Medha Patkar is an Indian social activist who is known for
her Narmada Bachao Andolan movement. She with other members of NAPM including
Anna Hazare, filed a petition in the Bombay Maharashtra . Her parents are Indu and Vasant Khanolkar.
Both of them were political and social activists. Her father is an Indian
freedom fighter. Her mother served as a member of Swadar that was started to
assist suffering women. Her philosophical views were shaped by her parents. She
finished her M. A. in social work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. She
is fighting for two decades against the construction of rising reservoir waters
of Sardar Sarovar Dam.
She has received many honors and awards for her social
contributions. She is mentioned in the book by Jacques Leslie Deep Water: The
Epic Struggle Over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment. She received
Right Livelihood Award for the year 1991. In 1999 she got M. A. Thomas National
Human Rights Award given by Vigil India Movement. She got Deena Nath Mangeshkar
Award, Mahatma Phule Award, Goldman Environment Prize, and Green Ribbon Award
for Best International Political Campaigner by BBC and Human Rights Defender’s
Award from Amnesty International. She
was made as the Commissioner to the World Commission on Dams.She was criticized for not participating in the Jaitapur
Nuclear Power Project. She was employed in TATA EMPIRE earlier. Still she drove
out the Tata Nano plant from Singur in West Bengal .
Though she fought for the people of Lavasa, it was found in an analysis that
90% of the Lavasa villagers are against her.
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