Dehradun, January 11
At the age of 82, Sunderlal Bahuguna has seen it all: from spearheading the Chipko movement to the anti-dam movement in Uttarakhand. He has been at the centre of it all.

A Gandhian and an environmentalist, the sage- like expression he wears never leaves him. It speaks of a story of a long war fought against all odds with the sole tool of non-violence.

Today, his main concern is water and how best to preserve it in the wake of rivers going dry.

“ I grew up singing Vande Mataram paying tributes to the bounties of nature, especially water. Nothing is left of it. In the Himalayas there is less snowfall, as such recharge of rivers is not taking place.

“Since Independence the flow has gradually decreased. It has almost halved. In the 21st century. water will emerge the main issue around which policies of nations will be framed. Wars may also break out on the control of water,” said Bahuguna.

Knowing well that the system is not receptive to new ideas or change, he never forgets to mention that history has always been unkind to those seeking change. People running the system encourage status quo and those propagating new ideas never receive recognition in their lifetime.

“I was determined to stop construction on the Tehri Dam. It was not a whim. Independent scientists had corroborated our views that in the long run it would prove counter-productive to the state. The official version says the dam life will be 100 years, which is a fallacy. In the end the will of the government has prevailed,” said a rather pensive Bahuguna.

Recounting his experience on the day he bid adieu to the site where he had staged protests against the dam, Bhaguna said: “ I fought till the end. I wanted to stay put near the dam but through a conspiracy the district administration managed to hoodwink me and my followers.”

Dismayed at the way dams had displaced people in Uttarakhand, he said: “One lakh lives were destroyed to meet the water and electricity needs of the people of Delhi.The Yamuna is already dirty, and they have stopped the flow of the Ganga by building hydro power projects.”

Having come this far and being a witness to the denudation of the state, the only solution he says is “ the protection and propagation of plantation of trees. However, policies are being framed inside air-conditioned rooms with insignificant inputs or contribution by the people.

“Gandhiji preached complete Swaraj but we are yet to attain that; he called for strengthening janshakti, but all effort is being made to take away power from the people.”

Despite the setback in the anti-dam movement, Bahuguna’s eyes light up when he recalls the contribution of men and women in the Chipko movement when they clung on to the trees in order to save them.

“I can say with certainty that the Chipko movement did manage to stir several governments and galvanised them into action. A complete ban was imposed against the felling of trees in several states in the country,” said Bahuguna.

He emphasised that the importance of trees in our lives could not be discounted. “ It is an established fact that the forests attract rains and the water problem can be solved if we make natural dam with trees.

“You see in the pre-Independence era, the British wanted timber from the forests so they destroyed the forests in the hills. Conifers were promoted instead of mixed farming”.

“The conifers cannot retain water, today we are facing problem of water retention and the water-table in several places in the hills has gone down,” he explained.

Truly, the sobriquet of Green Man rests comfortably on his aged shoulders.

Dehradun, January 11
Being at the centre of a storm since the last 20 years, the quietude of Dehradun has not blunted Vimla Bahuguna’s response to queries regarding environment or the state of women in the hills. Married to Sunderlal Bahuguna, she has lived an eventful life. But she hastens to explain that her marriage only meant continuation of the activities she was already engaged in as a young woman.

“Gandhiji was an inspiration for all of us. Later, I also got an opportunity to work at Vinobha Bhave’s ashram. The experience was an eye-opener,” she says.

She still remembers when she was sent by her parents to Almora to live at Lakshmi Ashram set up be Sarla Bhen, a foreigner who left her comfortable life in Britain to join Gandhiji in India.

“The selfless service by Sarla Bhen brought a transformation in my life. Here I was, hailing from a middle-class family, used to a certain way of life where help was always at hand.

“But life at the ashram was altogether different. We had to clean our rooms and toilets. I joined the ashram in 1950 and the life there changed me completely,” says Vimla.

The exposure at the ashram prepared her for the tough life that was to become a part of her existence after her marriage to Sunderlal Bahuguna.

She credits Sarla Bhen for awakening the hill women. “The initial learning at the ashram came in good stead. Several among us took part in the Chipko and anti-liquor movements that brought a radical change in the hill society,” she says.

The anti-liquor movement saw women launching a fiery resistance against powerful liquor mafia and calling for prohibition. “During that period three generations from my family, my grandmother, myself and my six-year-old son were lodged in jail,” she says with pride.

On the prevailing situation, she rues the fact that views of women seldom matter to policymajers.

“We have not been able to stir the conscience of our leaders to give due importance to our views. I find it strange that even policies pertaining to women are not drafted keeping them in view,” she says. 

Dehradun, January 11
Education and languages minister, Punjab, Upinderjit Kaur has said the Punjab government would be taking up the issue of giving a second language status to Punjabi in Uttarakhand with the BJP-led government in the state.

She said a considerable number of Punjabis were residing in Uttarakhand and therefore the issue was of utmost priority. “But before taking up this matter with the Khanduri government, we want to strengthen cultural ties with the people of Uttarakhand,” she said.

The minister, who is here to attend the Lohri Mela being organised jointly by the languages department, Punjab, and the Punjabi Bhaichara Society said: “The younger generation will come to know of the importance of Punjabi culture only if they study the Punjabi language. Hence, we are committed to taking up this matter with the Uttarakhand government.”

To a query whether the Shiromani Akali Dal would be asking its alliance partner, BJP, to field a SAD candidate from one Lok Sabha constituency of Uttarakhand, the minister denied any such move. “My visit has nothing to do with politics. We are here to strengthen the ties between the Uttarakhandis and Punjabis,” she said.

Asked why a majority of people were interested in sending their wards to private schools, the education minister said it was a general conception that private schools offered better facilities and quality education. “But I would like to add that in Punjab 30 lakh students are in government schools because we are offering quality education, besides providing other facilities,” she said.

Coming down heavily on vulgarity being promoted on some TV channels, the minister said there was a need to check this practice. “In a democratic setup there is liberty but it should not cross the limits of decency,” she said.

Haridwar, January 11
Renowned Punjabi singer Ashu Panjabi rocked the city with his foot-tapping musical scores and beautifully choreographed dance items late last night.

Organised by the Panjabi Mahasabha at the Bhalla playground, the Lohri Mela was a huge success. The bhangra beats and hit songs saw many in the audience shake a leg, irrespective of age and gender.

Ashu started the programme with tributes to those killed in the Mumbai terrorist attacks. He rendered patriotic songs “Mera rang de basanti chola’ and “Yeh desh hai veer jawano ka”.

The crowd went berserk with “Sundriye mundriye” and “Lohiri hai bhai lohiri”. Various types of stalls were organised at the mela.

“The atmosphere is fantastic. Eating makki di roti-sarson ka Saag with Panjabi beats in the background makes me feel I am in Punjab,” said a visibly excited Kunika Arora.

The mela was inaugurated by chief guest Harbansh Kapur, Speaker, Uttarakhand, by lighting the lamp. In his address Harbansh Kapur said that such cultural fests helped foster ties between communities.

Prominent among those present at the fest were education minister Madan Kaushik, municipal chairman Kamal Johra, Roorkee municipal chairman Pradeep Batra, former chairman Satpal Brahmachari and SP state chief Ambrish Kumar.

At the function, freedom fighters of the district were felicitated as were Punjabis excelling in different fields.