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25 years ago, T.N. Godavarman, a member of a large landholding family, was incensed that trees were felled on his "family land". Serendipity would make his PIL into one of India's most important and controversial environmental cases. https://fiftytwo.in/story/the-woods/
Over simplification: Godavarman: "They are cutting down my forest" Govt.: "This isn't a forest" Adv: "What is a forest?" SC: "A bunch of trees, maybe. No one can touch it without our approval." Tribes: "What about our home?" Forest dept:"It's our land until you prove it is yours"
The thematic and geographical span of this case is mind-boggling. Forest Rights Act, mining (Aravalli, Goa, Niyamgiri of the Avatar fame, Chattisgarh Kudremukh, Ballari, Meghalaya); Compensatory Afforestation scheme; Jarawas in Andamans, timber mills, major dams and roads...
even laying of fiber optic cables, painting of rocks, declaration of new reserves and sanctuaries, protection of birds and water buffalo ....nothing was insignificant and the impact was enormous. Many forests saved, local markets collapsed, elections lost and people displaced
@nihargokhale had once noted that environmental journalists will bump into aspects of the case within a few months of the beat. Even in a small village in Bundelkhand, I'd find ripples of the case: closure of a stone mine and cases against the MLA upended local politics
Loads of interesting characters, anecdotes and backroom maneuvering (many that we couldn't fit in) that shaped this case. Thanks to @supriyan @vikramshah1991 @medhavenkat from @FiftyTwoDotIn for commissioning this and their patience on this.
