Optimistic environmentalists lifted their heads a little higher last week when the Indian government ruled against Vedanta Resources’ plans to mine for bauxite in Orissa’s Niyamgiri Hills – saving the sacred and traditional area in which the Dongria Kondh have lived for longer than, well, longer than anyone seems to be able to say. The Dongria Kondh are an integral part of the Niyamgiri Hills. Revered by others in the area as protectors of the Hills’ streams, hills and jungles, protectors they are. New foes, new challenges, but still protecting the sacred hills.
Many worked hard for this success. First, the Dongria Kondh themselves, who were recently visited by Rahul Gandhi and who 
persisted and protested for years against the expansion of Vedanta’s activities in their area. Second, a global network of environmental non-profits, most notably Survival International, and celebrities (Bianca Jagger, Michael Palin, Joanna Lumley) who didn’t hesitate to show strong, determined support and gain wide access to the media. But in the end the real authority protecting the Dongria Kohndh and their streams and forest was the Indian government in the form of Jairam Ramesh, Environmental Minister.
India’s Green Champion
In this decision Minister Ramesh ushers in a new era of environmental activity for India, known more for criticism than praise when it comes to saving the environment and preserving India’s special places. Played as an emotional issue in the media – with the Dongria Kondh even compared to the Na’vi of Avatar – Minister Ramesh emphasized that legal, not emotional, matters prevailed in the government’s decision. “There’s no emotion, no politics, no prejudice. I have taken this decision purely on a legal approach – laws are being violated,” says Jairam Ramesh. Done and done, and a special place – and people – are saved.
In his position as Environmental Minister for just over a year, Minister Ramesh is a mechanical engineer by training and a career official. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology-Mumbai and MIT, in his brief time as Environmental Minister he is proving to be a champion of green causes for India and serious about significant progress on environmental issues. This is a new era for this Ministry, and even his Ministry’s contact page shows a friendliness not usually seen on government web sites. It’s a pleasure to see.
India Sets An Example for Developing and Developed Countries
Minister Ramesh is the right man at the right time, and an inspiration to developing and developed nations alike. At a time when India is focused on growth, on infrastructure and on the future the challenges are enormous for judgments in favor of the 
environment – and harder still under today’s international glare of the media, the internet, and world environmental organizations. Decisions made in this glare are very telling of the country that India wants to be and of the determination of Minister Ramesh, and what we all see is very positive.
Minister Ramesh’s decision reminds me of remarks made by Theodore Roosevelt when he visited the Grand Canyon in 1903. Looking at the vastness and beauty of the Grand Canyon he said, “I want to ask you to do one thing in connection with (the Grand Canyon) in your own interest and in the interest of the country – to keep this great wonder of nature as it now is….We have gotten past the stage, my fellow-citizens, when we are to be pardoned if we treat any part of our country as something to be skinned for two or three years for the use of the present generation, whether it is the forest, the water, the scenery. Whatever it is, handle it so that your children’s children will get the benefit of it.”
Whether you’re in the US in the early 1900s, or in India or elsewhere today it’s really all the same – saving the places you love not only for yourself but for the future. So thank you , Minister Ramesh, for taking this stand. You’ve given us a lot of hope for India, for developing countries facing similar choices between development and conservation, for all countries with tribal groups and tribal lands to preserve against change. You’ve given us hope for developed nations, too. Many of us still have far to go and can only ask developing countries to please learn from our mistakes. Can’t wait to see what you do and show us next.
Excellent articles in the Wall Street Journal, the UK Guardian, the Hindustan Times, Change.org and Wikipedia contributed to this blog post.
