“Will anybody listen to ordinary people?” asked a student who was my co-passenger on an Amo Bus as I was returning from Dhauligiri Square to Station Square. I was surprised by the question. At first, I thought he was referring to the bus conductor or the driver. Only when he drew my attention to a news item in The Indian Express did I understand the context.
According to the news report, ₹42.60 crore has been deposited by the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) with the Sambalpur Sadar Tehsildar for acquiring 127.08 acres of government land across five villages for a tourism project. The newspaper also reported that villagers alleged that valuable natural and community resources are likely to be sacrificed for commercial interests. They quoted the sarpanch of one of the villages, “Instead of giving land to big hotels, the government should first provide justice to displaced families who have been living in uncertainty for decades.”
We spent the next 30 minutes discussing the proposed tourism project and its implications. I was amazed by the student’s knowledge of Hirakud. He told me that Hirakud means “diamond island,” as it is believed to be the place where the famed Odisha diamonds were once found.
He got down at the Station Square to take another bus going to Utkal University. Just before alighting, he mentioned that he was a student of history.
He left, but Hirakud stayed back with me. I searched for Hirakud on my mobile and came across an interesting article, Hirakud: Diamonds Under a Dam in Odisha by Akshay Chavan. The article was an eye-opener. I had been unaware of most of what it revealed about Hirakud. I would not hesitate to call this the ignorance of the educated.
It is time, we should listen to Hirakud. For decades, we have heard the voices of governments, the judgments of courts, and the arguments of people: both winners and losers. But we forgot to listen to the land, the forests, and the mighty river. Perhaps we assumed Hirakud had no voice, and it would quietly accept our definition of development.
I tried to hear the voice of Hirakud as a living witness to all that has been merged, submerged, and emerged over the years. Listen, if you can.
For centuries
I was known for diamonds and gold
No wonder, you named me
the jewel of islands: Hirakud
An island
of the people,
by the people,
for the people.
Then You came
Built a dam on the flowing water,
Displaced millions of living lives.
For years together
I remain a silent witness,
waiting for some form of justice for
lost lives,
vanished villages, and
fallen forests.
Now, once again
You brought me back in the news.
You dream to
construct star hotels,
floating on the water,
Swinging in the air,
And create paradise for tourists.
You want to build pristine towers
of luxury, where a few may enjoy
the peace and silence.
Yet, so little regard
for water,
for wind, and
for those who belong to me.
I am not
a postcard to be shared with tourists,
a photograph to be captured,
a painting to be mounted on a wall.
I am a living being,
living with people for generations.
Some, you wiped off,
Some, still here fighting for basic needs of life.
I won’t blame you,
I only hope
you understand the consequences of
Land becoming a product for sale,
Water becoming a source of entertainment,
Forests becoming a trekking track.”
and
All happening in the name of development.
I won’t blame you,
I only hope
You can answer those old questions.
Is development the shiny walls of a star hotel, or
a pristine river flowing with quiet dignity?
Does development seek the applause of foreigners, or
the quiet contentment of locals?
If you must build,
Why not build with humility?
If you wish to invite foreigners,
Why to displace the locals?
If you seek progress,
Why to erase many?
And many more questions linger, echoing beyond the bus ride and beyond the pages of newspapers. Will anyone truly listen to Hirakud or to the young student? I hope someone does. I hope the next generation will not have to keep asking the same questions, but will find honest answers.
DV Ramana
Professor, Xavier Institute of Management, XIM University, Bhubaneswar
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