Dear readers,

Meet Dineshbhai Tadvi and his youngest daughter, Kantiben. The backdrop is Sardar Sarovar parking lot and the prop is a basket full of exceeding sweet custard apples. The play unfolds. Halting their early morning sojourn to the market at my behest, Dineshbhai offers the best fruits from his basket at the most exorbitant price he can imagine, ` 5 for two, noting that we are not from the area. In a smattering of Gujarati that I speak, we make a deal and he is packing to move on. I ask conversationally, “Have you interacted with Medhaji?.” Dineshbhai shakes his head both ways, yes and no. “Yes, we have always supported her, but no, we are not benefitted in any way. We Tadvi’s (tribe) have been left out as our land was not directly affected.” Not directly affected? He waves his hands in a wide sweep behind him, “This is Tadvi area where all these offices and colonies have been built. We have moved on to rocky and less fertile lands – and to add to it, ironically despite being next to Narmada, we have no drinking water, no power, no irrigation system…”  The lights dim, Dineshbhai lumbers on, basket and daughter.

My research in unfinished, my documents need substantiation, yet Dineshbhai unsaid plea left a mark. Impoverished and frail, juxtaposed against humongous man made structures, the cliché was apparent. This issue of G’nY is designed to highlight hydropower, dams and more, with the north east being the area of focus. The classic debate of small vs big dams have been put forward, as has been an opposing voice demanding dam removals. Enjoy.