Satyagraha for Aviral-Nirmal Ganga
Satyagraha for Aviral-Nirmal Ganga
Varanasi: When the country was celebrating the 74th Independence Day on Saturday, scores of Ganga lovers were fasting at different places across the country for free-flowing Ganga.
“Full independence of India will remain a distant dream without free-flowing Ganga. Independence of the free-flowing Ganga will have a great impact on Independent India,” said Rajendra Singh, Roman Magsaysay Award recipient and Waterman of India, in his Independence Day message.
He said that the spiritual and cultural independence of India and Indians is associated with the ‘independence’ of river Ganga. This national river is now being shackled. The Bhagirathi one of the headstreams of the river Ganga had got her ‘independence’ in 2009 when the construction of the three proposed dams had come to a halt with the decision that these would no longer be constructed. With the declaration of the region between Gaumukh and Uttarkashi as an Eco sensitive zone, it was as if the childhood of the river Ganga was protected. The Ganga be truly liberated and independent when the same action will apply to the rivers Mandakini and Alaknanda, two other main streams of the Ganga.
Satyagraha for Aviral-Nirmal Ganga
Culturally and spiritually, the Alaknanda is the most important: The five prayags of Vishnuprayag, Karnprayag, Nand Prayag, Rudra Prayag and Dev Prayag are on this river. The Ganga gets its name form Dev Prayag. For the azaadi or independence for free flow of the Alaknanda and Mandakini, Prof G D Agarwal (Swami Sanand) lost his life during his satyagraha (fast unto death).
Since August 3, 2020, Swami Sivanand is on satyagraha and is fasting, limiting his intake to only five glasses of water a day, with additives such as sugar, salt or honey. On this 74th Year of Indian Independence, today is day 13 of his satyagraha. In solidarity, fasting is being undertaken in 108 different places today. Chain fasting is being taken up Ganga lovers across the world.
It is fortunate that the leader who called the Ganga his mother is at the helm of affairs. It is hoped that measures will be taken to make the Ganga aviral and nirmal by enacting a law for the protection and management of the ganga and the swatting up of an independent Ganga Bhakt Parishad for monitoring and governance of the law.
Satyagraha for Aviral-Nirmal Ganga
When the legislature, executive and society work together for the betterment of the country, then only real independence becomes a reality. The Ganga in on her deathbed. All the three and the judiciary should work together for the Ganga’s revival which is a critical pillar for long lasting democracy.
Aviral (free flowing) and nirmal (pure) Ganga is the one goal which can bring together all the four organs of governance and establish a strong democratic and independent India. The true and independence of India rests on an independent Ganga.
