Abdul Jabbar Khan
Abdul Jabbar Kahn
Jabbar in 2013
Born(1957-06-01)1 June 1957
Died14 November 2019(2019-11-14) (aged 62)
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Known forActivism for Bhopal Gas Disaster victims
SpouseSaira Banu[1]
AwardsPadma Shri

Abdul Jabbar Khan (1 June 1957 – 14 November 2019)[2] was an activist who fought for the victims of Bhopal Gas Disaster. Himself a victim of the gas leak, he devoted decades of his life, up until his death, towards seeking justice for the victims by fighting for their fair treatment and rehabilitation.

A Guardian editorial called him "The most effective campaigner for the victims of the worst industrial accident in world history".[3] Siddhartha Deb described his activism as being slow and stubborn. Owing to Jabbar's charisma, approachability and ability to interact with common people, he enjoyed popular support and deep local roots.[4]

The Indian government awarded him the fourth-highest civilian award, Padma Shri, posthumously in 2020.[5]

Early life

Jabbar came from a poor Muslim family which moved to Bhopal when he was one year old.[6] He worked in the construction business, responsible for digging borewells.[7][8][9][10]

Activism

On the intervening night of 2–3 December 1984, Jabbar was awakened by the odour of lethal methyl isocyanate gas emanating from the Union Carbide plant around 2 kilometers from his parents' home in Rajendra Nagar, Bhopal. He rushed his mother to a safe place 40 kilometers away. Upon returning to the city, he saw dead bodies lined up on the roadside. He started voluntarily working among the victims, helping people get treatment at the state hospital and taking bodies for postmortem.[8] He shifted his complete attention toward activism and his business shut down.[9] As a result of the gas leak, he suffered from lung fibrosis and his vision diminished. Many of his family members were killed by the gas leak and its after-effects.[8][2]

In 1987, Jabbar set up the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan (BGPMUS) or Bhopal Gas-Affected Women's Enterprise Organization, also referred to as Sangathana, a grassroots organization composed mostly of women, which has been at the forefront of struggles against the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) which owned the pesticide plant resulting in the infamous gas leak. The advocacy group consists of gas survivors and widowed women rendered destitute by the tragedy. They have been involved in every legal initiative seeking justice for the victims and have consistently sought fair compensation, medical rehabilitation, prosecution of UCC officials. Jabbar, the convener of the group, was responsible for delivering public statements, negotiating with the governments and making decisions about the group's strategies. Dismayed by the meagre amount of food compensation being provided to the victims, Jabbar started his first campaign seeking employment for them with the slogan "Khairat nahi, rozgar chahiye (We don't require charity, we want jobs)".[6][10] They were successful in setting up an economic rehabilitation centre called Swabhimaan Kendra (self-respect centre) which provides training in sewing, making stuffed toys, zardozi strips and bags.[8][10]

In 1988, Jabbar filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking interim relief for the victims until they receive their final compensation.[10] In 1989, the Supreme Court announced a final settlement proposal in which the UCC will pay the government $470 million, as opposed to the initial demand of $3 billion, and be discharged of all civil and criminal liability. Dissatisfied by the meagre amount, 3500 BGPMUS members traveled to Delhi where they organized widespread protests for months. There were also reports of police violence against the women. The protests elicited widespread public support and the newly elected central government initiated a rehearing of the settlement based on the review filed by BGPMUS. The Supreme Court ordered the Madhya Pradesh government to pay a monthly sum of 200 rupees to 5,00,000 survivors for three years. Over the years, the organization organized several large scale demonstrations against faulty distribution of relief and inadequate medical care, attracting thousands of supporters.[6] After a decade long struggle, the Supreme Court ordered the government to disburse a sum of 1,503 crore among the 5,70,000 victims.[10]

The organization formed the major organized opposition to BJP's 1990 anti-encroachment drive in Bhopal emphasizing that the slum demolitions affected many victims of the gas leak.[6] According to Jabbar, BGPMUS' legal intervention allowed 10,000 gas-affected families to stay where they were.[11]

Jabbar is described as an old-school activist. His organization has little to zero online presence and Jabbar refused to give interviews in English, which limited their press coverage. He didn't take any foreign donations and used to rely solely on volunteer contributions.[12][13][14] Jabbar had a paucity of funds and oftentimes his expenses were paid by his friends.[4][13] He convened weekly meetings at the Yadgar-e-Shahjahani Park to keep the victims organized and memory of the tragedy alive. The organization was primarily funded by the monthly 5 rupee contributions of its members and the sale of embroidered clothes and stuffed toys made by the women.[6][12]

Awards and honours

The Government of India awarded him with Padma Shri in Social Work, posthumously in 2020.[5] The Madhya Pradesh government conferred him with the state's highest award, Indira Gandhi Award for Social Service in 2019.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Singh, Ravish Pal (26 January 2020). "Wish he was alive to receive Padma Shri: Wife of man who fought for Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims". India Today. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 Anees, Javed (1 December 2019). "अब्दुल जब्बार: भोपाल गैस पीड़ितों के संघर्ष को समर्पित जीवन". The Wire - Hindi (in Hindi). Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "In praise of… Abdul Jabbar". The Guardian. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 Deb, Siddhartha (2011). "Introduction". The Beautiful and the Damned: Life in the New India. India: Penguin Books India. ISBN 9780670085965.
  5. 1 2 "Bhopal Gas tragedy activist Abdul Jabbar awarded Padma Shri posthumously". ANI News. 25 January 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Basu, Amrita (1 June 1994). "Bhopal revisited: The view from below". Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars. 26 (1–2): 3–20. doi:10.1080/14672715.1994.10416147. ISSN 0007-4810.
  7. ↑ Krishnan, Vidya (29 November 2009). "Bhopal,25 years on". The Indian Express. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Mehta, Nikita (2 December 2014). "From gas tragedy survivor to activist". mint. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  9. 1 2 Rehman Alavi, Shams Ur. "Crusader for Victims: The Truth of Bhopal Gas Tragedy and its Aftermath-Part III". Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Dixit, Rakesh (17 November 2019). "Abdul Jabbar's Struggle for Bhopal Gas Tragedy Victims Has Lessons for Us All". The Wire. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Interview with Jabbar Khan". Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars. 26 (1–2): 14–17. 1 June 1994. doi:10.1080/14672715.1994.10416148. ISSN 0007-4810.
  12. 1 2 Munsi, Pallabi (August 2011). "Abdul Jabbar: That Unblinking Eye" (PDF). Kindle. India: Ink Publications. 2 (5): 26–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Bhopal: The Other Story". Open Magazine. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  14. ↑ Khan, Mohd Ismail (30 November 2014). "Bhopal – Three decades of struggle: Abdul Jabbar: an underrated champion". TwoCircles. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  15. ↑ Sharma, N D (22 December 2019). "MP's State Award presented to Abdul Jabbar posthumously with little grace". eNewsroom India. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
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