ChristenHii at 14:14, 13 April 2026

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{{Short description|Indian environmentalist (1932–2018)}}
{{tone|date =March 2010}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = G. D. Agrawal
| image = G. D. Agrawal.jpg
| alt =
| caption = G. D. Agrawal
| birth_name = Guru Das Agrawal
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1932|07|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Kandhla]], [[Muzaffarnagar district]], [[United Provinces of British India|United Provinces]], [[British Raj]] (present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]], India)
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|10|11|1932|7|20|df=y}}
| death_place = [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| body_discovered =
| death_cause = [[Starvation|Fast-unto-death]]
| resting_place = [[Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh|Chitrakoot]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]
| resting_place_coordinates = 
| citizenship =Bhartiya (Indian)
| other_names = Sant Swami Sanand, Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand
| known_for = Stopping construction of dams on the [[Bhagirathi River]] in 2009
| education = Civil engineering [[Environmental engineering]]
| alma_mater = [[Benaras Hindu University]] [[IIT Roorkee]] [[University of California at Berkeley]]
| employer = Government of India [[Environmental impact assessment#India|Central Pollution Control Board]], civil and environmental engineering at [[IIT Kanpur]]
| notable works =
| occupation = [[Environmental engineer]]
| years_active =
| height =
| title = First Member-Secretary (CPCB), former Head of the Department (IIT)
| term = 17 years at [[IIT Kanpur]]
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party =
| opponents =
| boards =
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
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| signature =
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| footnotes =
}}

'''Guru das Agrawal''', also known as Sant Swami Sanand, Professor G. D. Agrawal or Sant Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand (20 July 1932 – 11 October 2018), was an Indian environmentalist, engineer, religious leader, monk, and professor. He was the Patron of [[Ganga Mahasabha]], founded by [[Madan Mohan Malviya]] in 1905.

He is notable for several fasts undertaken to stop many projects on the [[Ganges|River Ganga]]. His [[Fasting#Political fasting|fast]] in 2009 led to the damming of the [[Bhagirathi River]] being stopped.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2012/03/16/dying-for-the-ganges-a-scientist-turned-swami-risks-all/ |title=Dying for the Ganges: A Scientist Turned Swami Risks All |website=National Geographic Blog |access-date=13 August 2018 |archive-date=7 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207065813/https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2012/03/16/dying-for-the-ganges-a-scientist-turned-swami-risks-all/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Agrawal died on 11 October 2018, after fasting since 22 June 2018, demanding the government act on its promises to clean and save the Ganga.<ref>{{cite news |title='Ganga Activist' GD Agrawal, On Fast From About 4 Months For Clean Ganga, Dies at 87 - HeadLines Today |url=https://headlinestoday.org/national/3681/ganga-activist-gd-agrawal-on-fast-from-about-4-months-for-clean-ganga-dies-at-87/ |accessdate=11 October 2018 |work=headlinestoday.org |agency=Headlines Today |date=11 October 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Early life==
Born to a farming family in [[Kandhla]], [[Muzaffarnagar district]], Uttar Pradesh, in 1932, he studied in local primary and secondary schools. He graduated in civil engineering from the [[University of Roorkee]] (now IIT Roorkee). While he was the member secretary of the [[Central Pollution Control Board]] during 1979 – 1980, he was also a visiting professor for environmental engineering at the university of [[Roorkee]].{{Citation needed|date= April 2022}}

In July 2011, he became a Hindu [[sannyasi]] and Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand.<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/the-good-earth/noted-environmentalist-embraces-sanyas/articleshow/9093007.cms Noted environmentalist embraces sanyas] Times of India – 4 July 2011</ref>

==Environmental activism==

===Background===
Despite numerous protests and representations by local citizens, 6 hydroelectric power-plant dams were planned, seeking clearance or already under construction, on a {{convert|125|km}} stretch of the [[Bhagirathi River]]'s {{convert|2525|km}} length. This run is from the river's source at the [[Gangotri Glacier]] to the remote town of Uttarkashi in the Himalayan foothills. In pursuit of its energy intensive plan for economic growth, the Indian government had hastily pushed hydroelectric generating projects on the river, destroying what many describe as the traditional Indian ethos of worshipping and living in harmony with nature.<ref name="Iceland">{{cite web|url=http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?p=1281&language=en |title=Fast to death against Ganges dams Dis |date=24 June 2008 |publisher=Saving Iceland |accessdate=3 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724163439/http://savingiceland.puscii.nl/?p=1281&language=en |archivedate=24 July 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Bhagirathi River at Gangotri.JPG|thumb|250px|The [[Bhagirathi River]], site of the [[Loharinag Pala Hydro Power Project]] the [[headstream|source stream]] of the [[Ganges River]], in [[Gangotri]], Uttarakhand,]]

