GD Agarwal, also known as Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand, was a former professor at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur who dedicated his life to the cause of saving the river Ganga (Holy Ganges).
He was more than just an environmentalist; A true Gandhian, a renowned scientist, and a spiritual seeker.
On his birth anniversary, Go Green Conscious pays tribute to this legend, who raised a strong voice for issues that would’ve rather been flown under the radar.
His legacy will forever remind us that nature is a resource, not to be exploited but to be treasured.
Early Life
He was born on 20 July 1932, to a farming family in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh.
After obtaining a degree in civil engineering from IIT Roorkee, he did a PhD in environmental engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.
His Professional Journey
GD Agrawal began his career in the 1950s as a design engineer with the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department. After that, he became a professor at IIT Kanpur.
He was appointed as the first Member‑Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) by the Government of India.
He has even served for the National Ganga River Basin Authority (An authority set up by the then prime minister Manmohan Singh for cleaning the Ganga).
Environmental Activism
GD Agrawal began his environmental activism through hunger strikes in 2008, marking his first major protest to stop hydroelectric projects on the Bhagirathi River, a vital Himalayan tributary of the Ganges.
The reason was, this ambitious project was literally destroying the river and creating a pond-like storage structure. If that had continued, the ganga we knew would have ceased to exist.
He initiated a fast unto death which lasted for 18 days. He created the right pressure, and the GOI (Government of India) halted its project even though it was half done.
He continued his activism for 12 years and undertook 4 major fasts, all to protect the ‘Aviral Dhara’ (uninterrupted flow) of the Ganga.
His simple argument was, it is not just the water, but the sediments and the ecosystem of the river that gives her the unique quality.
A Path to Spirituality
In the year 2011, he renounced his material life and took vows to become an ascetic. Later came to be known as Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand.
Even then, he did not step back from his environmental duties.
The Fast Unto Death That Took His Life
In June 2018, he undertook a hunger strike to pressure the government to take a series of actions. Which includes:
- Enacting a law for conserving and protecting the Ganga.
- Curb all under-construction or proposed hydroelectric projects in the upper reaches of the Ganga and its major tributaries (Alakananda, Dhauliganga, Nandakini, Pindar, and Mandakini).
- Ban sand mining in the main channel of the river Ganga along with Haridwar Kumbha-Kshetra.
- Constitute a Ganga Bhakta Parishad provisionally as an autonomous people’s body capable of managing the river and ensuring its well-being.
He even wrote 3 letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing all these demands. But did not receive any response.
The situation became worse when he stopped drinking water. He was forcibly taken to AIIMS-Rishikesh by the administration as his health deteriorated.
But for 111 days, he cried, he yelled, he begged, he fought against the central government. He addressed the media, expressed his thoughts, but none of his efforts yielded any benefits.
And on October 11, 2018, an 86-year-old Veteran environmentalist passed away, leaving behind his legacy, efforts, and fearless resolve to bring positive change to the environment.
We at Go Green Conscious deeply appreciate his contributions!