Raipur
Thirty-three years passed, five generations were spent, then a cycle of Nagri-Shiwa movement in Chhattisgarh was completed. The lines of Dushyant Kumar are missed – “Don’t ask for the previous journey, there is a broken chariot, which stopped, he has started walking again.”
Amidst the red corridor of Naxalism, there is an island of Nagri-Shihawa non-violence. Since 1952, the tribals here continuously struggled for their land rights from generation to generation. When the new Chhattisgarh state was being formed, thousands of tribals stayed in the capital Raipur for a long time and were giving impetus to this movement that has been going on since the independence of the country.
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia came to Umradehan village of Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh zone in 1952. From here, he raised the issue of land-rights of tribals settled in the forests. Today, tribals in India have got land for livelihood, forestgrams are getting facilities like revenue village. At the core of all this is the movement of Nagri-Shiwa. In the same Umradehan village, the half-ex-state of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia is going to be unveiled on May 24. The tribals have prepared one handful of grains from every house to the statue.
As long as Lohia ji remained, that is, until 1967, led this movement. After 1977, its reins were handled by the country’s well -known socialist leader Raghu Thakur. His entire life was spent in struggle and movements. Nineteen months in jail during the Emergency.
After many conflicts, by 1990, the tribals of thirteen villages of the eighteen villages of the city-Saihawa got land lease, but five villages still left. Five years before this, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi came here in Dugli, sitting on the bed in front of the hut of the tribals, but the tribals did not get their rights without a padyatra, demonstrations and fasts. Raghu Thakur went and intensified this movement of tribals. From the same Dugli to Raipur, a 120 km padyatra took place in which thousands of tribals – men, women and children walked on foot.
In these movements, journalists Madhukar Kher, Govindlal Vora, Satyanarayana Sharma, Narwani ji and Ramesh Valiyi got great support. The ministers of the government came and postponed the movement by assuring, but did not fulfill the promise. Raghu ji again came to Raipur and started a fast at Ambedkar Chowk. MPs George Fernandes and Sharad Yadav came and arrested, Chief Minister Motilal Vora intervened, when the papers of agreement were prepared in both sides. Under this, it was decided that the land of possession of eighteen villages would be investigated and lease will be given under the prescribed rule. The people of the five villages which have been destroyed, the people of those villages will also be settled by fixing the huts, land will be given. Thirteen villages got the lease, but it took twenty five more years to get the lease to the five villages.
Whenever the history of this movement will come in front of the people of the country, Sukhram Nage, Jugalal Nage, Bisahulal Sahu, Ramu, Bisahin Bai, Samreenbai, Ramprasad Netam, Gowda Rai, Vanshi Shrimali, Jalim Singh will inspire everyone.
In the context of this movement, it is also necessary to mention that some people could not do anything on time despite being in power, some took advantage of time and obliged their ideological supporters, and some tribals tried to remove their political land by removing them from the socialist stream.
The movement that lasted seventy-three years of Nagri-Shihawa has not stopped yet. It will take forward the fight for the fundamental right of medicine and education. This movement has historical significance for many reasons. This is the island of non -violence in Vananchal, surrounded by Naxalite violence. India’s first Vanagram conference started from here. And, this is the origin of the Forest Rights Act. The rest of India can take inspiration from the free spirit of women and struggle here.