====2009====
Agrawal started a fast on 13 June 2009 at Uttarkashi. His demand was minimal and specific, i.e. to allow the flow of the Ganges in its original channel in this {{convert|125|km}} stretch from its origin. This is the only stretch left where the Ganges can still be seen undisturbed by man. The free-running of the river is a crucial element of its sacred status.<ref name="Vidal"/>

Before his fast began in January, Agrawal said, "The water ...(of the Ganges) is not ordinary water to a Hindu. It is a matter of life and death of Hindu faith".<ref name="Vidal">{{cite news|url=http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/4266|title=Himalayas hydroelectric dam project stopped after scientist on hunger strike against the project almost dies|last=John Vidal |date=13 March 2009|work=reprint by International Rivers|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|accessdate=1 March 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002141529/http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/4266|archivedate=2 October 2011}}</ref>

'''An allegation by Uttarakhand Minister'''

[[Diwakar Bhatt]], in a press conference, alleged that "It may be that the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) of the US or Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) are behind these so-called anti-hydro projects in Uttarakhand, as by doing so they are hampering the development of the state and ultimately of India. So, they are traitors and should be opposed by people too."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://uk.abclive.in/uttarakhand_environment/3482-g_d_aggarwal_cia_agent.html |title=Diwakar Bhatt Alleges Environmentalist Prof GD Aggarwal as CIA Agent |access-date=4 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018125707/http://uk.abclive.in/uttarakhand_environment/3482-g_d_aggarwal_cia_agent.html |archive-date=18 October 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====2013====
In mid-June 2013, Agrawal began his fast in the wake of the inactivity of [[National Ganga River Basin Authority]]. He stopped taking water on 21 September as his fast entered its 101st day. Due to government's apathy towards Agrawal's fast, three members of the national Ganga River Basin Authority, Rajendra Singh, Ravi Chopra and Rashid Siddiqui resigned.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-IIT Professor G D Agrawal gives up water after fasting for 101 days|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/09/ex-iit-professor-g-d-agrawal-gives-up-water-after-fasting-for-101-days/|accessdate=23 September 2013}}</ref>

====2018====
In February 2018, Agrawal sent an open letter to Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] urging him to stop environmentally unfriendly projects and ensure what he calls the 'aviral' flow of the river in the upper stretches of the river Ganga.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gangatapasya.in/2018/08/11/letter-to-pm-24th-feb-2018/ |title=Letter to PM 24th Feb 2018 |website=Gangatapasya |access-date=13 August 2018 |archive-date=13 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813144626/http://gangatapasya.in/2018/08/11/letter-to-pm-24th-feb-2018/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He reminded the prime minister that "It will be four years in May when the Central government will complete four years in office, but nothing has been done so far for the cause of Ganga".<ref>{{cite news |title=Opposing dams on Ganga, octogenarian announces fast |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/opposing-dams-on-ganga-octogenarian-announces-fast-550684 | date=28 February 2018 | first=Jotirmay | last=Thapliyal | newspaper=The Tribune | location=India | accessdate=19 January 2020}}</ref>

Agrawal had mentioned in the letter that if no action is taken by [[Ganga Dussehra]] (22 June 2018), he will go on fast-unto-death. He wrote another letter to PM on 13 June. After receiving no response from the government, he began his fast on 22 June at Haridwar.<ref>{{cite news |title=Environmentalist on fast after failing to get reply from fellow 'gangaputra' Modi |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/environmentalist-on-fast-after-failing-to-get-reply-from-fellow-gangaputra-modi/610912.html |newspaper=The Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://gangatoday.com/articles/189-base-of-sanand-swami-fast.html |script-title=hi:गंगाजी और पन-बिजली |language=hi |website=Ganga Today |title=Ganga Today }}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

