamgiri Mountains Kalahandi Kashipur in OrissaPolitical partySamajwadi Jan ParishadMovementKashipur Movement Niyamgiri Movement Contents 1 Early life 2 Activism 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditLingaraj Azad was born into a Dalit family in Orissa a state in eastern India Dalits are a diverse group of Scheduled Caste community in Orissa Among dalits his family more specifically belongs to the Ganda caste Activism EditWestern Orissa is rich in natural resources and many government and private companies have appropriated land to build number of natural resources extracting factories Due to lack of official documentation of the Tribals and repressed class people s community rights over the forests mountains rivers and land they have been unable to claim their rights on community properties 1 Anil Agarwal set up one of the world s largest aluminum smelting plants in the area with a bauxite refinery at Lanjigarh at the foothills of the Niyamgiri Mountains Azad and his organization Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti Association for the Safeguard of Niyamgiri Hills says apart from causing massive displacement the project will destroy the forests in the area It will also affect the water sources and ecosystems thereby threatening the environment and the very source of sustenance for indigenous peoples it saysWe will not give an inch of our mountain Anil Aggarwal s Vedanta on its part says that it does not want to grab local peoples land and is willing to negotiate with all stake holders 1 Azad counters that the subsistence tribal communities would receive will not survive the alienation from their native land and they cannot be compensated for such a loss He has been jailed multiple times for his active involvement in the environmental movement 1 He participated in the yatra Sanskrit for journey used in the context of Indian politics to mean an awareness campaign conducted by the NAPM from Mumbai to Delhi against proposed mega industrial corridor in 2013 2 See also EditKondha Tribals of NiyamgiriReferences Edit a b c Burke Jason 2012 Avtar like Battle Lingaraj Azad United Nations University Retrieved 13 April 2012 Only realtors will gain from Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Times of India articles timesofindia indiatimes com Archived from the original on 4 April 2013 Retrieved 13 January 2022 http articles economictimes indiatimes com 2012 11 01 news 34857888 1 niyamgiri hills niyamgiri project bauxite http www foilvedanta org uncategorized global day of action against vedanta draws thousands in london odisha and goa attachment picture 56 http mylondondiary co uk 2012 08 aug28 03 htm https archive today 20130218074932 http www cdca it spip php article1694 amp lang it http www cpimlnd org component option com frontpage Itemid 1 limit 5 limitstart 10 External links EditLingaraj Azad Real Avatar in real fight Niyamgiri http www tehelka com story main52 asp filename Fw170412SACRED asp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lingaraj Azad amp oldid 1140674471, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
