Vimal Bhai, well-known social and environmental activist, and one of the key leaders of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) Vimal Bhai (60) breathed last on Monday at the AIIMS, New Delhi. On August 10, he was taken to the Safdarjang Hospital and the same evening admitted to AIIMS, because of severe complications related to lungs, liver, kidney, due to long covid, amidst reduced immunity.
He was touched thousands of lives in a deeply personal and political way. Be it with the Ganga or Narmada, his passion for rivers to remain free and flowing, remains the hallmark of his activism that spans over 4 decades. He worked relentlessly to oppose mindless damming of rivers, pollution and supported people’s rights to be involved in the ‘developmental processes’, especially in the Tehri-Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, as part of Matu Jan Sangathan.
He represented the true rainbow of resistance in his work of struggle and solidarity.He was one of the national co-ordinators and convenors of NAPM for many years. He participated with Pride in many LGBTQIA+ Pride Marches and was a key bridge between queer and other movements.
His last letter was to the new President Ms. Draupadi Murmu, on July 25, in which he called upon her to take substantive steps to end repression on adivasis, uphold their rights in V Schedule areas and protect their unique cultural, linguistic, religious lifestyle.
He remained a steadfast supporter of the Narmada struggle for decades and hoped the President would meet the adivasi students of the Narmada Jeevanshalas, to understand the ill-motivated attack on Narmada Abhiyan by the current regime.
