G. D. Agrawal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
G. D. Agrawal
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G. D. Agrawal
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| Born |
Guru Das Agrawal
20 July 1932 |
| Died | 11 October 2018 (aged 86) |
| Cause of death | Fast-unto-death |
| Resting place | Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Sant Swami Sanand, Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Education | Civil engineering Environmental engineering |
| Alma mater | Benaras Hindu University IIT Roorkee, University of California at Berkeley |
| Occupation | Environmental Engineer |
| Employer | Government of India Central Pollution Control Board, Civil and Environmental Engineering at IIT Kanpur |
| Known for | Stopping construction of dams on the Bhagirathi River in 2009 |
| Title | First Member-Secretary (CPCB), former Head of the Department (IIT) |
| Term | 17 years at IIT Kanpur |
Guru Das Agrawal, also known as Sant Swami Sanand, was an important Indian environmentalist, engineer, and professor. He was born on July 20, 1932, and passed away on October 11, 2018. He was a leader of the Ganga Mahasabha, a group focused on the River Ganga.
Agrawal was famous for going on hunger strikes to protect the River Ganga. In 2009, his fast helped stop dams from being built on the Bhagirathi River, which is a main part of the Ganga. He died after a long fast, asking the government to keep its promises to clean and save the Ganga.
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Early Life and Education
Guru Das Agrawal grew up in a farming family in Kandhla, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was born in 1932. He went to local schools and later studied civil engineering at the University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee).
He also worked as a visiting professor, teaching about environmental engineering. In 2011, he became a Hindu monk and was known as Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand.
Protecting the Ganga River
Agrawal spent much of his life fighting to protect the River Ganga. Many people in India consider this river to be sacred.
Why the Ganga Needed Help
The Bhagirathi River is a very important part of the Ganga. It flows from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas. Even though many people protested, plans were made to build six hydroelectric dams along a 125-kilometer stretch of this river.
These dams would have changed the river's natural flow. Many believed this would harm the environment and go against traditional Indian beliefs about respecting nature.
Agrawal's Fast in 2009
On June 13, 2009, Agrawal started a hunger strike in Uttarkashi. He wanted the Ganga to flow freely in its original path. This 125-kilometer section was one of the last places where the river was still untouched by human projects.
He believed that the river's free flow was key to its sacred status. Agrawal said, "The water of the Ganges is not ordinary water to a Hindu. It is a matter of life and death of Hindu faith."
Stopping the Loharinag Pala Dam
Agrawal's fast in 2009 was very effective. After 38 days, he was close to death. Because of his protest, the government decided to stop work on the Loharinag Pala Hydro Power Project on the Bhagirathi River.
On February 19, 2009, the government sent him a letter confirming the suspension of the project. Agrawal ended his fast the next day. The government also agreed to study how to create electricity without blocking the Ganga's flow.
Later Protests and His Final Fast
Agrawal continued his activism. In June 2013, he started another fast because the government wasn't doing enough to protect the Ganga. Three members of the National Ganga River Basin Authority even resigned because of the government's lack of action.
In February 2018, Agrawal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He urged the government to stop harmful projects and ensure the river flowed freely. He warned that if nothing changed by June 22, 2018, he would begin a fast until death.
He started his final fast on June 22, 2018, in Haridwar. After 19 days, police took him to AIIMS Rishikesh hospital. He believed the government was only focusing on cleaning the river, but his vision was for a "clean and free-flowing" Ganga.
On October 9, 2018, after 109 days of fasting, he stopped drinking water. Two days later, on October 11, 2018, Guru Das Agrawal passed away at the age of 86 due to starvation.
National Ganga River Basin Authority
Agrawal's efforts led to big changes. Leaders of opposition parties supported his call to stop dam construction. The Indian government promised to ensure the river would always have environmentally friendly flows.
On November 4, 2009, the government declared the Ganga a National River. They also created the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). This group was set up to plan, carry out, and monitor projects for the Ganga.
The NGRBA also decided to create a research institute. This institute would collect and analyze data about the Ganga basin. Its goals include:
- Gathering information for planning the river's sustainable development.
- Investigating pollution and water flow problems.
- Studying the social, cultural, and religious aspects of the river.
- Developing eco-friendly ways to use the river sustainably.
- Creating long-term plans to keep the water clean and usable.
In February 2010, a government minister stated that new projects on the Bhagirathi River would not be allowed. He said, "India is a civilisation of rivers, and it should not become a land of tunnels."
