LeoSpragg093 at 11:55, 8 February 2026

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{{Short description|Gandhian leader, anti-globalization activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|2|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2004|2|3|1936|2|13|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Bangalore]], India
| other_names =
| occupation = {{hlist|Activist|professor|politician}}
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| spouse = Prathima<ref name="dh1">{{cite news |title=Nanjundaswamy dies of cancer |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb042004/i6.asp |access-date=2 May 2024 |work=Deccan Herald |date=4 February 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040427004249/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb042004/i6.asp |archive-date=27 April 2004}}</ref>
| children = 2<ref name="dh1"/>
}}

'''Mahantha Devaru Nanjundaswamy''' (13 February 1936 – 3 February 2004) was a Gandhian leader, scholar and India's leading activist, who advocated for the farmers' rights. He is one of the founders of [[Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha]] (KRRS) in 1980. He was a prominent [[Anti-globalization movement|anti-globalization]] campaign leader.<ref name="guardian">{{citation|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/feb/06/guardianobituaries.globalisation|title=MD Nanjundaswamy|first=John|last=Vidal|date=5 February 2004}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Nanjundswamy was born in Mysore to M. N. Mahantha Devaru and Rajammanni. His father was a farmer-turned-lawyer from Madrahalli village in [[Thirumakudalu Narasipura]] taluka, and was a member of the erstwhile Mysore Representative Assembly and later, the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]].<ref name="Nanjundaswamy is dead">{{cite news |title=Nanjundaswamy is dead |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/04/stories/2004020402160600.htm |access-date=2 May 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=4 February 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201125501/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/04/stories/2004020402160600.htm |archive-date=1 December 2009}}</ref> He was the fifth child of the couple. He was credited to be the first post-graduate from [[Mysore State]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Public-Figure/Prof.M.D.Nanjundaswamy/about/|title=Prof M D Nanjundaswamy|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref> After securing a [[bachelor of science]] degree in Life Sciences from the [[University of Mysore]], he pursued graduation in Law at [[Karnatak University]], but wanted to become a doctor like his brother, who was an ENT specialist. As Nanjundswamy failed to secure a seat in medical studies, his parents sent him abroad to [[the Hague Academy of International Law]] in the Netherlands to complete his post-graduation in Law. Then he went on to study Constitutional Law in Germany and France before returning to Indian in 1964.<ref name="guardian"/> His daughter, Chukki, lives in Mysore and runs Amrita Bhoomi, an agricultural school, started by him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agricultural Hero: Chukki Nanjundaswamy |url=https://www.oneearth.org/agricultural-hero-chukki-nanjundaswamy/ |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=One Earth |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
Nanjundaswamy began his career as a professor of law at the University of Mysore and later the Dr. Rammanohar Lohia College of Law in Bangalore.<ref name="dh1"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vidal |first=John |date=2004-02-06 |title=MD Nanjundaswamy |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/feb/06/guardianobituaries.globalisation |access-date=2023-04-22 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> As a [[socialist]], he was involved with the Samajwadi Yuvajana Sabha, and worked in close association with other socialists such as [[Ram Manohar Lohia]] and [[Shantaveri Gopala Gowda]]. In 1975, Nanjundaswamy launched the [[JP Movement]] in Karnataka and founded the Nava Nirmana Kranti, along with former Chief Minister of Karnataka, [[Kadidal Manjappa]], and writer [[Poornachandra Tejaswi]].<ref name="dh1"/>

In 1980, Nanjundaswamy formed the [[Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha]] (Karnataka State Farmers' Association; KRRS) in 1980.<ref name="dh1"/> As president of the KRRS, he led campaigns against agricultural patenting by [[multinational corporation|multi-national corporation]]s, which he called "Western biopiracy".<ref name="assayag2005">{{cite book |title=Globalizing India: perspectives from below |chapter=Seeds of Wrath: Agriculture Biotechnology and Globalization |last=Assayag |first=Jackie |editor=Jackie Assayag, Christopher John Fuller |pages=71–73 |year=2005 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-1-84331-195-9 }}</ref> He was a strong critic of multi-national companies in India and the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO), and had a hand in the [[1999 Seattle WTO protests]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Graeber |first1=David |author1-link=David Graeber |title=[[The Democracy Project]] |date=2013 |isbn=9780679646006 |page=186 |publisher=Random House Publishing }}</ref>

In 1996, he protested the opening of the first [[McDonald's]] outlet in Delhi. He also led the ransacking of newly-opened [[Pizza Hut]] and [[Kentucky Fried Chicken]] restaurants in Bangalore.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Kenneth J. |date=1996-11-04 |title=IT'S LAMB BURGER, NOT HAMBURGER, AT BEEFLESS MCDONALD'S IN NEW DELHI |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/11/04/its-lamb-burger-not-hamburger-at-beefless-mcdonalds-in-new-delhi/e22d7821-5c07-4407-bec7-4c8741c111c5/ |access-date=2023-08-07 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> He and his supporters stormed and ransacked the offices of the seed company [[Cargill]], and burned [[Monsanto]]'s [[genetically modified crops]] with their Cremation Monsanto movement, before taking on other companies such as [[PepsiCo]] and [[the Coca-Cola Company]].<ref name="guardian"/><ref name="dh1"/>

The KRRS was later registered as a political party and was instrumental in supporting non-[[Indian National Congress]] governments in Karnataka. {{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Nanjundaswamy, who was suffering from [[lung cancer]], died on 3 February 2004 in [[Bangalore]].<ref name="dh1"/><ref name="Nanjundaswamy is dead"/> The last rites were performed on Amrithabhoomi on the foothills of [[Biligiriranga Hills]] in [[Chamarajanagar district]].<ref>{{cite news |title=MDN laid to rest |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb052004/s6.asp |access-date=2 May 2024 |work=Deccan Herald |date=5 February 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050415210146/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb052004/s6.asp |archive-date=15 April 2005}}</ref> On his birth anniversary on 13 February 2023, [[Yogendra Yadav]], founder of [[Jai Kisan Andolan]], remembered Nanjundaswamy and delivered a speech about the farmers' movement led by him in [[Chamarajanagar district|Chamarajanagar]], where a main road in the district headquarters was named after him.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nanjundaswamy, M. D.}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian anti-globalization activists]]
[[Category:University of Mysore alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Mysore]]
[[Category:Activists from Karnataka]]

M. D. Nanjundaswamy - Revision history

LeoSpragg093 at 11:55, 8 February 2026