Social activist Medha Patkar on Sunday (October 4) released three books documenting the life, work and grassroots experiences of veteran Sarvodaya worker and Devraj Urs Award recipient Shivaji Dada Kaganikar in Belagavi.
The books — Sarvodayacha Vatasaru, an autobiography of Dr. Kaganikar in Marathi; Gudda Nadina Gandhi, a Kannada work by Sharada Gopal; and Shivaji Kaganikar – A Sarvodaya Worker and His Grassroots Experiences, by Gopal Dabde — were released at Gogte Rangmandir at the School of Culture in the Camp area.
The programme was jointly organised by the Belagavi-based Guruvarya V. G. Sathe Marathi Prabodhini and the Marathi Development Institute, Mumbai.
Speaking after the release, Patkar stressed the need for greater attention to environmental conservation, particularly in the Western Ghats.
“Landslides, terrace collapses and other disasters in the Western Ghats should open our eyes to the dangers of environmental destruction. They should serve as alarm bells about the immediate need to conserve and protect the environment,” she said.
Patkar criticised the continued focus of governments on large infrastructure projects while smaller, community-led initiatives such as watershed development, lake rejuvenation and decentralised water management often receive less attention.
She also questioned the emphasis on mega dam and river diversion projects, citing their environmental and social costs. Referring to the proposed Belagavi Ring Road, she questioned the acquisition of thousands of acres of land and said people’s needs should not be sacrificed in the name of development.
Kaganikar’s grassroots work recalled
Patkar recalled her association with Dr. Kaganikar and said his decades of work in rural areas reflected the principles of Gram Swarajya, Sarvodaya and social justice.
She highlighted his efforts in educating rural communities, promoting water conservation and lake development, and implementing more than 30,000 biogas units and planting over 2.5 lakh trees.
Patkar also praised his efforts against corruption and his work to secure justice for underprivileged communities and daily-wage workers through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
Dr. Kaganikar said he had never originally intended to write an autobiography.
“I have spent my life working in villages and educating people through my work. I gathered friends and fellow activists through study circles,” he said.
He said Vijay Diwan of the Vinoba Bhave Pratishthan, writer Nila Apte and others spent several months documenting his life and work, which eventually took the form of the autobiography. Sarvodayacha Vatasaru is scheduled to be formally published by Sevagram Publications on October 18.
Vijay Diwan was among those who addressed the gathering.
A legacy of water conservation and rural development
Subhash Aulkar, secretary of the Prabodhini, said Dr. Kaganikar had made significant contributions to water conservation, environmental protection, tree plantation, rural development, education and sustainable development through his long-standing social activism.
He recalled Kaganikar’s efforts to encourage thousands of farming families to install gobar gas plants and his leadership in individual and community-led watershed development and afforestation projects.
Aulkar said the books were being published to introduce Kaganikar’s ideas and work to a new generation.
The event brought together literary figures, social activists, environmentalists and associates of Dr. Kaganikar from Karnataka and Maharashtra.