Badanavalu Satyagraha gaining momentum

The satyagraha has attracted the likes of Medha Patkar and Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan

A silent movement is brewing at the famous Gandhian village of Badanavalu in Nanjangud taluk of Mysuru district that has forebodings of raising to a broader spectrum.

The 'Badanavalu Satyagraha' envisaging sustainable development in harmony with environment launched by Karnataka's senior theatre personality Prasanna at this hamlet 36 km off Mysuru has already drawn National Alliance of People's Movement (NAPM) Convener and Narmada Bachao Andolan Founder Medha Patkar and Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, among others, including some enthusiastic young activists.

Mahatma Gandhi visited this small village in 1932 to find a thriving Khadi production centre run by Badanavalu Khadi and Gramodyoga Centre established in 1927 by well-known Gandhian Thagadur Ramachandra Rao. What began initially as a small centre to produce khadi, grew into a big khadi-producing place, market khadi to Mysuru and other places through co-operative societies to become famous as a centre of Khadi and village industries that gave a boost to the economy of the poor villagers that comprised Dalit families, too. Over a period, many factors and declining demand for khadi brought curtains down on khadi production and popularity as well.

Seeing the fall of Badanavalu and the perishing khadi industry, social activist and former director of theatre repertory Rangayana of Mysuru Prasanna and a few volunteers made Badanavalu their home to revive the centre and create awakening among the local villagers and draw the attention of the public towards sustainable development in harmony with environment.

They noted with concern the environmental devastation and systematic destruction of local culture in the name of development and modernisation with the increasing hold of companies and exploitation of natural resources. The activists led by Prasanna, already spearheading a campaign to revive handloom industry, met at Chamarajanagar in January and decided to set up a khadi institute on the lines of the Charaka Institute at Heggodu in Shivamogga district.

It was also resolved at the meeting to launch a nation-wide 'Satyagraha' to revive khadi and handloom industry. The activists chalked out a programme of action on Gandhian model to create awareness on the plight of the handloom industry hit by the increasing operation of powerlooms and to popularise khadi for uplifting the life of handloom workers. They decided to make Badanavalu their headquarters to launch their mass movement from the dilapidated structure of the defunct khadi centre in the village.

Beginning their work from Badanavalu, the Badanavalu Satyagraha activisits launched a padayatra from Mysuru on Wednesday in which litterateurs, social activists, theatre personalities and others took part, besides social activist Medha Patkar. It was launched by veteran Kannada litterateur Prabhu Shankara. The Padayatra will pass through villages and reach Badanavalu on Saturday.

The participants and supporters of the Satyagraha will hold a national seminar on Sunday in Badanavalu and chalk out a new plan of action that will cover sustainable development in agriculture and education, besides revival of handloom and village industry.

Similar padayatras have also been launched from neighbouring Chamarajanagar and other villages to culminate at Badanavalu for the national convention. Some will reach their destination in bullock carts. College students from Nanjangud will also take part in the convention.