On the 19th day of his fast, police evicted him from his fast venue to [[AIIMS Rishikesh]]. Based on a petition filed by Agrawal against forced eviction, Uttarakhand high-court stepped in and said he needs to be taken to hospital only if his health is in danger.<ref>{{cite news |title=Police evicts GD Agrawal from venue of hunger strike on 19th day of fast |url=http://www.uniindia.com/police-evicts-gd-agrawal-from-venue-of-hunger-strike-on-19th-day-of-fast/india/news/1285254.html |newspaper=United News of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=High Court steps-in, in GD Agrawal's stir, fast continues on 20th day |url=http://www.uniindia.com/high-court-steps-in-in-gd-agrawal-s-stir-fast-continues-on-20th-day/india/news/1286353.html |newspaper=United News of India}}</ref>

The government responded to Agrawal's fast via [[Nitin Gadkari]] (Union Minister for [[Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation|Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation]]), but it failed to resolve the impasse. Agrawal alleged that government is focusing on the cleaning river Ganga whereas his holistic vision ensures 'aviral-nirmal' Ganga.{{Citation needed|date= April 2022}}

On 13 August (53rd day of the fast), Agrawal was admitted to AIIMS again.{{Citation needed|date= April 2022}}

On 9 October (the 109th day of the fast), he stopped drinking water and refused to take medicine, water or any fluid/juice orally. However, he gave written consent to doctors for administering potassium orally and drip to provide 500ML saline fluid per day to maintain the minimum fluid and electrolyte needs of the body.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/g-d-agrawal-continues-fast-on-112th-day-at-aiims-rishikesh/india/news/1375495.html|title=G D Agrawal continues fast on 112th day at AIIMS Rishikesh|accessdate=25 April 2023}}</ref>

On 11 October (the 111th day of the fast), he died from starvation, aged 86.{{Citation needed|date= April 2022}}

===Dam stopped===
Work on the [[Loharinag Pala Hydro Power Project]] was stopped when Agrawal came close to dying on the 38th day of his [[Fasting#Political fasting|fast]] in protest of the harnessing of the river Bhagirathi. In a letter dated 19 February 2009 to Agrawal, the Ministry of Power stated that it had ordered the immediate suspension of work on the Loharinag-Pala Hydropower Project on the Bhagirathi River. In response, Agrawal ended his fast the following day at 11:00 am.<ref name="Agrawal">{{cite web|url=https://peoplesscienceinstitute.blogspot.com/|title=Agrawal's Fast Successful POSTED BY GD AGRAWAL|last=Agrawal|first=G.D.|date=23 November 2009|work=Press Release – 20.02.2009 |accessdate=3 March 2010}}</ref> The Indian government agreed to speed up its inquiry into how electricity could be generated without the flow of the Ganges being impeded.<ref name="Vidal"/>

Agrawal's devotion to the River Ganges comes from his strong Hindu faith and conviction that India is staring at an unprecedented ecological and cultural catastrophe. As a citizen and a patriot, he has made it his life's mission to recall India to its traditional reverence for nature and to share that wisdom with the "developed" world. His sense of duty allows him to do no less.<ref name="Vidal"/>

===National Ganges River Basin Authority===
His campaign was taken up by leaders of the opposition party, who called for stopping all dam constructions upstream of the river. The Government of India was quick to commit itself to ensure perennial environmentally acceptable flows throughout the river and informing Agrawal of the same. The Government then went a step ahead and declared the Ganges a National River<ref name="Govind">{{cite news|url=https://www.expertsure.com/2008/11/21/river-pollution-control-strategy-ganga-declared-the-national-river-of-india/|title=EcoLocalizer River Pollution Control Strategy: Ganga Declared the "National River" of India|last=Singh|first=Govind|date=21 November 2008|work=EcoLocalizer|publisher=Green Options Media|accessdate=3 March 2010}}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> and set up the [[National Ganga River Basin Authority]] (NGRBA) as an empowered planning, implementing, and monitoring authority for the Ganges.<ref name="BinaySingh">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-04/varanasi/28103392_1_national-river-ngrba-ganga-action-plan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811045302/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-04/varanasi/28103392_1_national-river-ngrba-ganga-action-plan|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=First anniversary of Ganga being declared as National River of India|last=Singh|first=Binay|date=4 November 2009|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=3 March 2010}}</ref>

On 4 November 2009, in New Delhi, Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]], also the chairman of NGRBA, directed the concerned officials to expedite of the National Ganges River Basin Research Institute (NGRBRI). The [[Banaras Hindu University#Organisation and administration|Centre for Environmental Studies and Technology]] (CEST), [[Banaras Hindu University]] was named the research institute that would act as knowledge centre for collecting and analysing all relevant data concerning the Ganges basin.

