Page:Sharad Joshi - Leading Farmers to the Centre Stage.pdf/302

 of the dam and also the biggest sufferers from the restrictions on it. In a way Joshi had never been a great fan of big dams, which he felt basically allowed politicians and bureaucrats to make money. As a college student he had done some research in this area and his opinion was based on those findings. However, he felt that in this case when the entire network of canals was ready it made no sense not to release dam water through it. It amounted to depriving people of water. He knew that he would be arrested in that agitation but he said, ‘If it is a crime to give water to a thirsty man then I am willing to commit that crime and suffer any punishment.’ People of Gujarat were naturally in favour of the dam but they were helpless against the legal restrictions. They were pleasantly surprised to discover that a farmers’ leader from Maharashtra was supporting the dam. That was one of the objectives of Joshi; he wanted the people of Gujarat to know that not everybody was opposed to the dam. That year happened to be the 125th birth anniversary year of Sardar Patel and the celebrations were to start at a special programme in Ahmedabad on 31 October. Joshi was one of the speakers at this programme and Sardar Sarovar Project was the subject on which he spoke. He said, ‘Some people argue that the dam water is not going to reach needy farmers of Kuchch and Saurashtra. I say, that when Mother Teresa picks up a wounded person lying on the street, she does not think whether the person would live or not. Irrespective of his living or dying, it is our duty to take him at least to the hospital. The same is applicable here. If one sees huge shortage of water in one region in front of us, to take water as close to that region as possible, is a humanitarian programme. On one side there is water; on the other side there is thirst. Our programme is to take water to the thirsty man.’ Several leading politicians were present in the audience Farmers on the National Agenda

Q

281