The objectives of NGRBRI are to:
* generate primary ecological data required by NGBRA for short and long-term planning of [[sustainable development]] of the Ganges River basin
* investigate the hydrology and pollution problems along the river basin
* study social, cultural and religious dimensions and develop eco-friendly technologies for sustainable development
* act as the knowledge centre for the collection and analysis of all relevant data concerning the Ganges basin
* create long-term models for future planning for maintaining water quality and its varied sustainable uses<ref name="TNN">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-22/varanasi/28136536_1_sustainable-development-ngrba-ganga-river-basin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811045311/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-22/varanasi/28136536_1_sustainable-development-ngrba-ganga-river-basin|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=City to get National Ganga River Basin Research Institute|last=TNN|date=22 February 2010|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=3 March 2010}}</ref>

On 10 February 2010, Union [[Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)|Minister of State (Independent Charge)]] for [[Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)|Environment and Forests]] [[Jairam Ramesh]], addressing the Ganges{{En dash}}Yamuna summit organised by the [[Teen Murti Bhavan|Nehru Memorial Library and Museum]] said: "I have said in the [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] that India is a civilisation of rivers, and it should not become a land of tunnels." He said some new projects on Bhagirathi River would not be allowed. "There are no two opinions. There is just one mass opinion that the projects proposed on the river Bhagirathi, named Pala Maneri and Bhaironghati projects, will not be entertained further by the government."<ref name="ANI">{{cite news|url=http://www.oneindia.com/2010/02/10/jairamramesh-emphasises-at-the-need-of-river-conservation.html|title=Jairam Ramesh emphasises at the need of river conservation|last=ANI|date=10 February 2010|work= Oneindia|publisher= Greynium Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd. |access-date=3 March 2010}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://tapasya-bhagirathi.blogspot.com/2008/05/prof-agrawals-letter-regarding-fasting.html Prof. Agrawal's Letter regarding 'Fasting Unto Death'] Pramod-Van, Chitrakoot, M.P. Date: 14 April 2008, Re: My Intention of "Fasting Unto Death" for Conservation of Bhagirathi
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120726223244/http://www.peoplesscienceinstitute.com/updates/psiNews/GD%20News%20Clippings.html News clippings related to Agrawal's fast-unto-death]
* {{YouTube|gbXlJOZ7Bdc|Save Ganga – Bhagirathi Bachao Sankalap – Part I}}, Video – 8:41; {{YouTube|DJdpS5fWnSU|Part II}}, Video 9:39; {{YouTube|AdiX3M2KMOY|Part III}}, Video 8:25
* [https://thewire.in/rights/read-gd-agrawal-final-letter-narendra-modi-saving-ganga# G.D. Agrawal's Third and Final Letter to PM Modi on Saving the Ganga] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013053832/https://thewire.in/rights/read-gd-agrawal-final-letter-narendra-modi-saving-ganga |date=13 October 2018 }}
* [https://www.thequint.com/news/india/swami-dayanand-gd-agrawal-aide-alleges-murder-by-bjp-nitin-gadkari-pm-modi# ‘Ganges Crusader GD Agrawal Murdered,’ Aide Attacks Modi, Gadkari]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agrawal, G. D.}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian environmentalists]]
[[Category:UC Berkeley College of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:IIT Roorkee alumni]]
[[Category:Hindu activists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian engineers]]
[[Category:IIT Kanpur people]]
[[Category:Environmental engineers]]
[[Category:People who died on hunger strike]]
[[Category:Indian hunger strikers]]
[[Category:People from Muzaffarnagar district]]

G. D. Agrawal - Revision history

ChristenHii at 14:14, 13 April 2026